The Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift-sponsored Craig Zackey is enjoying the season of his life and became the first SA rider to break the 100 winner mark this term when he booted Tsunami Warning home for Dean Kannemeyer at the final Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting of 2024 on Saturday.
An illustration of the impact of Zackey’s best season ever is that he only reached the century mark in April last season – so he is effectively four months in front of where he was last term, when ending on 168 winners.
Craig Zackey drives Tsunami Warning to an emotional victory (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
His previous best was 138 winners, and he earned the the National Champion Apprentice title in the 2014/2015 season, when riding 58 winners.
On Saturday, the national log-leader appropriately registered his century on Tsunami Warning, who is raced by his sponsors of ten years, Mauritzfontein & Wilgerbosdrift, and trained by Dean Kannemeyer, for whom he is stable jockey. Zackey is also retained by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.
Tsunami Warning was given a forward ride and at the 300m looked a likely winner, before challenged by Sean Veale on the well-supported Trippi’s Silk.
In a reference to the questionable courage of both the top two finishers, Zackey suggested that they both knew how to get out of it.
Zackey boasts a 17,7% win strike-rate and is 4 winners ahead of Gavin Lerena (25,7%), with reigning champion Richard Fourie (22,8%) on 86 in third.
He is currently quoted at 22-10 with Hollywoodbets to win the national title. Please click here to see the betting.
