Devin Habib, ruled out of racing for five years, is now flying from Johannesburg every week in a bid to establish himself with Cape Town’s trainers and resurrect his career.

Devin Habib

Habib,28, nephew of former top jock Donovan Habib, was flying high winning races like the Golden Slipper and the Emerald Cup when he was nearly killed in a car crash near Oliver Tambo airport in July 2010.

“I suffered severe head injuries and I was in hospital for a month while they released the pressure on my brain,” he recalls. “When I recovered I started a small tyre business because I didn’t think I would be able to return to racing. I still have the business and it helps me financially but now my main aim is racing once more.”

He returned ten months ago after getting his weight down from 70kg to 55kg – “it meant healthy eating and a whole new lifestyle” – but, although he managed  231 rides by the end of last season, he found winners hard to come by and he partnered just five. It was a far cry from the heady days of 2008/09 when he was in such demand that he had 770 rides and 57 winners.

At the beginning of last month he began commuting to Cape Town. “I had never ridden there before but I decided to look for a job , or at least a chance to ride there.”

“If I do get a job I will move down but it’s tougher coming back this time because I’m not getting the chances. I’ve had seconds and thirds at Kenilworth and Durbanville but I need a winner or two to get going – and I am going to persevere until I get there.”

Michael Clower