Shergar Cup - Preview & Profiles

Betting for tomorrow's Shergar Cup and Ascot card has been priced up. There is also betting on the winning team. Should be a great days racing!

Thanks Dev

If you guys still have the channel4 link saved you can watch the morning line live from Ascot at 9am tomorrow

Dave Scott wrote: Looking forward to this
Chicken what's your problem with Anton?
He is a world class jock who could hold his own anywhere on the planet as many of the top SA jocks.

marcus just knows how to lose a race when we need him to win.

Anesh maybe a few details?

Txs

Anesh wrote:

Dave Scott wrote: Looking forward to this
Chicken what's your problem with Anton?
He is a world class jock who could hold his own anywhere on the planet as many of the top SA jocks.

marcus just knows how to lose a race when we need him to win.

Not a jockey in SA that I would trust more with my money my wife my horse ....

Heavy rain and not stopping where I am and that's 20 miles from Ascot.The ground looks like it will
be soft and a lot of Blings mounts don't want soft/ heavy conditions

That's a pity Dave and txs for update

THERE has been a significant going change at Ascot for today’s annual Shergar Cup fixture after 12mm of rain overnight turned the ground to good, good to soft in places (from good to firm).

S’manga ‘Bling’ Khumalo (Rest of the World)
Profile

Born: November 29, 1985, Durban, South Africa. Background: He grew up in the KwaMashu township to the north of Durban. One of five children (three sisters and a brother), Khumalo’s mother was a domestic worker. He had no interest in horseracing until a recruitment officer from the Durban jockey academy visited his school - Mzuvele High School - and suggested that the diminutive teenager should become a jockey. Inspired by the story of Gift Funeka, who was also from KwaMashu and became the first black jockey to ride in the Durban July in 2000, Khumalo joined Durban jockey academy at the age of 14 and spent five years learning how to ride. He spent six months as an apprentice in Zimbabwe, where he enjoyed a first winner on board the Lisa Harris-trained Lightning Dawn at Borrowdale on September 7, 2003. He moved to Johannesburg to become stable apprentice to Alec Laird and also started to ride for Cyril Naidoo, Sean Tarry, Chris Erasmus and Joey Soma. He became the first indigenous African jockey to ride in Australia in 2009, and has also ridden in Kenya and Mauritius. Currently lives in Glenada, Johannesburg. Racing Achievements: has ridden more than 750 winners, including eight Grade One victories. Became the first black jockey to win the Durban July when partnering Heavy Metal to glory in July, 2013. Big Race Wins: Horse Chestnut Stakes (2011 Dancewiththedevil), Empress Club Stakes (2011 Dancewiththedevil, 2014 Along Came Polly), Summer Cup (2012 Wagner), President’s Champions Challenger (2013 Heavy Metal), Durban July (2013 Heavy Metal), Golden Slipper (2013 For The Lads), SA Nursery (2014 Carry On Alice).

How did you get the nickname 'Bling'?

It was because of my peroxide blonde hair. It’s not blonde today, though, I was missed my flight so the hair dye had to wait.

How did you get your big break?

I think when I first rode in the Durban July and things have got better and better since then. My career highlight came in the same race when I won it last year.

How much are you looking forward to the Shergar Cup?

I’m so excited. It’s a real honour to be asked to race in the UK.

Are you excited by the prospect of riding at Ascot?

Yes. I’ve never ridden here before and I am very happy to be here.

How are you enjoying being in the UK?

It’s great, it’s lots of fun. It’s busy promoting the event but it’s great for the sport and at least I get to see a bit of London.

Have you got any superstitions before you go out to ride?

No, I just go out there and ride the horses.

What do you expect to be the main difference to riding in the UK and in South Africa?

Our tracks in South Africa are very flat, but Ascot is up and down and round and up again so it’s a challenge. I’ll have to make sure I stay on the horse!

What’s the best horse you’ve ridden in South Africa?

Heavy Metal. He won the President’s Champions Challenger and the Durban July for me. I believe there is a horse in the UK with the same name.

Which is your favourite horse in training and why?

Carry On Alice after winning the SA Nursery for me recently.

How confident are you that the Rest Of The World team can win?

Our captain Craig Williams is a great jockey and I’m sure he can inspire us to victory.

Goldream 4/1 in the opener looks the likely winner, Trainer does very well with his sprinters