BANG-BANG! CHEYNE IS OFF THE MARK

The South African jockey ranks lost one of its most experienced riders when Gr1 winning multiple regional champion Greg Cheyne and his wife Claire emigrated to the UK almost a year ago.

Cheyne capped an emotional farewell at his home track Hollywoodbets Kenilworth by producing a superb ride to get Walk Of Fame home for his longtime sponsors Ridgemont Highlands in the

Western Province Nomads Gr3 Champagne Stakes, the final Cape feature of that season – and which was to be his penultimate hometown ride.

The ten-times East Cape Champion jockey has continued, despite having to kick his heels while obtaining a different visa, from where he left off with two British winners from his first two winning rides in the past fortnight – a terrific start by all accounts!

Greg and his wife Claire are both employed at William Haggas’s Somerville Lodge Stables in the heart of Newmarket. Claire has several courses under her belt, including a Diploma in Equine Physiotherapy and most recently The Diploma in Stud Practice & Management at The National Stud in Newmarket, UK.

The couple are excited at their new life and have just purchased a new home.

Speaking to the Sporting Post earlier this week, Greg explained that he could not obtain a riding licence as he needed to apply for a new visa.

“It took some time as these processes do. Then I had to jump through a few hoops with the British Horseracing Authority. There were tests and applications – quite a rigmarole, it was, but it worked out well. And I made a dream start when winning on Eastern Charm at Yarmouth. Then just days later, Kyle Strydom went down with flu and I picked up a ride on Silver Sword for Dylan Cunha and won again. I know Dylan well from back home. I rode winners for him as a trainer, and right back to the days in Gqeberha when he was an assistant to Justin

Snaith. So it’s all quite emotional and sentimental,” said the 46 year old, who is clearly enjoying life in his new homeland.

“The icy cold winters take some getting used to – believe me! It can get quite boring as only a handful of horses of the stable of 200 are in work. The rest are just trotting for two to three months. But I am really enjoying the experience of working for a top trainer and have learnt so much – particularly stable management. The facilities can’t be compared to SA but it’s an eye opener and amazingly professional!”

Greg says that it’s also great to be able to ride on different tracks, but he says getting the rides is very competitive!

“Believe me, it’s pretty tough to get rides and amazingly competitive. I have signed up an agent and for now we will see how things go. I could not have hoped for a better start, though!”

The Pretoria-born 46 year old, who has ridden over 2300 winners, joined the world renowned SA Jockey Academy in 1991 alongside the now late Alec Forbes, Marcus Samuel and Paul Devlin.

Outside of South Africa, he has ridden in Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Germany, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau, winning the Gr1 Malaysia Sprint and the Malaysian International Jockeys Challenge.