While Mauritius horseracing has largely fallen off the map for South African racing fans in recent years, the presence of a South African jockey with a few rides for a former Grade 1 winning SA trainer over the two days of the 2024 People’s Turf PLC International Jockeys’ Challenge this weekend should create plenty of interest, on an already busy weekend of international horseracing.
The annual international jockeys’ challenge has been a regular feature to bring the curtain down on the racing season on the Indian Ocean Island with the likes of Frankie Dettori and Christophe Soumillon past winners and it’s a massive opportunity for 24 year old Highveld-based rider Jason Gates who joins fourteen other jockeys from around the globe in the two day challenge.
The Sporting Post has learnt that Gates’ call-up was fairly late and he only arrived on the island on Thursday after Gavin Lerena and Aldo Domeyer had declined the invitation.
Eben and Anlia Etzebeth with their bundle of joy in Mauritius this weekend (Pic – Supplied)
Jason is not the only ‘Bok’ in Mauritius with Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Cheslyn Kolbe and Faf de Klerk (celebrating their second wedding anniversary) and their families enjoying a well-deserved break. Hopefully they will go racing, as Eben and Anlia Etzebeth are Hollywoodbets ambassadors and could find a few winners!
Gates will be the sole SA representative in the 2024 People’s Turf PLC International Jockeys’ Challenge and has twelve rides over the two days, including three for former SA -based Grade 1 winning trainer Dominic Zaki, who leads the local trainers log by a country mile.
One of Gates’ rides for Zaki on Saturday is Clean Slate, a horse he has already ridden on African soil.
An Architect and Engineer, Devon Habib, whose brother Calvin and Dad Donovan are household names here, is domiciled in Mauritius and has been instrumental in assisting Jason Gates fire up a career that has had its share of stops and starts.
“Jason is a really talented lightweight and I am very keen to help him raise his game. Every jockey goes through the challenges of getting enough support to show your skills and ability to ride winners. Jason has some nice rides this weekend and I am hoping that he makes a great impression,” added Devon, who follows South African racing passionately.
A dapper looking Jason Gates chats to the media (Pic – Supplied)
The competition includes fifteen jockeys, with names like Cedric Segeon, Benedict Woodworth and Irishman Stevie Donohue, who had a spell riding in South Africa recently and has previously had great success on the island.
Marlene Meyer is the only rose amongst the thorns and represents France alongside Cedric Segeon and Remi Campos.
The first is off at 10h45 – See the racecard by clicking here.
Panamanian Luis A Quintero Corralese is a veteran of the saddle and sentimentally for Devon Habib, rode with his Dad, Donovan.
Local heroes Rye Joorawon and Roland Boutanive will carry the Mauritius flag.
Canadian Justin Stein is a colleague of Saffer Ryan Munger, who rides in North America.
Jason chatted to the Mauritius media this evening – enjoy the live feed to also watch the racing on Saturday and Sunday:
