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Globetrotting jockey, Francois Herholdt, has returned home after seven years
of travel.. With the likes of Jeff Lloyd, Glynn Schofield, Kevin Shea, Sherman
Brown and Barend Voster leaving a huge gap in the South African market, the 33
year-old with over 17 years riding experience, is sure to make an impact at
local tracks in the near future
When did you join the Jockey Academy? 1989
Mention a few members of your draft Rene Bonham, Craige Arnold, Heinz
Runge, Rudolph Harmse and Clinton Louw.
Name your first winner A horse called Wayward Star for Herman Brown
snr
How many winners have you ridden? Locally about 700 and
internationally roughly 250 (168 in Mauritius)
What has been the highlight of your career? Winning the Mauritian
Jockey Championship in 2001 and winning the Daily News aboard Imperial Dispatch
for Mike Azzie.
What is the best horse that you have ever ridden? Imperial Dispatch
– my first GRI winner
You have ridden in several countries tell us about some of your
experiences
I have ridden in Mauritius, Dubai, Macau, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, France and
Zimbabwe. Mauritius – Did not enjoy my first spell there but gradually
grew to love it. Won the Jockey`s Title in 2001 beating Robbie Hill Dubai–
Rode for Nick Robb – Rode 40 wins in Dubai Saudi Arabia – Really
top-class racing. The same team that built Santa Anita designed the track. Won
The King`s Cup for the ruler of the country King Abdullah Singapore –
Rode for Mike Clements (60% of my mounts placed 4 wins 11 seconds!!!!) and ran
second in the Singapore Guineas. France– Rode for ten days there and
really rate the Jocks on par with South African boys. Competed against the likes
of Gary Stevens, Christophe Soumillion and Olivier Peslier and really enjoyed
riding against such professionals. Macau– I really didn`t enjoy
riding there as there were too few rides available (only 500 horse in training
and 30 odd Jockeys so difficult to get rides) but the social side of things was
very enjoyable. Zimbabwe– Won the Tankard for Neil Bruss aboard Count
Cambridge, which was special, as Neil had never won the race before. I enjoyed
going up to Zim but eventually the political situation there cAUSed many
trainers to leave or give up training and it became financially impractical to
continue flying up there.
I have had opportunities to ride in the UK, USA and India and will keep my
options open if the right situation arises.
Why have you decided to return to South Africa? My children, aged 9
and 7, have reached the age where they need stability so traveling does not
suite us at present. I`m 33-years-old and need to build my career here now. My
wife comes from a racing background (her grandfather was a bookmaker) and has
often traveled with me but I think it is about time that I settled down now for
the sake of the family.
Where will you be based and will you be riding work at the various
centres? I will be based in Gauteng and will be riding work at all the
training centres
What is your current riding weight? I`m about 54kg, but I will be
down to 52kg in a few weeks as the workload in South Africa is far more than in
Mauritius.
Source: Racing Association
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