How did you involved in racing?

I always had a keen interest in horses, I grew up on a smallholding and took a great interest animals in general and if I didn’t go on to be a jockey, I had wanted to study to be a vet. I rode a lot with a friend who happened to see an advert in a newspaper advertising the South African Jockeys Academy and a career as a jockey and she immediately thought of me. So I applied.

Are you from a racing background?

No, not at all, I’m not even from a horsey background!

How long did you ride for and why did you stop?

I had my first race ride on 28 June 1997 and my last on the 10 October 2011. I was injured in the gates in January of 2011 and later it was discovered  I had fractured my back. It was the second time I had done so. I rested and rehabilitated and tried to return to racing a few months later, but my body couldn’t cope and on advice of orthopaedic surgeons and an occupational therapist I gave racing up.

Who did you ride most for and what was your biggest day in racing?

I rode for Alan Greeff in Port Elizabeth. I also worked as an (unlicensed obviously), assistant for his yard and will always be grateful, for although I didn’t get the choice of rides, I was well supported always having plenty of rides and in big yards, second and third choice horses often are still good enough to win. I have a few days that stand out for me, I rode 3 winners on a day a few times and managed to win a few of the listed races that PE has. The Ladies Pendant being a lucky one for me, I won that twice. Often though, it’s not always the big days that are memorable or special, sometimes it can be a little maiden plate, but the horse was really special, or you worked really hard on a horse and it finally cracked a win, those days were also really special.....

Who was the best horse you rode?

Definitely Silver Nun, she and I won 6 races including the Lady’s Pendant and the East Cape Sprint Cup where she actually took on PE sprint champ Hear the Drums and carrying level weights with him, beat him! She also went on to be PE Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year for that season.

Approximately how many winners did you ride?

I rode about 200 winners.

Which was your favourite track while riding?

I enjoyed both of Port Elizabeth’s tracks as they were so different. Fairview is a lovely gradual, fair course. Arlington was a tight, racy course. They both were great to ride.

How did you get involved in presenting?

I was actually at races for the day, sitting at a table with Alan Greeff and Dr Ashley Parker and there was an opening for a presenter and they thought I should give it a shot. I didn’t even have time to consider, they called Fairview Manager Luciano Passerini over and he was on the phone to Rod McCurdy and within a week I was up in Jo’burg learning the ropes. It was a whirlwind, but I am so glad they gave me the nudge I needed!

How do you prepare for a day of presenting?

Port Elizabeth as a rule, races every Friday with occasional mid week racing. For a normal once a week scenario I’d start on Monday evening by taking a look through the final fields (scratchings would have taken place that morning), and just go through the names. Even without form, I know them well enough to know who to be interested in. Then I write down all the trainers and their horses names in preparation for getting their comments. The race card normally arrives Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning and then the studying gets going. I will put in at least 8 hours on a card before starting to work on my perms. Wednesday morning I’m up at 4:20am and I go chat to trainers and get their thoughts on their runners. I am VERY lucky in PE, the trainers are so helpful and it’s also a great way to catch up with everyone. I work out my exotics and my best and value bets which get emailed to Tellytrack on Thursday night. They phone me early on race day morning, between 5:30 and 5:45 to do the First Four segment (my picks for the first four in each race) and then a bit later for the First Call segment. Then it’s off to races for the day.

Which tools as a presenter/punter would you recommend?

I love the Computaform, it has a wealth of information, it is fantastic. I also cannot get by without Formgrids, that site is amazing and I use it for every single race that I study. On the day, nothing beats watching the field canter to post, you’d be amazed how much a horse can tell you on the way to post!

Do you have a favourite race day on the calendar?

I’m very boring and would have to go with the vast majority of people and say my favourite horse racing event is the July.... It’s impossible not get July Fever! 

Who has inspired you in racing?

Of recent, having taken a new turn in racing, not being in the saddle, but behind a desk, I must say I really enjoy reading Robyn Louw’s pieces for Sporting Post. She really has a talent for writing and a passion for the sport and the horse, which really shines through in her work. I hope my enthusiasm is as evident in my work as it is in hers.

Do you still ride at all?

I have two of my own horses and I enjoy riding them. I play beginner polocrosse, but nothing nearly as fast and furious as raceriding unfortunately. I miss it desperately...

What advice would give a young woman keen to get involved in either race riding or presenting?

They are two very different things, so the advice would not be the same! For either though, horseracing is a very tough game, where most are quick to judge. You need a thick skin, but always do your best, let your work ethic speak for you.

What goals do you have for racing?

Not quite sure how to interpret this one.....  But racing itself should make it, it’s goal to attract younger owners. Racing doesn’t have an option but to try and attract younger people if it wants to survive.  It must do!

Is there anything in racing you wish could be changed?

It’s amazing that women all over the world are making such in roads as jockeys and yet in South Africa we battle. I know it is because of a myriad of factors, but I keep hoping a woman will come through and shine! Ladies through out racing have made their mark and it would be great to see it happen in the ranks of the jockeys too.