Jeremy Chetty and CTC organiser Deez Dayanand
Long-time racing fanatic and racehorse owner Jeremy Chetty was the deserved winner of this year’s Gold Circle sponsored Charity Turf Challenge. His entry under the pseudonym “Common Law” held on to the lead on Super Saturday and he walked away with the R100 000 first prize.
Second-placed Selvan Pillay’s “Bourne Identity”, who finished five points behind the winning total of 226, could have overtaken the leader if either Punta Arenas or Light The Lights had found a place in the Gr 1 Champions Cup. However, it was not to be and he had to be content with the R20 000 runner-up award.
A loyal supporter of the competition Philani Mfeka was a further five points back and earned R10 000 for third place.
Jeremy’s key horses were Power King and Captain Of All.
Power King – big winner
He is an avid form studier and correctly predicted that Power King would enjoy a good Vodacom Durban July preparation and come in well weighted. He couldn’t see Captain Of All being beaten in either of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint or the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint. The Conglomerate was another horse he liked. However, he is still lamented opting for Alboran Sea at the expense of the high-scoring Carry On Alice, as his entries would otherwise have filled the first three positions. His other three entries ultimately finished joint sixth, joint 24th and joint 84th.
Jeremy usually submits ten entries, but this year only made a last minute decision to enter.
His winning entry was named after the first and most successful horse he has owned, the Duncan Howells-trained three-time winner and Listed placed Dominion Royale filly Common Law.
His love of the Sport Of Kings began as a kid when he used to accompany his grandmother to the Tote. A horse he remembered well around that time was the classy grey filly Breyani.
The bug bit in his early twenties his passion was fuelled through his friendship with Rajan Samuel, father of the jockey Marcus. Jeremey set himself goals in ownership and bought a share in Common Law. It was soon clear how talented she was when beating the useful older horse Rebel Patriot in a gallop.
At the age of 25 Jeremy led in his first winner when Common Law won a Maiden Plate over 1000m at Scottsville in her sixth career start under Alec Forbes, having finished second in her first two outings. She won next time out and a few runs later Jeremy asked Willie Figueroa to fly down to ride her in the Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes over 1000m at Scottsville, in which she finished a 1,55 length third to the decent sort Mocha Java.
Jeremey later took a share in the Howells-trained Restructure colt Tarkwa Gold who won one race.
His next three horses were with various other trainers and didn’t win a race between them so he took a break from ownership until buying a share in the Yadav Singh-trained Irish Eminence. He believed this Grey Eminence colt had real ability and he duly won easily second time out over 1200m at Scottsville before being plunged straight into the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Vodacom Durban July day. Irish Eminence was badly cut into that day and was never the same horse afterwards.
Jeremy has an interest once more as he has bought into a Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud-bred Gimmethregreenlight colt that was knocked down at this year’s Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale. The colt is the first foal of the twice-winning Jet Master mare Tisane and has been named Rev Your Engine. The experienced Summerveld conditioner Ivan Moore will train him and the nice-sized colt has already been assessed as having both a good action and temperament.
Jeremy was also shortlisted for a position as a presenter on Tellytrack recently and was hoping another such opportunity materialised in his home province of KZN.
The Charity Turf Challenge certainly adds a lot of interest to the Champions Season and is a must for any racing enthusiast. Furthermore, the African Horse Sickness (AHS) Trust benefits from the proceeds to the tune of R30,000.
1st COMMON LAW = 226 points
Horse1: MAJMU(AUS) Points: 0
Horse2: ALBORAN SEA(AUS) Points: 14
Horse3: INARA Points: 9
Horse4: FRENCH NAVY Points: 20
Horse5: THE CONGLOMERATE(AUS) Points: 24
Horse6: POWER KING Points: 39
Horse7: FUTURA Points: 21
Horse8: LEGISLATE Points: 45
Horse9: CAPTAIN OF ALL Points: 45
Horse10: HOT TICKET Points: 9
2nd The Bourne Prediction 1 = 221 points
Horse1: LEGISLATE Points: 45
Horse2: FUTURA Points: 21
Horse3: INARA Points: 9
Horse4: MAJMU(AUS) Points: 0
Horse5: LIGHT THE LIGHTS Points: 6
Horse6: PUNTA ARENAS Points: 29
Horse7: ALBORAN SEA(AUS) Points: 14
Horse8: CARRY ON ALICE Points: 34
Horse9: POWER KING Points: 39
Horse10: THE CONGLOMERATE(AUS) Points: 24
3rd MFEKA 02 = 216 points
Horse1: FRENCH NAVY Points: 20
Horse2: TROPHY WIFE Points: 10
Horse3: CAPTAIN OF ALL Points: 45
Horse4: FUTURA Points: 21
Horse5: LEGISLATE Points: 45
Horse6: CARRY ON ALICE Points: 34
Horse7: ACT OF WAR Points: 9
Horse8: HAMMIE’S HOOKER Points: 14
Horse9: HOT TICKET Points: 9
Horse10: INARA Points: 9
FINAL LEADER BOARD – TOP 100
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