It’s hard to imagine a top strength South African jockey team without the genius of Piere Strydom and Anton Marcus and an international side sans the wizardry of Frankie Dettori. But the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge at Turffontein on Sunday may just have been given a shot in the arm by the recent Melbourne Cup success of 41 year old Corey Brown.
Corey Brown – top class ride for his second Cup
The first Tuesday in November saw 90 536 punters witness the moment that 24-year-old Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien saddled Rekindling with Corey Brown aboard to beat his illustrious father Aidan’s Johannes Vermeer.
It was Corey Brown’s second Melbourne Cup success in eight years, after Shocking scored in 2009.
Having spent a frustrating spell in Singapore, with rides drying up and his family back in Sydney, Brown said the best part of the Melbourne Cup victory was celebrating with his wife and daughters.
He returned to Sydney racing in January and has quickly re-established himself among Australia’s best jockeys, riding five Gr1 winners this calendar year culminating with his Melbourne Cup triumph.
The International team includes nine-times Irish champion Pat Smullen, Aidan O’ Brien Gr1 winner Seamie Heffernan, another Irishman in Ayr flat jockey of the year PJ McDonald and 42 year old Englishman Martin Dwyer, who has ridden in Mauritius. The team is made up by Frenchman Thierry Thulliez.
The South African team will be captained by reigning SA champion rider Anthony Delpech, and includes East Cape champion Greg Cheyne, past national champions Gavin Lerena and S’manga Khumalo, as well as young guns Craig Zackey and Lyle Hewitson.
