Karl Neisius

Veteran Cape-based jockey KARL NEISIUS (56) has enjoyed a wonderful career in horseracing and brought up his 3000^th winner aboard the classy sprinter CAPE ROYAL, just over a year ago. He has amassed another century of winners since, including Grade 1 victories in the Cape Guineas and Derby with the brilliant son of Western Winter, CAPETOWN NOIR. The Dean Kannemeyer inmate is the 7/1 ante-post favourite for the Vodacom Durban July and goes through his prep in this Saturday’s KRA Guineas at Greyville where he is likely to start at very restricted odds. Of course, Karl’s solitary July success came when he expertly steered Flaming Rock to victory in 1991 from stall gate 20. Karl seems quietly confident of a successful winter raid and WINNING FORM wishes him everything of the best during the season.    

What is your name? Karl Walter Neisius.

What is your star sign and birthdate? My star sign is Aquarius and I was born on 27 January 1957.

Where were you born? Wales.

Where do you live? Blouberg, Cape Town.

Tell us about your family? My wife Emma, and I have three daughters Rose, Sarah and Abigail. 

Do you have a ‘nickname’? No.

Favourite food? A good steak.

Favourite drink? Amstel.

Favourite music? I love most music.

Favourite sport? Golf.

Who is your favourite author? Wilbur Smith.

What book are you reading at the moment? Bloodline by Felix Francis.

Which is the characteristic about yourself that you like most? I try to take the good with the bad.

Which is the characteristic about yourself that you like least? I struggle with the bad.

Are you interested in soccer and, if so, which is your favourite soccer team?  I don’t have a favourite team but enjoy watching the big games.

Favourite holiday destination? Thailand.

Where did you go to school? In Cape Town.

What sort of student were you and what did you really enjoy studying? I was an average sort of student and didn’t enjoy studying.

When did you start riding? I started riding at age 4 and went to the academy at age 14.

Who did you ride for then and where was this? For trainer R. Rixon in the Cape.

You have always spoken highly of trainer Ralph Rixon. Would you consider him to be the trainer who has had the most influence on your career? Yes.

Which jockeys were your biggest competition in those days? Basil Marcus.

A longtime rival of yours has to be Felix Coetzee. Can you mention any great tussles you and him have had in a race over the years? Too many to mention, we are both very competitive.

You are exceptionally fit and you are a great example to all the apprentices and up and coming jockeys. What practical advice would you give them as to how to survive, and succeed, in this tough game? I have managed to find a lot of very good horses by riding a lot of work and gallops. Trainers and owners want honest feedback.

Do you do anything outside of work and race riding to keep yourself as fit as you are? Gym and golf.

What is your most comfortable riding mass? 56kgs.

Do you have any preference for riding stayers or sprinters? No.

You are known to be a great judge of pace. Do you have a method, like counting seconds per furlong, or is it an in-built thing coming after years of riding work and races? It’s just experience.

You have always said that Flaming Rock was the best horse you have won on. Is this still the case or has any other horse, or horses, come into the reckoning? Yes, but also Dynasty was a great horse, Flobayou was special as I had 16 wins on him, 5 of them were grade 1.

You have had a long and successful association with the Kannemeyers, firstly Peter and now Dean. Apart from Ralph Rixon would you say that they have had a really big influence on your life? Yes. They are two great racing families and it has been a privilege to have ridden for them.

You have always said that you would ride overseas if the right opportunity presented itself. Is this still the case or are you happy to stick to riding in SA? I am open to offers.

The KZN Winter season is about to get into full stride. Will you be staying in Durban for the season or will you be raiding backwards and forwards? Raiding.

Will you be Dean Kannemeyer’s first choice jockey for his horses running in the features in Durban? Yes.

A horse with a great record and an even bigger reputation is CAPETOWN NOIR. He is likely to start a short price in the Vodacom Durban July. How confident are you that he will get the 2200m trip?  I think the weight might be a bigger problem, the best 3 year olds seem to be weighted out of the July.

In the Cape Derby, over 2000m, he appeared to be stopping in the closing stages. Do you think he was running out of steam or was it because he had come through his field to go to the front so quickly? He stayed on better than the rest, we will have to wait for Durban and see.

At this stage could you compare him to a horse like Flaming Rock? Early days, but same temperament and finishing kick. We were also not sure if Flaming Rock would stay 2200. So you can compare.

Another horse with a huge reputation is DIVINE JET. Do you think he is now ready to fulfill the reputation he has always had? Yes.

You won on Cape Royal in the Easter Dash which was a very quick race. How did he horse take the run? He took the race very well.

Do you think there should be more races like that or not? No, but it was a nice change.

You also ride many horses for the Mike Bass yard. Have you earmarked any of his horses you would particularly like to ride during the winter season? I’m always happy to ride his horses but Bernard has first choice.

There are some very promising two year olds running in the Cape and elsewhere. Which of them have caught your eye as to be horses to follow? Red Ray is top class.

Which horse, or horses, would you really like to ride in KZN during the season? Capetown Noir.

There is huge stake money to be earned in Dubai. Is there any horse you ride in races, or in work, that you feel deserves to take its chance in Dubai? Capetown Noir and Divine Jet.

You have always given credit to your agent, Rob Champion, for helping you achieve the success you have had. How long has he been with you and could you do without him?  We have been together around 10 years, he is a great friend and agent.

How many Grade 1 winners have you ridden to date? Over 50.

How many feature race winners have you ridden? 50 grade 1 and about 130 grade 2 and grade 3 races but not sure how many features in total.

Which feature races have you won? Nearly all except the Met and Gold Cup.

How many races have you won in your career? Around 3100.

Apart from the July which is the race that has given you the most pleasure to win and tell us why? Queen’s Plate is a wonderful race to win and a great race day. You know if you win that race, you are on the best horse of the year and that is something special.

How much interest do you take in the breeding side of racing? I take a small interest.

Do you ever discuss buying yearlings with any of the trainers you ride for? Only if I am asked my opinion.   

Which of the current crop of exciting new stallions really take your fancy? Dynasty.

You have achieved just about everything you could in SA racing. Is there anything you would like to do before you retire? Still trying to win the Met.

In the past you have said you believe it is possible to make a living by punting. Is this still your opinion? Yes, if you study form.

Do you have a sponsor and how important do you think it is for a jockey to be sponsored? Not now but I am open to offers.

What would you say if you were asked how to stimulate interest in racing to be able to compete with casino’s and the like? The media need to make heroes out of our champion horses, jockeys and trainers.

The old maxim says that ‘behind every successful man is an equally successful woman’. Does this apply to Karl Neisius? Yes. Emma is my biggest supporter and is very successful in her own right.