Kranji jockey Nooresh Juglall may not have landed the main prize at South Africa’s biggest raceday on Saturday, but he did not return home empty-handed either.
The Mauritian rider and 25-1 shot Safe Harbour could only beat one home (17 from 18) in the Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July (2200m) which was won by last year’s runner-up (to The Conglomerate) Marinaresco (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) in a close finish.
But one race earlier, Juglall was triumphant aboard 14-1 chance Purple Diamond (also trained by Safe Harbour’s trainer Sean Tarry) who held the fast-finishing Ancestry (Fayd’Herbe) by a whisker to land the ZAR600,000 (S$63,000) Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe (1400m) a two-year-old feature which was only recently still a Grade 1 event.
“It was a great honour to be given the opportunity to ride in my hometown again, especially at such a prestigious event as the Durban July meeting,” said Juglall.
“I didn’t win the big race but it was a great thrill to still win a Grade 2 race, which was a Grade 1 race when I was still riding in South Africa.
“The colt (Purple Diamond - pictured) travelled in a nice spot on the rails in fifth spot. At the top of the straight, I thought of going to the outside for a second but changed my mind and stuck to the inside.
“Luckily for me, the gap came up. He took a bit of time to unwind in the straight, and when the other horse came up to me, I got a bit worried but my horse has got a big heart and he dug down deep, and I’m sure he’s got a great future in front of him.
“Without the opportunity I was given in South Africa, I wouldn’t have made it, so big thanks to the (South African Jockey) Academy for giving me the opportunity to prove myself, and especially all the trainers from Day 1.
“I’d also like to thank the Singapore Turf Club for allowing me to go to South Africa and my main supporter Ricardo Le Grange, as well as Patrick Shaw for helping with some rides on Saturday.”
Booked on 10 rides all-up, including one pick-up ride, Juglall came up with a third place on Bella Sonata for trainer Gavin van Zyl in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes (1600m) as his next best result.
It was, however, not all good news for Juglall, as besides not coming up roses in the race that mattered, he also incurred the wrath of the Greyville stewards.
“I was found guilty of interference at the 1800m mark in the July. I barely touched the other horse, but the Stewards gave me seven days (equivalent to one week in Singapore),” said the former two-time South African champion apprentice jockey about the only blemish to the otherwise successful lightning trip back to his land of apprenticeship, his first since relocating to Singapore in 2014.
“The filly (Safe Harbour) pulled too hard. From her wide draw (11), I had to let her roll to the front, and as she was caught wide throughout, she compounded badly in the straight.
“As I am booked to ride at the Derby meeting in Singapore, the suspension will be deferred to next week, meaning I will miss the 14th and 16th July meetings.
“I came back to Singapore on Monday morning, and will now gear up for the Derby in which I ride Excellency. I ride him in a grass gallop with Song To The Moon tomorrow.”
