After the covid pandemic and economic turmoil of recent years, Christmas eve of 2017 feels like a lifetime away. For former SA champion apprentice Deryl Daniels it was the last time he rode competitively.
Today the once prodigal son, now a happier and more purposeful 46 year old, makes a comeback at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Deryl Daniels and mentor and friend Mike de Haast lead a Tristan Godden winner in (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
A man whose life has been marked by more rollercoaster moments than he’d probably care to remember, Deryl Daniels makes a brave and courageous return to the very public office of race-riding and declares himself ‘ready as I will ever be and in a good space’.
Talking to the Sporting Post on Tuesday evening, the straight-shooting Deryl confirmed that he believes that he has put in the physical and emotional man-hours and is looking forward to his three rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
“It’s a very emotional moment for me. And that’s a good sign in itself, as I was never really in touch before. And the natural spectrum of thoughts have crossed my mind. I’m 46. Am I crazy? Am I pushing myself too far? But my body and my mind say go for it, boy. It’s all thanks to the reality that I have been blessed by the love and support of so many wonderful people. I have undergone a spiritual awakening and if I can inspire just one lost soul that no hole is ever too dark or deep to come back from, then it’s all been worthwhile,” he says sincerely.
Deryl’s background story of early success, addiction and crazy grim spaces, and then the long rocky road to brighter days, has been well documented.
Read our interview of March 2023 for some background.
But this amazing tale of a comeback from the veritable gutter of life is not about the past – as he says, ‘I don’t live there anymore.’
Riding twelve horses in work every day since Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt opened a door for him 4 years ago, Deryl says he is fit.
Deryl has been working hard (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“I have also been running. But I do realise that race-riding is the only thing that gets one fit for race-riding,” he laughs as he reverts back to the many people he has to thank.
“It started with Peter Muscutt. And then Laura and Mike de Haast have been great friends and mentors. Mike got me up to his Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Mark Human to get a hip replacement done. Today Dr Human tells me I’m going up on his ‘wall of fame’. And then I cannot say enough thank you’s to Mikey Shaw and his wonderful Project Exodus. Then there is Louise Els and Nicholas Eaves and Donovan Dillon and Tristan Godden and Mark Naidoo. There are just so many wonderful, kind people along this journey. They actually know who they are. Maybe I shouldn’t be naming them as I may miss somebody obvious out!”
Deryl takes three rides on Wednesday. Ironically both Corinne Bestel and Glen Kotzen were supporters of his in the wild days of bygone years.
His last winner was Shizam – for Glen Kotzen- on 26 November 2017 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
So can Deryl make 31 May 2023 a memorable comeback?
“Believe me – it’s a big winner for me personally just walking through the gates of the Theatre of Dreams with my kit-bag! I’m galloping two horses for Peter Muscutt before the first. Then I ride Rare Flag for Corinne Bestel in the opener. It’s a Conditional Maiden and my mount is consistent. He must have a place chance. Then Glen Kotzen saddles King Of Seville in the third. He’s a lovely horse with three nice runs to his credit. It’s his first run on the polytrack and Glen has declared blinkers first time. Then I ride Forged In Ice for the Badenhorst-Kennedy partnership. She may just need this run.”
Deryl joined the SA Jockey Academy in 1992, in the same class as Brandon Morgenrood, Donovan Yeo, Piet Botha and Barend Vorster.
He was crowned SA Champion apprentice of 1995/96. His international cv is impressive and includes Hong Kong, New Zealand, Macau, Dubai, Kuwait, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, to mention a few.
We wish Deryl well.
The first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville is off at 12h25.
