SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo found great form at a rain interrupted Turffontein meeting on Sunday when he booted home a hat-trick of winners to overshadow visiting international star Frankie Dettori.
S’manga Khumalo – in hot form
Only three jockeys shared the riding honours , with seven races being run and the final two events being abandoned.
Up-and-coming Craig Zackey got the meeting off to a rousing, albeit shaky, start for punters when he registered a R324-1 tote double.
Zackey steered Woodland Sage to victory for Gary Alexander in the first and then followed up with the recently disappointing Snowdonia in the second.
S’manga Khumalo, acting as captain of the local team facing an international team in the jockeys’ challenge, restored some respectability, winning the next two races for Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes feature winning trainer, Sean Tarry.
Frankie Dettori then celebrated a return after seven years away and his maiden Turffontein success, when he got Joey Soma’s Trippi filly Turn Back Time up to win the fifth race.
The Mayfair Speculators owned filly was winning her second race in five starts.
Frankie Dettori prepares for his flying dismount as Joey Soma (far right) and Gabi Soma (left) and their Groom lead in Mayfair Speculators owned Turn Back Time after winning the fifth race. Larry Wainstein is second from right (Pic – JC Photos)
Khumalo secured his personal hat-trick when he overcame a poor draw to win the sixth on Geoff Woodruff’s Brave Tin Soldier gelding, Duzi Moon.
Frankie Dettori – rode two winners
Dettori completed the double when he steered Seattle Lady home for an easy win for Johan Janse van Vuuren in the seventh.
His trademark flying dismount was well received by spectators.
The Italian secured the Victor Ludorum prize for the meeting and in the competition overall in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge.
The SA team secured the title for the seventh time in nine years.
