Craig Zackey

“Another top ride by the apprentice Craig Zackey” came the call from Nico Kritsiotis as Craig executed a cracking finish aboard Be Mine Tonight for the Dominic Zaki stable at Turffontein last Saturday. After superb wins aboard Arabian Beat in the Gr1 SA Nursery and J’s Outsider in the Gr2 Gold Bowl, this was Craig’s third double in as many weeks. Not bad for an apprentice rider who has only just celebrated his 20th birthday.

Craig Gerard Simon Zackey is the son of Simon and Debbie and the fourth of their five children. He adds that being Lebanese, he also has an extended family of 67 cousins and supporters. Craig was born in Benoni, but grew up in Brakpan. Not from a horsey family, he admits that his interest in racing started because both his father and grandfather played the horses as a hobby. “They both put it into my mind about becoming a jockey and because of my height and size, I naturally took it as a thought. I actually wanted to be a soccer player, but I started to watch racing and got a thrill out of it and by then I was looking forward to the possibility of becoming a jockey and seeing if it could be a lifestyle for me.” His speech is gentle and slow. The faint lisp and his sincere enthusiasm make him instantly endearing.

Academy

Craig joined the Jockey Academy in 2011. “My dad owned a horse with Duncan Howells when I was young, but I hadn’t been on a horse until I got to the Academy. I think I handled it pretty well. Well, I didn’t fall, is probably a good way to put it!” He signed his papers in March 2012 and had his first ride under rules aboard West End for the Jeff Freedman yard on 18 March. “To be honest my heart was in my throat and my hands were shaking. I was nervous – I didn’t know what to expect. But once the gate opened, that all changed. It’s like you become a different person and I was more confident in the race than in the stalls. As time went by and I got more rides, I adapted to it and it’s become easier.”

His first win came shortly afterwards, riding Commander Cat for Tony Rivalland and like most jockeys, it proved an unforgettable experience. “It’s hard to explain. It was a really good feeling and just a whole lot of excitement and joy and happiness all at the same time.” He has steadily been carving a name for himself ever since. “From the moment I signed things really went well for me, especially the end of my 2nd year when I got a good job from Duncan Howells. We did really well together and he really put me on the map.”

Big move

At the end of his third year, Craig was transferred to the care of riding master Gary Waterson at the Johannesburg Academy, which he currently shares with Ryan Munger, Collen Storey, Matthew Thackeray, Callan Murray and Wesley Marwing. “Because I was having such a good run with Duncan Howells, I fought to stay in KZN. I was doing so well and my biggest fear was starting at the bottom and having to rebuild all that. But when I came here, I started off on a good note and things have gone well. Tyrone Zackey gave me rides which got my face shown in Joburg. I also had a bit of support from Mike de Kock and John Vos and Sean Tarry also started helping me a lot. A few months into my first year in Gauteng, I got the job for the Gavin van Zyl yard and we did quite well together.”

“This year I started riding for Dominic Zaki and his main owner, Kalil Zackey, started giving me opportunities. I had my first Gr1 winner for them on Arabian Beat in the SA Nursery on 25 April. I just couldn’t believe I accomplished that. Not many win a Gr1 and doing it as an apprentice … I really can’t explain it. It’s unbelievable, something I’d wished for, but doubted would come.”

“I actually started working Arabian Beat at the beginning of this year and once I took him on the grass, I said to Dominic that I thought he was special. With every run he’s had he’s improved. He won his first run by 4 lengths, was 2nd second time out and then I rode him in the big race and everything just went his way. I had the right horse to follow. Mr de Kock’s horse Shaama was sitting a neck in front and pulled me through to the 400. Then I just nursed my horse to the line. He’s a great horse, one of my favourites obviously!”

“I had my first Gr2 on the same day, on J’s Outsider in the Gold Bowl for Stuart Pettigrew and it happened by chance. I wasn’t carded on the horse, but two days before the race, Stuart approached me and asked if I could ride 52. I said yes. He knew the horse and told me that if I could leave him towards the back where he’s comfortable, he’ll run a good race. So we sat at the back, relaxed and won a good race. Having a day like that is one I’ll never forget.”

Were there big celebrations? “We get to go home after a Saturday race meeting and all I really wanted to do was get back and watch the replays. I just wanted to watch them over and over.”

A week in the life

Craig is fast approaching his 100th career winner and is lying 4th on the apprentice log, just 4 wins adrift of current leader, Ryan Munger. With an 8% strike rate, his services are in high demand and he has full cards of rides most race days. Success is inspiring him to work even harder, although that’s hard to imagine in a jockey’s life. While most of us are having our first cups of morning coffee, most jockeys have already done several hours’ work.

Craig’s schedule reads as follows: Monday starts at 4:15am. There’s a seven hour drive to Kimberley and then a day’s work at Flamingo Park. With the last race finishing at around 5, the apprentices get home around midnight. Craig says “I enjoy Kimberley and mainly ride for Stefanie Miller and Mr Myburgh. It’s tiring, but different and the racing is interesting. Kimberley horses go off and come back to form, so it’s not always the best horse that wins and most of my winners have been outsiders. It’s a very fair track, we go a good pace and horses can win from anywhere, but generally the fittest horse wins. It’s a nice track and horses pull up well and seem to like the surface. Some horses really come on from a run at Kimberley.”

“On a Tuesday we wake up at 4:45 and leave for track at 5:15. We ride work till 10, in which time you get through approximately 30 – 35 horses. Then we come back to the Academy, change, pack our kit and go to the Vaal. The Vaal is also a fair track and the course is beautiful. The only thing is that it’s a long drive, so you don’t get as many people on course, but you know you’re on tv and that there are always eyes on you, so that’s just as good. Races finish at about 5pm and we get back to the Academy at 7pm. Then we usually take it easy and just prep for next day.”

“Wednesdays we ride work and after track work, Mr Waterston takes us to James Maree’s farm and we work on any areas where we’re struggling or think we need help. After our lesson, we come back to the Academy at about 2pm and do a gym session and at 3pm we’re off for an hour and can go to the shops, etc. At home in the evening we just take it easy, watch tv, relax and chat.”

“I’ve got my drivers’ license and my own vehicle, so on Thursdays I ride work at Vaal and do pens and then stay there for the day’s race meeting. Fridays we do trackwork and then have a life skills session for an hour with Mrs Keys. Saturdays are track work and then racing at Turffontein.”

“The Turffontein straight is much shorter than the Vaal and it rides a bit quicker, but it’s not always the same. The pace around Turffontein does change a lot, but it’s a fair track. A lot of horses take to it and do well there.”

How do you prep for a race day?

“I do a lot of form study. I look at the draw and try to work out which are the horses to beat and where my horse would be best positioned. I also learn a lot from riding a horse in the morning. Each horse has its different traits and they let you know more or less how they like to be ridden. It’s not something I can really explain, it’s a feeling they just give to you. The trainer knows most about the horses and give their input and you try and put all three together and plan it from there.”

“I try my best to do what the trainer tells me to do – they know the horses best and they have the owners to answer to, but sometimes things just don’t work out. If you can’t do what you planned, there’s got to be a plan B. Sometimes you make a mistake or a horse just doesn’t perform. There might be something amiss, but sometimes there isn’t. When things go wrong it’s particularly hard with owners and trainers that you don’t get many opportunities for, especially for a trainer that you don’t know that well. They’ve seen how you are and given you a chance, and if things don’t go your way, it’s difficult to explain.”

Do you have big match temperament?

“I think so. It helps to build a relationship with a stable and a trainer. You can communicate better and be honest about what a horse needs or where things went wrong and you gain confidence in one another. Having that bit of security helps you have confidence in your riding as well. A little while ago I went through a quiet patch. Things weren’t mapping out and I was riding maybe one winner or no winners a month. I started losing confidence. Then I got a chance from Dominic and now that I’m getting rides, I’m gaining it back again. The horses respond and it helps you to think easier in a race. You ride without panicking and it all just flows.”

Best / worst parts of the job?

“I love riding work. I love being on top of a horse and just love working with them. Racing is a rush! I like most of the other jockeys. They’re all really helpful and guide you and give you help where it’s needed. It’s humbling being able to share the jockey room with the top riders. You look at them and think about your future. It makes you want to work harder and be more dedicated to get to their league. It also makes it extra special when you win.”

The toughest part of the job is waking up early, that’s quite hard!”

Scales – friend or foe?

“If you look at my size compared to everyone else, I’m quite tall at 1.67cm. You’d think I’d not be as light, but so far my weight is good and I can ride the natural 52’s. I am the smallest in my family, but there’s not much between the rest of us, so I don’t think I’m going to grow.”

Future plans

“I rode in Macau at the end of last year which was a great experience. Driving through Hong Kong, I had a look at the race course and would love to be there one day. It’s so well organised, all the meetings have big crowds and the grandstand is always full. There’s just so much excitement there and I think that’s what racing’s about. That’s the dream. That’s where you’d want to be. But for now I’m enjoying the journey and it’s getting better as it comes.”