THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF SIMULCASTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA…
Simulcasts of racing from South Africa have always been heart-in-the-mouth stuff, though certainly entertaining in an almost perverse way.
Firstly, wherever the races are held, from everything we know, every effort is taken when knowing that these races are to be shown in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is very big dim sums to the South African racing industry.
After all, South African riders and trainers are a vital part of the history of Hong Kong racing with many of the jockeys either riding or having ridden in the city well known to today’s racing fans.
For them, these simulcasts means following the local tote odds and betting on those names familiar to Hong Kong- Callan Murray, Richard Fourie, Grant van Niekerk etc.
Form? What form? Ignorance is bliss.
With the HKJC’s World Pool operating for last weekend’s Hollywoodbet Durban July and the red Taipan carpet rolled out, what wasn’t was in the cards was for one of the Chinese television commentators to announce to viewers that racing in South Africa is “fixed”.
It might have been about one particular race and which could have been what most of us saw and resulted in this rather unnecessary bit of publicity.
How this happened was that the commentator in Hong Kong didn’t realise his mic was on and, well, let rip- and with the recording making the rounds on Facebook before one could say, well, “FREE dim sum!”
What probably set off his outburst was the race where the galloper ironically named Questioning was apparently responsible for a questionable ride by champion rider Richard Fourie, below, which earned him a three day suspension.
What wasn’t missed by some viewers was the the war of words after they passed the winning post between Grant van Niekerk, who has ridden in Hong Kong with good success, and Fourie.
Richard Fourie is a very good rider who somewhat teased the HKJC with two stop/starts seasons in the city until he stopped the foreplay to focus on becoming the country’s champion rider and enjoy his fishing.
As for the simulcast in Hong Kong on Sunday night, other than the race caller, who definitely must be an acquired taste, and those awkward looking and sounding prize giving ceremonies, was losing part of the vision to one particular race.
This happened while a race was taking place and which suddenly made way for a random top shot of Durban traffic.
Maybe the cameraman fell off his tree?
Still, it was good to see Lyle Hewitson win on 20-1 pop Eric Dubois in the Group 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Stakes for trainer Louis Goosen with friends and family present, including one year old son Myles.
On the subject of popping up, it’s always good to see French rider Mickaelle Michel popping up and these days, the very popular 30-year old has been in the limelight as usual, this time riding winners in South Africa.
Viewers saw her produce another very good ride on Sunday before, one understands, leaving for a break.
Let’s not forget that Mickaelle Michel was an “idol jockey” in Japan a few years ago with a very big fan base.
She was in Japan studying to write and read Japanese- prerequisites to obtain full time in the country. It appears that like Joao Moreira, she failed to pass.
Has she applied for a short term license to ride in Hong Kong? No idea, but if she rode in Hong Kong, we’re willing to bet that Mickaelle Michel would quickly be one of the most popular riders plying their trade in Hong Kong and a marketing dream.
Certainly not going to be popular with the mighty HKJC is this oddity posted on X this week and said to have happened in Hong Kong.
Comments