Bouncer! Sherman Brown rode a great double at Turffontein
Jockey Sherman Brown was once labelled ‘the poor man’s Anton Marcus’ by an astute judge of race-riding. The Gauteng-based jockey showed his skills again at Turffontein on Tuesday evening with two winners and even had to survive one of the weakest objections witnessed in many a long year.
Also labelled ‘bouncing Brown’ for his distinctive vigorously animated riding style, the 38 year old Harare-born Sherman Brown won the Mauritius jockeys’ premiership in 2008 and finished fifth on the SA log in the 2010/11 season with 116 winners.
Probably not the most extroverted personality in racing, the quietly confident Brown rose to prominence through his association with the late great Buddy Maroun, and has ridden with international success in the UAE and Zimbabwe.
Brown rode the second race winner Go Gold, who got the better of a protracted duel with the heavily supported odds-on shot Brooks-Club in the final stages to win going away at a generous 11-2 in a six horse field.
Bounce! Virtuosity (red & white) powers on to win.
Brown quipped afterwards, when quizzed about Brooks-Club, said ‘I was concentrating on my ride.’
Then taxed on his other rides, on the night, said confidently ‘always include me.’
Then came that strange objection in the fifth race, an MR 74 Handicap run over 1000m.
Brown rode a terrifically powerful finish from about the 300m marker on Leon Erasmus’ promising 3yo Virtuosity to get the better of Gavin Lerena on the fancied Crown Gold, by a narrow margin.
For the record, the Stipes reported as follows:
At approximately the 550 metre mark VIRTUOSITY (S Brown) hanging in badly, shifted in, crossing CROWN GOLD (G Lerena), who switched outwards.
An objection was lodged by Mr B O Wiid, the trainer of the second placed horse, CROWN GOLD (G Lerena), against the winner, VIRTUOSITY (S Brown), on the grounds that VIRTUOSITY (S Brown) took up the running of CROWN GOLD (G Lerena) and forced his rider to switch outwards at approximately the 550 metre mark.
The Objection Board, after hearing all the evidence and viewing the patrol films of the race, were of the opinion that but for the interference CROWN GOLD (G Lerena) would not have finished in front of VIRTUOSITY (S Brown) and therefore overruled the objection. The result stands and the deposit was refunded.
Trainer Leon Erasmus, who was interrupted during his post-race interview by the announcement of the objection on-course, confidently scoffed at the interruption and carried on thanking the connections.
Tellytrack added to the confusion by announcing that jockey Lerena had objected. The objection was greeted by general puzzlement, and even the normally outspoken Shaheen Shaw had to bite his lip, by suggesting that the outcome ‘should not take long, and I know what I think about it.’
There is no doubt that Virtuosity crossed Crown Gold at the halfway mark.
But interference or affecting the result? No, c’mon Mr Wiid – this is not a game for sissies, Sir!
If that objection was to be upheld, then it would open up a whole new world of uncertainly and manipulation.
The strangest thing is that the objector’s deposit was refunded. That’s the most puzzling outcome of all in our book. A waste of time and money – and that’s exactly why deposits are requested in the first place.
Sherman Brown rounded off a great evening at the office, with a 45-1 second on the formless Turkish Delight in the last.
