Jockey Callan Murray is set to return from Australia this afternoon and will have his first eight rides back on home soil on Saturday at Turffontein.
A files shot of Callan Murray in the Ridgemont silks (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
4Racing reports that seven of his eight rides will be for the Mike and Mathew De Kock yard, while he has also been engaged to ride Luthuli in Race 7 for Fabian Habib.
“I’m very happy to have him back,” said Mathew de Kock when asked about the yard’s plans for Murray.
“We have a great relationship and history with Callan, but if you want to know more about his plans, he will be the person to speak to.We are happy to support him, and we are looking forward to working with him again.”
Whether Murray will be engaged to ride any of the De Kock runners in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, remains to be seen.
“At this stage it is undecided, because our potential runners will carry a very light weight,” said Mathew.
Murray famously rode Deo Juvente to victory in the 2017 Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein, edging out the legendary Legal Eagle and Nother Russia by the smallest of margins to clinch his third Grade 1 victory on the day.
How long Murray will be in South Africa, remains a question to be answered, as neither Mathew nor the jockey’s Mom Belinda could divulge further details.
“I’m just very excited to have my son home,” Mom Belinda told 4Racing.
“You will have to speak to Callan to find out what his plans are.”
Murray’s career first win came aboard the Alec Laird trained Tennessee Strategy on 12 November 2013.
