In 2013 S’Manga Khumalo made racing history by becoming the first black African jockey to win the Durban July, South Africa's most prestigious race. He made more history by becoming the first black champion jockey in South Africa earlier this year and, as of last weekend, was second in the current championship.
Talking to Khumalo it is clear that he now also wants to make his mark on the world stage and there will be no better place to do that than at the LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley on 10 December.
“I've wanted to ride in Hong Kong for a long time, and I've had a smile on my face ever since I got this invitation,” said Khumalo, who has just turned 29 and has ridden almost 900 winners, which is not bad for a man who - as a 14-year-old boy - had never seen a horse let alone a horse race.
“To go out there and show your talent alongside jockeys you had admired from the TV screen really is something I never even dreamed would happen.”
It already has happened and a few months ago he competed in the UK's prestigious Shergar Cup at Ascot, which he describes as “one of the proudest moments” in his career so far.
One of five children of a domestic worker he was brought up in the Durban township of Kwa Mashu, and those who know South Africa will be aware of the fairly ferocious reputation of this place. Being very small and light was hardly a help in such a tough environment, but, with a loving family behind him, he was steered away from danger and towards the best available education.
His life changed direction the day the school was visited by a talent scout from South Africa's jockeys' academy. Being short and slight suddenly became an advantage, and initial scepticism when he was offered a place became enthusiasm as he started research and to read newspaper articles about the world of racing.
When confronted by racehorses themselves, he admits initial intimidation by the size and strength of the exotic creatures that had suddenly entered his life, but he quickly started to bond with thoroughbreds even describing them as “such loving animals”.
He made few headlines with his first winner in the much less competitive racing environment of Zimbabwe but when a widely-acclaimed ride from Khumalo in front of 50,000 spectators in last year's Durban July at Greyville took him into the history books. He said: "It felt like that first winner all over again and I was ecstatic and emotional."
As to the development of his own riding style, he said: “I tried to blend the techniques of the three of my heroes - Piere Strydom, Weichong Marwing and Anthony Delpech.” And the statistics increasingly reveal just how effective is Khumalo's streamlined crouch style.
Fashion-wise, he also cuts a dash with blonde hair, diamond ear studs and various exotic tattoos but there's nothing shallow about this man who strives to encourage other black South African jockeys to also reach for the sky.
As far as his visit to Hong Kong is concerned he’ll be sticking around for a few days after the IJC, and he wants to remind local trainers that: "I'll still be in Hong Kong for the LONGINES HKIR and if you want to see what S'manga Khumalo can do, I'm available!"
