RIDE OF THE MONTH: LOUIE MXOTHWA

The 12th in our popular series of the most eye-catching rides by a Cape-based jockey each month. We ask former WSB CPT Met-winning rider and renowned jockey MJ Byleveld, now a member of Cape Racing’s on-course commentary team, for his verdict.

Ride Of The Month (May): Luyolo Mxothwa – Otto Luyken

There’s a great vibe and energy in the jockeys’ room these days – I suppose the South African word for it is ‘gees’ – and as it so happens this month a few of those characters have also made a noise on the track.

As one might have come to expect, Richard Fourie had the most number of winners in the region for the season for the fifth month this season, but he was one of 15 riders to have a winner across the six meetings that were held.

It was good to see young Brevan Plaatjies mixing it with the big boys and he enjoyed four wins, a number only bettered by Aldo Domeyer and Gavin Lerena and the same as Andrew Fortune and JP van der Merwe!

I felt that this month there was a lot of quality on display. I managed to narrow the list down to five rides and all of Louie “Muscle Man” Mxothwa, Corne Orffer, JP, Andrew and Aldo featured in my shortlist.

On 13 May, Corne made my black book when he got a short-head verdict on La Divina over Lady Look Alike, ridden by Louie. This was a good piece of riding from the front and he managed to hang on for the win.

On the 21st, JP caught everyone napping – including the punters who allowed a Justin Snaith-trained runner to start 50-1 – when he came from last to win going away on Champagne Kisses. Drawn 15 over this 1200m sprint, JP stuck to his guns and raced alone down the outside of the track, with all the others on the middle inside. It was a gamble, but paid off handsomely.

Lhasa looked as though she had the race sewn up, but Champagne Kisses flashed home down the outside to win going away by 1.25 lengths. It was a brave ride.

Another two rides came on the day my ‘Ride of the Month’ also popped up.

Aldo looked to have the race won with the favourite Air Raid, but JP on Dawn Till Dusk arrived and to the naked eye had got the verdict on the line, but Aldo had summoned one last stretch from Air Raid and the official photo showed that he had indeed won. It was a never-say-die response from Aldo.

On the same day Andrew rode a cracker to get English Mistress through a gap late on and actually win a good race to get the better of Richard on Baron Rouge.

My Ride of the Month came on the same day, in the Listed Pocket Power Stakes.

I really don’t know how Louie managed to get Otto Luyken up to beat Garrix on the line. It was only a field of seven, and he had his mount at the front, but for all the money in the world it

looked like Gavin on Garrix had his number when he went past him, heading into the closing stages. Louie summoned all his strength and got the verdict for owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, who had earlier in the day seen a different outcome to a similarly close finish with Dawn Till Dusk. That’s racing for you!

MJ’s past rides of the month

June: Oswald Noach – Little Miss Pink

July: Craig Zackey – Green Isle

August: Corne Orffer – Master Redoute

September: Oswald Noach – Princess Of Bayeux

October: Richard Fourie – King Viserys

November: Gavin Lerena – World Of Pleasure

December: Chad Little – Azzurri

January: Gavin Lerena – Rascova

February: JP van der Merwe – Callmegetrix

March: Richard Fourie – Okhavango

April: Andrew Fortune – English Mistress