In an emotional informal ‘reunion’ in the Hollywoodbets Greyville winner’s enclosure on Friday evening, close on forty years after they nervously first walked through the doors of the SA Jockey Academy to commence their brand-new careers, two mulptiple SA champion jockeys embraced and reflected back.
Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech and his former academy mate Mark Khan, both international champions of their era, teamed up to win the second race with the Clifton Stud-bred VAR gelding Phaka Imali on the Global Team Horseracing evening.
Still life in the old master! Mark Khan rides a powerful finish on Phaka Imali (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Gary Rich-trained Phaka Imali, which means to ‘dish out the money’ in Zulu, started at 9-2 and was one of two winners on the evening for the Hollywood Syndicate, who have commenced the new term in style, with Brett Crawford charge Teatro a runaway winner at Kenilworth less than 24 hours later.
Now seasoned 52 year olds, Anthony and Mark joined the SA Jockey Academy in 1984, training alongside the year-younger Anton Marcus, Marthinus Mienie, and Frikkie Vermaak.
Still in the saddle as Phaka Imali was being led in, Mark Khan had a lump in his throat as he quipped: “I’m just so happy that I was able to ride a winner for my friend Anthony.”
Anthony Delepch and Mark Khan, flanked by Anthony’s youngest daughter Brooklyn and trainer Gary Rich (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While Mark Khan, who doesn’t ride as regularly as he would choose to, has faced his personal challenges with injuries meaning multiple retirements and comebacks over a twelve year period, Anthony Delpech’s life changed forever on 7 April 2018 when he was badly injured, coming off Majestic Mambo during the SA Classic at Turffontein.
“Mark Khan and I both relate to that horseracing ‘hook’. Believe me, it’s very tough to walk away from this game. It’s all we have known since our teen years. All jockeys experience injuries – it’s in the nature of life in the saddle. I personally have battled to come to terms with my career-ending experience. Managing the Hollywood Syndicate provides me with so much pleasure and pride, and goes a long way to filling the void, as I’m intimately involved in this great game,” added Anthony Delpech, who also recalled those days of the early ‘80’s.
“Every second weekend, my folks’ house on the Berea had apprentices sleeping on the floor and wherever they could find a spot! Mark Khan and Anton Marcus both came from Cape Town, and they were two regulars,” he added.
Can you name these apprentices? Pic supplied by Anthony Delpech.
