Friday morning started bright and early for the Asian Young Guns Challenge apprentices as they set off for morning trackwork at Clairwood Racecourse. Most of the apprentices got a feel for at least one of the horses that they will be riding on Saturday. Unfortunately, most of Dicky Lui’s mounts are based at the Summerveld Training Centre, but he did manage to have a chat to Sean Tarry, trainer of Circle of Speed. Although difficult, Circle of Speed is a very talented mare and is Lui’s best chance at a win. He was pleased to have had a chance to discuss the ride with her trainer.
Lui was then given an opportunity to canter two horses for top Cape Town trainer Dean Kannemeyer. One of his rides was this year’s sale-stopper at the Cape Thoroughbred Premier Yearling Sale, selling for three million rand (HK$2.2 million approx.). Lui was amazed by how different riding was in South Africa. “It is very different riding here. The tracks are very deep and heavy but the horses are lovely to ride and they don’t pull. I got a good feel from the baby that I cantered for Mr Kannemeyer.”
The all-important walking of the track followed with three-time South African Champion Jockey and current Riding Consultant to the South African Jockey Academy, Felix Coetzee, who walked the 2000m course as well as the 1200m straight with the apprentices. The riders also got a chance to see some of Coetzee’s Group 1 winning rides at Clairwood during the second day of the Summerhill workshop. Lui said that Coetzee gave him invaluable advice as to how to ride the track and especially the very long finishing straight.
“The rail is out four metres and in a 1450m race I saw that you don’t want to be caught too wide. The track is even all over and the going is softer than Hong Kong,” Lui commented after walking the course.
With Michael Roberts, eleven-time South African Champion Jockey-turned-trainer being one of the speakers on the second day of the Summerhill Workshop, Lui got a chance to discuss his two rides for Roberts, Tycoon Touch and Windy Express. Lui felt confident that Roberts had given him good advice and he is looking forward to riding Tycoon Touch and Windy Express for the experienced trainer. Lui will get a chance to discuss the last of his rides, Night Lock, with trainer Craig Eudey over lunch at the Jockey Academy later today.
Interestingly, the Asian Young Guns Challenge riders will be part of South African racing history as Saturday’s race meeting is the last to be held at the picturesque Clairwood Racecourse, with the property having been sold.
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Photo 1:
Dicky Lui rides a mount in morning trackwork at Clairwood Racecourse on Friday morning.
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Photo 2:
Felix Coetzee (left), Riding Consultant to the South African Jockey Academy, accompanies Hong Kong Champion Apprentice Jockey Dicky Lui (center) and other apprentices to walk the turf track of Clairwood Racecourse.
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