Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa will be crowned British Flat Jockey Champion on Saturday as he currently has an unassailable lead of 36 over nearest challenger William Buick.

The controversial decision to change the starting point of the championships from the Guineas meeting at Newmarket in early May, and the ending point to the Champions Day meeting at Ascot in mid-October, has not had the intended effect of bringing the elite jockeys to the forefront.

However, an injury at a crucial stage to Ryan Moore and the retirement of the pre-season favourite Richard Hughes after the Glorious Goodwood meeting also contributed to the runaway win by De Sousa.

The championship previously ran from the beginning of the turf flat season in March through to its end in November, although All Weather wins do also count during the championship period.

However, as part of the statement made when announcing the change, Great British Racing said, “The new Jockeys’ Championship will replace a title contest which, on occasions, has seen leading jockeys either publicly rule themselves out from competing due to its attritional nature or who are absent on overseas riding duties at its start and end.”

De Sousa, who counted the like of leading Northern trainer Mark Johnston as well as Mick Channon and David Elsworth as his chief supporters, had three Gr 3s and the Gr 1 Juddmonte International as his only Group winners during the championship period.

Ryan Moore, regarded by many as the best jockey in the world, had seven Gr 1 wins, seven Gr 2 wins and three Gr 3 wins in Europe during his curtailed championship period, and was in the title race until a neck injury attained when unseated in the stalls at Newmarket on July 9 put him on the sidelines for a while.

Moore is currently in 13^th place in the championship, but his strike rate of 22% is the highest on the log. However, his 61 winners are not even half those of the 132 winners to date of De Sousa, who has ridden to a strike rate of 18%.

William Buick’s chief obligations have been to Godolphin and he is currently on 96 winners ridden at a strike rate of 20%, one clear of the twice champion Paul Hanagan.

De Sousa’s previous best finish was as runner up to Hanagan in 2011 when riding 161 winners to the latter’s 165.

The championship race lost a lot of its spark when Richard Hughes, who had won the previous three titles, announced he would retire after the Glorious Goodwood meeting, which takes place at  the beginning of August. Hughes was still in the title hunt when he made the announcement in July and apologised to those who had backed him for the title before adding that he felt his first year as a trainer next year would be his most important, so he needed to devote all his time to the pending Sales.

Brazilian De Sousa joins the like of Australia’s Scobie Breasley (1957, 1961, 1962 and 1963), South Africa’s Michael Roberts (1992) and Frankie Dettori (1994, 1995 and 2004) as Non-British or Irish jockeys to have won the title.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Silvestre de Sousa (Independent.co.uk)

Turffontein stages a nine race midweek meeting on the Inside track and some fair sorts are being turned out.

The most interesting event could be the eighth, a Graduation Plate over 1600m, which has attracted some Johannesburg Spring feature season hopefuls.

Anjaal showed the benefit of a breathing operation when easily winning over 1400m last April and he then split Mac De Lago and Rampant Ice when finishing a three length fourth in the KRA Guineas. However, he is an unreliable sort and has not set the world alight in two runs since gelding. However, he could perhaps bounce back to his best in his third run since the operation as he was not disgraced last time in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge over 1400m in a strong field, despite reportedly not striding out. He will appreciate the step up in trip and also has the blinkers back on. His draw of seven is tricky but Anthony Delpech is likely to find him a good position in the running.

MLJet is a talented but disappointing sort. However, he did stay on well last time from the front without blinkers when only three lengths behind the brilliant Same Jurisdiction over 1400m at Scottsville and the headgear remains off. He also has a first-time tongue tie and a perfect draw of two over a suitable trip. He has the benefit of having had a run in both August and September and could be a threat, but he has not won since opening his account with two victories as a juvenile.

Front Rank showed his class in the KZN Breeders Million when going within 0,35 lengths of Bezanova when receiving only 4,5kg. That run proved he is capable of running above his 88 merit rating, so he can’t be written off.

Another interesting event is the seventh, a MR 80 Handicap over 1000m, as the progressive Thrust will attempt to make it four in a row. He can progress further and will be running on strongly but his wide draw might just be his undoing. Will Pays is a talented sort who has a combination of speed and gears so he is the selection from an ideal pole position draw off a merit rating of 82 which he can still rise above. Isca has a lot of class but is returning from a six month layoff and his wide draw and topweight might find him out in the closing stages. Lady Al has had genuine excuses in some of her recent runs so can place here from a good draw off a lowered merit rating with a 1,5kg claimer up. Dream Leader is 1kg better off for a 0,5 length beating by Thrust so could earn.

The meeting begins with an intriguing Workrider’s fillies and mares Maiden over 1800m. Racey J stayed on over 1400m on debut and looks likely to relish the step up in trip on both racing style and pedigree. Peg O’ My Heart could challenge if jumping on terms as she lost three lengths last time so did well to finish just 6,25 lengths back in decent maiden field over 2000m. Fortissima had to be urged along virtually all the way over 1400m last time and could be interesting if the penny drops over a step up in trip she will appreciate.

Spurwing Summer choked up over 2000m last time but has some fair form over this trip. Rose Of Castille beat Peg O’My Heart narrowly last time but is a temperamental and unreliable sort.

In the second is a Maiden over 1200m and Perepetual Silence was green when making an eyecatching debut so should take care of those to have raced from a fair draw. Atso Cool, draw in pole under Fortune, showed pace over 1000m last time but found no extra.  Red Special has run well over this trip before and could earn. There are two interesting first-timers. Lunar Approach is by Right Approach out of a four-time winning Doowaley mare from 1600-1800m and he is drawn well in two. Miracle Bureau is by Trippi out of a Listed six=time winner by National Emblem, but he does have a tough draw.

In the third, a Maiden for fillies over 1450m, Monarch Air will be attempting to qualify for the Emperor’s palace Ready To Run Cup so will need a big run and should run a big race having only just failed when charging home over 1200m last time out. Fortune has kept the ride. However, the well-bred Silvano filly Bella Sonata, who is a half-sister to the winner of two Gr 2s in Britain, looks to have more scope for improvement having finished strongly over 1200m on debut to be just 2,8 lengths behind a well regarded sort.

The fourth is a MR 84 Handicap over 1800m for three-year-olds and the easy winner last time Samurai Blade look to be the one to beat. Off To Gaul and Scheme of Things could be the dangers.

The fifth is a MR 76 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m. Gain Ground looks a fair sort in the making and is only 0,5kg under sufferance so could win as long she doesn’t over race like she did last time over 1600m. The improving Paris Princess took well to course and distance last time and is now only four points higher in the merit ratings for the victory. Sisters Of Mercy appears to have breathing issues but is a talented sort who goes well for Gavin lerena.

The sixth is a Conditions Plate over 1000m and Drifting Dusk, who strikes as one with plenty of class, is drawn ideally so is the one to side with carrying only 52kg. Kwinta has speed and class and is drawn in pole so will be a threat. Sarve has performed well against some of the best and could earn despite having to carry 60kg. Winter Star makes most appeal of the rest.

The ninth is a Maiden over 1600m and Liege has caught the eye before so could win with a strong late run from a wide draw. Gladiatore looks set to go close from pole position over a suitable course and distance. Elusive Seven is another one who should be running on from a wide draw.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Will Pays (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Paul Lafferty-trained stalwart Unbelievable Chad will gallop over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday half-an-hour before the first race, with a pacemaker, in preparation for the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m on October 31.

Unbelievable Chad, a highly promising Toreador colt who is part-owned by the Olympic Gold medal swimming legend Chad le Clos, will represent Lafferty in the yard’s defence of their  crown in this race as they won it last year with the Australian-bred colt Harry’s Son.

Meanwhile the apple of Lafferty’s eye Harry’s Son is still doing extremely well in Mauritius and Lafferty added, “Perhaps too well”, implying that he is itching to race.

The Haradasun colt will land in England at the beginning of November and will be staying in trainer Jim Boyle’s yard at Epsom. Boyle, a great friend of Lafferty’s, is in his thirties and is also a qualified veterinarian so Harry’s Son will be in good hands.

Furthermore, Lafferty’s house in the UK is close to the Epsom race track, which will make Harry’s Son’s base in England convenient for Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh. Waugh will be taking care of Harry’s Son and training him on the Epsom Downs during the final leg of the horse’s journey to his destination of Dubai. Lafferty will be an official trainer at next year’s Dubai Carnival and has secured another horse to campaign with, the three-year-old USA-bred Warfront colt Royal Navy Ship.

This colt won on debut as a two-year-old for Aiden O’Brien over seven furlongs at The Curragh and followed up by finishing second over the same trip in a Gr 3 at Leopardstown. Royal Navy Ship has not won as a three-year-old yet, but has an official turf rating of 102 and all weather rating of 97, which qualifies him for Dubai. He will land in England at the same time as Harry’s Son and join him at Epsom under the care of Waugh.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Unbelievable Chad (Nkosi Hlophe)

Andrew Fortune’s appearances before the NHA’s Inquiry Board in Port Elizabeth on October 2 and 9 have proved expensive.

The former champion was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.8 in that he “swore at or interfered with” an official at Fairview on September 7 after the running of race three which he won on the Justin Snaith-trained Weekend Temper.

Despite pleading not guilty, Fortune was found guilty as charged and fined R1 000 although this was suspended for six months.

However he was then charged with conducting himself “in an improper, disrespectful and abusive manner” during the inquiry. For this he was fined R5 000! No suspension of the fine either.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Andrew Fortune

There is an eight race meeting on the Greyville poly tomorrow and there look to be some good opportunities for shrewd punters.

In the first, a Maiden over 1200m, Omega Onslaught’s two 1200m formlines look strong and he is the one to beat despite a high draw of nine. Wild Namaqua is ideally course and distance suited and bounced back to form last time so will be a contender from pole position. The in-form Doug Campbell yard could place here with the consistent The Lonsdale and others to consider are Hot Chilli, who has shown signs of ability, and the Mike de Kock-trained Quantity who wasn’t disgraced against a classy sort last time out over this trip on turf.

In the second, a fillies and mares maiden over 1200m, Glimmer Of Silver should be continually improving being by Silvano and has a chance here from a good draw of three as the form of her last 1200m race has worked out well. Euthenia is a hard-knocker and the form of her last couple of races has worked out quite well so she could earn despite a high draw. De Kock sends out the well-bred first-timer Cherry Tree Lane by Fastnet Rock and it would be no surprise to see her win, so the betting must be monitored. Classy Chic and Night Frost are others who make some appeal.

In the third, a Maiden over 1800m, Mr Winsome went close over 1400m in Cape Town last time out in July and his dam won over 1900m so being by Silvano he should relish this trip.  The Charles Laird-trained Team Guys has often found market support and has some good form behind fair types. Laird always has them fit enough on their comebacks and this trip looks likely to suit. Jullidar ran an improved race last time and if he settles he could earn from a good draw. For Ever stayed on well here over 2000m last time and should be improving being by Ideal World. Township Talk travels nicely in front in his races but never seems to find the necessary extra so he could be interesting in a slight step down in trip.

In the fourth over, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Pure Valor is an improving gelding by Dynasty who has won his only previous start over  this course and distance and is now well drawn off just a four point higher merit rating. Guilty As Charged packs a strong finish and the form of his maiden win over course and distance has worked out well so he should be thereabouts off a reasonable 68 merit rating. In Your Dreams won his maiden with a sustained finish over 1400m and should relish the step up in trip. Phoebus is only three points higher in the merit ratings after running on well to win over this trip at Scottsville. Electroshock could earn having come down to an attractive merit rating.

The fifth, a MR 86 handicap over 1600m, could go the way of Baracah who had a few excuses last time over course and distance when still managing to run second. The three-year-old Exit Here is a decent sort but does not have it easy in his first handicap outing off a 94 merit rating. Pioneer Spirit will have come into his own being by Go Deputy and could be interesting stepped down in trip provided he jumps well. Gold Bank and Mambo Master make most appeal of the rest.

In the sixth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, Charles My Boy is stepped down in trip as his form over 1900m has not lived up to his earlier promise and he is now down in the merit ratings too. Queen Of Credit was only 3,8 lengths back in a probably below par Gr 1 over 1400m and had excuses last time. Pearly King could represent place value as he has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight and is four points lower in the merit ratings than his last win that was over this course and distance, although his wide draw is a concern. Spritzer is back to the course and distance of his best run, so could earn despite a wide draw. Yurie’s Gold looks to be off a competitive merit rating and can be dangerous.

In the seventh, a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m, the talented but unsound H’Oponopono went close over 1000m here last time when running on and Marcus is now up. Astro is a fair sort who has come down to an attractive merit rating and has a 4kg claimer aboard over what could well be a trip he will appreciate. Budapest looks a promising sort but doesn’t have it easy first time out the maidens off an 87 merit rating. El Gallo won easily over 1000m here last time and could earn off a fairly reasonable merit rating. Lala ran third in a Gr 2 over this trip but is having her seasonal reappearance against the boys off a tough merit rating of 86.

In the eighth, a MR 66 Handicap over 1000m, Strummer won easily on debut over course and distance and looks capable of handling a 76 merit rating. Threshold could be a threat if held up for a run by the 4kg claimer off this current attractive merit rating as he appeared to do better with those tactics in his penultimate start. Thunder Run is an honest type who should be right there if reproducing the form of his last run over this distance on turf.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Strummer (Nkosi Hlophe)