Craig Zackey leads the SA champion apprentice log
The highs and lows of race-riding were experienced in full colour by leading apprentice Craig Zackey at Turffontein on Saturday. After winning the third race and taking the lead at the top of the SA champion apprentice log in the fourth, he found himself flying out of the saddle at the 300m marker in the ninth race, after his mount clipped heels.
The quietly spoken Zackey has soared in confidence since booting home Arabian Beat to register a career first Gr1 victory at Turffontein on Champions Day. On the same afternoon he rode J’s Outsider to win the Gr2 Gold Bowl.
Zackey has gone from a quiet fourth spot on the apprentice log early in May and on Saturday he drew level with Ryan Munger when steering Old Em home for Sean Tarry to notch up his 36th winner of the season.
He then won the very next race on his favourite, Arabian Beat. Dominic Zaki’s son of Black Minnaloushe looks a very special young sprinter in the making.
Zackey rode an extraordinary eleven winners in the month of May and was pleased to inform his followers that, but for a few scratches on his face and some bruising on his legs, he was ready to ride at the Vaal on Thursday.
“I appreciate all the enquiries from concerned folk. It was an accident that happens in racing. Callan Murray’s mount shifted in onto my filly Tabanna and despite me checking my mount, she clipped Callan’s horse’s heels. I went straight over Tabanna’s head and she kept on galloping. I am just glad that no riders or horses were injured. I was automatically stood down for 48 hours so couldn’t ride at Flamingo Park on Monday. But I will be back at the Vaal on Thursday,” he said.
Callan Murray, who is also riding with great confidence since relocating to Joburg, picked up a week’s suspension.
The Stipes Report excerpt from race 9 tells the story:
Approaching the 300m Apprentice C Zackey was dislodged from TABANNA when it clipped the heels of AL FARABI (*C Murray), which shifted in away from VIA DELLA TIGRE (D Smith).
Apprentice C Murray signed an Admission of Guilt for a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of AL FARABI, failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to TABANNA (*C Zackey) when he shifted in at the 300m. He was suspended from riding in races for a period of 7 days.
Ryan Munger rode a cracker to win the last race at Flamingo Park on Monday on Yesan Star, to draw level with Zackey on the log.
