KZN’s record-breaking Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech has flown over to the UK where he will ride the Alec Laird-trained J&B Met winner Smart Call in Saturday’s Group 1 Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes over a mile at Newmarket.

Delpech will also ride the crack Ideal World mare in the forthcoming Breeder’s Cup meeting.

Delpech has recently been retained by Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud and riding the Mauritzfontein Stud-owned horses was also part of the agreement.

Smart Call was bred and is owned by Mauritzfontein Stud, which is run by Mary Slack’s daughter Jessica.

Saturday’s race is mainly being seen as a preparation run for Smart Call’s Breeder’s Cup mission, where she will run in the Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Turf. It will provide an ideal opportunity for Delpech to get a feel of Smart Call.

This will be the first time Delpech has ridden in the UK. The race, which will be run on The Rowley Mile racecourse, is due to start at 5pm South African time.

Summerveld trainer Dennis Drier and his wife Gill will be among the spectators at the race.

They were invited by Jessica Slack to attend and hopefully buy some horses at Ireland’s Premier Yearling Sale this week, the Goffs Orby Sale, and they will also attend the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with her at Newmarket next week.

David Thiselton