‘Four Wheel’ Veale, The Real Deal!

With a career first four-timer at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, Sean Veale is on top of the world.

A decision to travel back to his Mother City hometown has revived the fortunes of the lightweight jockey.

That, coupled on the tote with the fact that he feels that he has grown up and matured, means that at 36 he is loving life as a dedicated husband and Dad to two energetic boys.

We haven’t chatted much to the low-profile rider over the two decades since he steered the Modern Day filly Emmency home to celebrate his maiden career winner.

It was August 2002. The venue was Clairwood, a racetrack that won’t be too familiar to the tech-savvy Generation Z’ers amongst us. A lot has changed since. Loadshedding is a part of life. Clairwood’s become a fondly remembered chapter of our 21st century history. The airport’s moved to the North. Sean Veale’s grown up. The boy’s become a man.

But 4 winners and two seconds on a magic kind of Monday for the ever-smiling Veale means we now find ourselves with a very good reason to catch up with the former Mitchell’s Plain resident!

Sean rode the first three winners on the all-weather card (two for Dennis Drier and the first of a double for Duncan Howells) on a memorable afternoon, went second in the fourth and fifth, and crowned the quartet with a superb ride on Purple Operator for the Hollywood Syndicate in the penultimate race of the day.

The eternally modest pro says he ‘thinks’ that it’s probably his first four-timer.

“Nobody is keeping track. You are only as good as your last winner anyway,” he laughs philosophically as he unpacks his kit-bag at his Assagay home after a tedious drive from Hollywoodbets Greyville through the rush-hour traffic.

“You know, I believe it’s all about confidence and maturity. I am so very lucky. I have a beautiful family and the best job in the world – and that’s the problem, as I was probably treating it like a job. Maybe taking too much for granted. One day I decided to change my attitude – change the way I did things,” he says with a serious demeanour.

“My timing was good. I was travelling to Cape Town and a winner or two in the beautiful city ignited the fire. It’s interesting, in KZN every yard has their jockeys. You can ride work here, there, and just about everywhere. You won’t get the extra rides. But in Cape Town, I got lucky. They at least give you something – they throw one a bone. I converted a few chances and one thing led to another. I say again, it’s called confidence and it’s a major factor in any jockey’s success.”

The fact that the experienced Sean works hard travelling to the Cape and back, and rides at 52kgs, certainly increases the chances of his finding a decent ride or three. And he lives by the ‘happy wife, happy life’ credo, with the lovely Maxine and their energy sapping sons, Cody (10) and Troy (4).

“My father-in-law passed away two months ago. We are battling to move on from there but have a great tight-knit support network here. My wife, my mom-in-law, my two sisters-in-law. My sons. We have fun, and the family is very close.”

He says the success in the Cape prompted a thought to pack and move down South.

“We thought about it. But my wife is studying here and we have the family close. So it would not have made complete sense really and soon they are all up here anyway for the champions season. The boys have their friends at school too. I will rather travel up and down- I have a good jockey mate down there on the West Coast who I stay with. And this coming weekend I’m at home with the family – there is no Cape racing,” he smiles broadly.

Professional sportsmen often nominate a mentor – somebody they look to for direction and guidance.

“Mr Dennis Drier will always be the boss. He gave me a big chance when I really needed it. Even if the yard is a bit quieter now than we once were. From a riding angle, I have to acknowledge Anton Marcus. What a professional. What a man. What a jockey. He has lifted me up and guided me. I owe Anton, I really do.”

Things have come together for Sean Veale, who adds a closing word of thanks to his sponsor, John Doe, a funeral undertaker business owned by one of his closest friends.

In his current form, the late-maturing talent that is Sean Veale looks the real deal, and well set to build on his 36 winners at a 13% strike-rate for the term.

Here’s a go-pro of Sean riding Senso Unico in the Track & Ball Derby – worth a watch: