Meanwhile, the ongoing relationship between Korean and South African racing is set to step up another gear after continuing negotiations and the Korean Racing Authority (KRA) have also announced that they have opened their doors to foreign owners, which provides an opportunity to race for the third highest prize money in the world .

Rice, by all accounts, became the first trainer in Korean history to have a winner with his first runner on January 24 this year and currently, after a double on October 15 from just two runners, he stands on 23 winners. However that has come from just 102 runners and has been achieved at a fantastic strike rate of 22,5%. After the October 15 meeting Rice was in 11th place on the Busan trainer’s log. However, his strike rate in this major racing centre is the third highest behind only the top two on the log, Kim Young Kwan and Peter Michael Wolsley. Rice has also had ten second places and four thirds.

The on course attendance figures in Korea are absolutely phenomenal and for example the average Sunday meeting attendance in 2010 was 192,999, although this dropped to 175,122 in 2011.

Fanatical racegoers have learnt that when a Rice horse is turned out it will be fit and well and ready to win. Rice’s success has caused the powers that be to sit up and take notice and the KRA have now requested that a South African jockey relocate on a permanent basis, although the criteria includes that he or she must have a winning percentage of at least 8%.

Furthermore, the KRA recently announced that they have opened their doors to foreign owners, meaning that South African owners would be able to buy and race horses there. However, the application in this regard is only open for a limited period and apparently closes in about two weeks time.

Korea has a Tote Monopoly and their prizemoney ranks third in the world behind only Hong Kong and Dubai. In 2012 they boasted a US$7.4-billion industry, and to put that into perspective an average weekend’s take at their three racetracks equaled that of all tracks in the United States over the same period.

The system of ownership in Korea is virtually flawless and prevents a problem trainers in South Africa face of non-paying clients. The KRA travel to foreign countries like Australia to buy horses that they believe will improve their stud book and then put them on auction in Korea. Owners that have been granted the right to race can buy these horses, but quickly lose this right if they fall behind in their payments to trainers.

South African racing and the KRA currently have a “twinning” agreement, which manifests in such events as the KRA Guineas meeting held in honour of South Korean racing at Greyville every year at the beginning the Champions Season. Opportunities have also been provided for jockeys and apprentices to be hosted on a reciprocal basis in both countries.

Vidrik Thurling, the former chairman of Gold Circle and now a director of Kenilworth Racing, was largely responsible for the forming of the bond with the KRA and for its continual strengthening.

He has revealed that there are currently ongoing negotiations between South African racing and Korean racing at the highest level that have revolved around such aspects as the swapping of television pictures with accompanying betting and paying of royalties. Further down the line there is the potential for co-mingling and there have even been discussions about the possibility of positive changes to the export protocols. Hyun Myung Kwan, who is both Chairman and CEO of the KRA, is due to attend this year’s J&B Met.  These negotiations are all part of Korea’s efforts to internationalise as they evolve as a horseracing nation.

Rice’s venture was made possible when the KRA asked for a South African trainer a few years ago in order to uplift the overall quality of horsemanship among their ranks. Thurling discussed the matter with Gold Circle’s current Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins and they identified Rice as a candidate that ticked all the boxes.

Rice’s horsemanship skills as both a trainer and an equestrian sportsman were not in question. Despite never being able to attract owners with significant buying power after relocating from Zimbabwe to South Africa in about 2005, he was able to still have winners with small strings of unfashionably bred horses.

Rice was approached by Thurling and after his positive response was flown to Korea by the KRA. Thereafter he was promised accommodation for two years plus 20 horses to start with. Gold Circle facilitated the move throughout as the red tape involved meant mountains of correspondence was required. They also helped Rice pay the deposit for the visa and work permit requirements, which was refunded by the Korean authorities after about three months.

Rice has not only had success on the race track in Korea, but has drawn further attention due to his high degree of professionalism. He is one of the only trainers in the country to have his own website. Gold Circle have followed his progress keenly and are not only delighted and proud to see the strides he is making, but also pleased that it has helped foster further potential in the relationship between South African and Korean racing.

Therefore, the owners of the eligible horses have not surprisingly been on tenterhooks for the last few weeks in the approach to the publishing of today’s final field and declarations.

The decision on who will run rests with Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins and Phumelela’s racing Executive Patrick Davis, who accept input from the chief handicapper Roger Smith.

A log has been published continuously over the last few weeks. However, it looks likely that the only hope for owners of horses who are outside the top 18 on the current log lies with horses above them being scratched as last weekend’s results did little to alter any positions.

A field of 16 will face the starter and there will be two reserve runners.

The criteria for acceptance does not rest solely with merit rating as there can also be judgement calls made on distance and surface suitability. The surface is only usually taken into account if a horse has an obvious preference for one or the other or in the situation where two horses are hard to separate in which case the one with the superior turf performance will likely be chosen.

Furthermore, the fillies are given a 2,5kg allowance, so they can be chosen ahead of males with higher merit ratings.

The Charles Laird-trained Rich Girl and the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Silver Class are in first and second places on the log respectively, which is interesting as both trainers have won the race with a filly before, Laird (pictured) doing it with Hollywoodboulevard in 2010 and Janse Van Vuuren achieving it with Winter Star last year.

Justin Snaith said: “I have nominated Legislate for the Cape Merchants on 16 November but at this stage it looks as if his first run will be in the Green Point Stakes six days later.”

The four-year-old is being aimed at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J & B Met. Depending on how things go, he could then be on a plane to Mauritius to continue his career under Snaith’s care at Newmarket in Britain.

Fourie, off since the end of July, has taken only two mounts on Wednesday but rides in all eight races at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Fayd’Herbe will thus win his first cap for South Africa and said, “It is a privilege and I am happy, it will be good to represent the country.” The 33 year old Fayd’Herbe, who grew up in Madagascar, joined S’manga Khumalo (Captain), Piere Strydom, Richard Fourie, Muzi Yeni and Anthony Delpech.

The sixth member of the International team is still to be announced.He or she will join James Doyle (Captain – UK), Martin Harley (Ireland), Adam Kirby (United Kingdom), Andreas Helfenbein (Germany) and Selim Kaya (Turkey).

The Challenge is often viewed by the racing fraternity as perhaps a “good fun” event for the jockeys, but this view ignores the mindset of the professional sportsman and Fayd’Herbe confirmed, “Any competition is intense for me, I thrive on it and wouldn’t be where I am today without that attitude. Also the better the competition the better you become.”

Fayd’Herbe’s big match temperament has often earned him the title “Big Race Bernard”, so there could hardly have been a better choice by the selectors. Fayd’Herbe has also earned widespread admiration for the arduous sweating, exercise and diet regime he has had to undergo just to make it to the races.

He was the Western Cape champion jockey in the 2012/2013 season, an amazing feat considering his riding weight of 58kg. His current training program had seen him winning the battle against his weight and he is also getting a lot of support from some of Cape Town’s top yards.

He said, “Things are looking good, I have some exciting horses to look forward to and will be disappointed if I don’t have a good season.” He is retained by one of Joey Ramsden’s biggest owner families, the Kieswetters, and otherwise freelances. In the latter capacity he receives good support from the like of Ramsden, national champion trainer Justin Snaith, his long-time guv’nor Mike Bass, Mike Stewart, Neil Bruss and others.

On Saturday Fayd’Herbe rode the Australian-bred four-year-old Danehill Dancer filly Acrostar from the Snaith yard to an impressive victory as she surged past the very promising Ramsden-trained three-year-old Grey Light in a Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and won with ease. Acrostar looks to be a progressive type and has won her last two over that trip, so could be a sprint-miler to follow in minor features.

However, Fayd’Herbe’s favourite horse at present is the highly progressive Bass-trained Trippi mare Hammie’s Hooker. The term “brilliant” is usually reserved for Gr 1 winners, but Hammie’s Hooker would probably have earned that accolade by now if it were not for her nemesis Beach Beauty. The latter is now retired, so a lot of the big fillies and mares mile events should be at Hammie’s Hooker’s mercy and as a five-year-old the 1800m of the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes might also now be within her range.

Picture: Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Liesl King)

Firstly it will give him a base from which to target the big races in Johannesburg. Secondly, it will alleviate a problem of importing horses. The arduous journey horses must undergo when being exported from South Africa, due to African Horse Sickness (AHS), has been viewed as one of the country’s biggest horseracing problems, but Cape Town trainers also face a problem importing. A direct flight to Cape Town solves the problem but can only be done at enormous expense.

The alternative route is via Johannesburg. Upon arriving horses have to be given AHS vaccinations and then complete one month of quarantine.A horse can only enter the Western Cape’s AHS Controlled zone 60 days after the last vaccine. Hence, it is usually about three months before an imported horse destined for the Cape can reach its destination.

The normal route is via Port Elizabeth, where horses need to stay for about two months. Snaith’s new yard should help alleviate this problem.

Meanwhile, Snaith’s Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate has been doing “very well” and will be ready to gallop soon. He added, “The July took a lot out of him and he has recovered completely (from both the exertion and the lameness in his near fore), but it took months. The Dynasty colt’s main targets this season are the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met.