An apparent confusion over the position of the winning post at Turffontein on Saturday had top Cape jockey Grant van Niekerk in front of the Stipendiary Stewards after the running of the Listed Golden Loom Handicap.
Grant van Niekerk – in his Hong Kong days (Pic – HKJC)
Van Niekerk, who joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2007 and has ridden ten Graded winners as well as winners in Hong Kong, told the Stipes that he had ridden the Ashley Fortune-trained gelding with the hands in a prominent position early on.
He had elected to make his run on the inside of Singforafa at the 400m as he had anticipated that the Spies filly would commence to roll outwards at that point.
When questioned regarding a change of vigour in his riding style in the closing stages, Van Niekerk told the Stipes that he had confused the finishing post of the inside track in relation to his position at the 100m in this race on the standside track, and that this was the reason why he had paused with his riding at this stage of the race.
The rider was advised that this explanation would be reported and even though they were satisfied that this had not cost him a place, he is required to be more aware of his surroundings and that his status as a senior rider requires him to be more professional in this regard.
Captain Hindsight (15-2) ran eighth and 3,50 lengths off the winner, Bold Ransom.
