In this age of information technology, are punters being given all the tools to make the best decision in what is often termed the ‘brain game’? We say not. And even if it is a case of sour grapes and talking from our pockets, let’s ask a few questions about the sixth race at Turffontein on Saturday 19 April.
The S’manga Khumalo saga has brought the aspect of jockeys riding to specific instructions to the boil. Or so we thought.
Punters were caught napping on Saturday when the promising young apprentice Craig Zackey steered the longpriced Solskjaer filly Chilli Pepper to a short head win in the Turffontein sixth race over the tote favourite, Erin, who looked a winner in the final 100m.
The win was the second leg of a double on the day for Zackey and the Van Zyl’s, who also won the second race with Iwo Jima at any price.
In the post race interview of the sixth, assistant trainer Chesney Van Zyl lauded Zackey’s brilliant ride and then went on to explain the ‘bad ride’ that the filly had been given at her last outing.
The records show that the Summerhill Stud bred 4yo had run just under ten lengths behind Celtic Legend on 5 April 2014 over 400m shorter.
We note that she had been ridden that afternoon by a certain Marthinus Mienie.
Besides the fact that Mienie is vastly experienced and a top jockey, why did he get it so wrong?
And where did the system fail?
Starting with what happened as a result of Mienie’s blatant ‘bad ride’, we went back to the Stipes Report of the day.
Nothing was apparently said. Not according to the official records. Not by the stipes. Not by the jockey. Not by the trainer.
We have a few questions:
1.Did Mienie not ride to instructions that day?
2.If so, why was the matter not reported to the stipes?
Sounds simple?
This is not a witch hunt either. Let’s just get the answers.
