The champion, leading the log by seven, said: “I am riding around six days a week but, if I get the support in Cape Town and rides that have a chance, I will go there too. Obviously a lot of people there have their own jockeys and they come first.

“At one stage last year I rode for virtually a whole month because I was getting the support and that gave me the encouragement to keep going. “

Khumalo, now as short as evens with Hollywoodbets, won on the Adam Marcus-trained Crystal Cavern on a rare Kenilworth visit on Monday and is on 125 winners while 17-10 second favourite Gavin Lerena is on 118. Lerena lost out to Anton Marcus by a single winner three seasons ago.

Six-time champion Piere Strydom (9-2) has ridden 116 winners. Greg Cheyne (110) is an 18-1 shot, Muzi Yeni (106) is 22-1 and dual champion Anthony Delpech (105 and fast making up ground after returning from a broken leg) is 16-1.