Kevin Shea has officially hung up his riding boots after both his neurosurgeon and doctor declared him unfit to race ride again due to the effects of wear and tear on his back.

Shea had a glittering 37 year career and will be remembered not only for his brilliance in the saddle but also his colourful personality. Fortunately the latter will not be lost to the industry as he is clearly enjoying his new role as an on course presenter.

He joined the South African Jockeys Academy in 1977 and rode his first winner in 1979 on the Des Rich-trained Druids Robe over 1200m at Greyville.

He was still an apprentice when landing his first Gr 1 winner on the Buller Benton-trained Have A Fling in the Holiday Inns at Turffontein. The horse landed a  betting coup for one of the country’s biggest owners and punters, Cyril Hurvitz.

Shea, due to a pair of the finest hands in the game and peerless big match temperament, was at his best on top horses.

In the 2008 Vodacom Durban July he rode the Justin Snaith-trained Dancer’s Daughter for the first time and this powerful grey filly had over raced in her previous start when winning the Gr 1 Gold Challenge, so many pundits wrote her off, saying that from the wide draw over 2200m she would never settle. However, if anybody was going to be able to settle her it would be Shea and he duly relaxed her beautifully towards the back of the field, which as a handy sort she had never experienced before. She stormed up the straight to dead-heat with the great Pocket Power in one of the big race’s most thrilling finishes.

Shea’s other July win was also aboard a filly, the great Mike de Kock-trained Ipi Tombe, whom he regards as one of the best he has ever ridden.

He holds another De Kock-trained filly, Sun Classique, in equal regard.

Shea always enjoyed plenty of support and was associated with top trainers like Tony Furness, David Payne, Doug Campbell, David Goss, Mike De Kock and Duncan Howells.

However, his best years were undoubtedly with De Kock, and he played a particularly vital role for the master trainer in his overseas campaigns.

His first international Gr 1 win for De Kock was aboard Ipi Tombe in the Dubai Duty Free in 2003. Then in a memorable 2008 the pair combined to win the Gr 1 Dubai Sheema Classic with Sun Classique, the Gr 1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong with Archipenko and the Gr 1 Hong Kong Cup with Eagle Mountain. However, they also suffered one of the most disappointing moments of their respective careers that year when Archipenko was kept in a pocket in the  Gr 1 Arlington Million and denied almost certain victory. Later in 2010, the pair combined to finish second in the world’s richest race, the $US million Dubai World Cup, with the South African-bred Lizard’s Desire, losing in a photo finish that took an age to decide.

Shea had a number of other stakes victories for De Kock overseas, including winning the Gr 2 Al Fahidi Fort five times.

He also rode for De Kock in the UK, which is not always a welcome environment for a foreign jockey. However, his gregarious and likeable personality enabled him to fit in easily and he reveled in the opportunity to experience the many different racecourses and the centuries of tradition behind their races. His most memorable moment over there was aboard Eagle Mountain when breaking the course record on the famous Rowley Mile course at Newmarket in the Gr 2 Joel Stakes over a mile. He also won the Gr 2 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot on Archipenko. He rode in one of the world’s most famous races, the Ascot Gold Cup, and recalls the immortal four-time winner of this race Yeats running with his head in his chest while he was pushing his mount Thundering Star along to stay in touch coming up the hill from Swinley Bottom.

Shea’s skills were not blunted by age and, already in his fifties, he rode four Gr 1 winners last year, two aboard the Duncan Howells-trained Via Africa, one on the Joey Soma-trained Athina and one on the Howells-trained Same Jurisdiction.

By David Thiselton

Champion trainer Justin Snaith retained the Gr 2 Post Merchants trophy over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night when the small four-year-old Dynasty gelding Daring Dave got up late under Richard Fourie to beat Moofeed and the favourite Willow Magic in a thriller. Snaith won it last year with the filly Varikate.

The race was affected by a false start, which was called when Willow Magic pinged his gate slightly prematurely.

Willow Magic started well second time around but had to be checked just before turning for home, as he was being kept in a pocket behind the leader Sheik’s Brashee by Normanz on his outside. The latter hit the front at the 300m mark, but Willow Magic had recovered quickly and soon powered past him. However, the widely drawn Moofeed had unwound a strong finish from last and mastered Willow Magic just before the line.

But, Daring Dave, had the last say. He had relaxed well in the running in midfield from a good draw and ran on resolutely before bursting between the front two to deny Moofeed by a head. Willow Magic was a further 0,25 lengths back in third. Aurum Pot ran a fine fourth, considering he had travelled the furthest in the false start, and Isphan stayed on well for fifth.

Daring Dave, who started at odds of 11/1, was bred by Highlands Farms Stud and is owned by Hassen Adams in partnership with D Chinsammy and T Chinsammy.

Earlier in the evening the Mike de Kock-trained Muwaary put in a fine trial ahead of races like the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe and Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes when waltzing clear in a Juvenile Plate over 1300m under Anthony Delpech.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Daring Dave (centre) slices through in time to land the Gr2 POST Merchants (Nkosi Hlophe)

If ever a horse deserved a win it is Forward Drive in the Racing. It’s A Rush Maiden Juvenile at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Five weeks ago he was coming with strong run when the leader, Eighth Wonder, swerved right across his path and caused Brandon Morgenrood to check. The momentum was lost and Forward Drive was unable to live up to his name.

Morgenrood promptly called for a race review and trainer Paul Reeves lodged an objection. As the colt only finished third, that looked optimistic – and the stipes ruled that he would not have beaten Eighth Wonder anyway – but had he finished second it just might have been a different story.

“He was unlucky. He got taken out quite badly,” recalls Reeves who is understandably hopeful about gaining compensation and adds encouragingly: “The horse is doing very well.”

Morgenrood was again offered the ride but decided to stay loyal to the Glen Puller-trained Auditorium who went close on debut and is an obvious danger. He was 7-2 favourite in the Betting World forecast yesterday while Forward Drive was an appealing 5-1. However the form of Cavallino (4-1) looks stronger than that of Auditorium and he could be the one for the exacta.

It’s unusual for a two-year-old to be asked to turn out again only a week after its debut but Entrechat ran so well the first time that the attacking policy could pay off in the opening fillies maiden. “We are running her because we saw an opportunity – it’s not one of the strongest fields,” says Justin Snaith. “We will give her a break after this.”

However Happy Avenue looks like posing a major threat, particularly as she is better than last time’s run would suggest. MJ Byleveld’s mount lost ground at the start, was hampered after a furlong and ran her race minus a front shoe. “She pulled it off as she jumped,” relates Vaughan Marshall.

Snaith took all three two-year-old races last Saturday and is bidding to win with at least one juvenile for the eighth consecutive Cape Town meeting. More Than Grand may land the Winter Solstice Maiden for him.

This Australian-bred has a huge home reputation but those who made him favourite in his last two starts are less enamoured. His stable, though, still believe in him – “He is a very nice horse, just immature,” comments his trainer.

Richard Fourie’s mount never really looked like winning when fourth to Lord Marshal and subsequent winner Schachar last time but he can prove too strong for the Langerman-entered Jeremy tomorrow.

With top-rated Jam Tart (16-10 favourite in the forecast) having been off for well over six months, Caprice Des Dieux and Andrew Fortune look the business at 5-2 in the Kenilworth Maiden while Marshall’s Victorious Jay should take the next.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Glen Puller

There is a double header in KZN this weekend, at Greyville tonight and Scottsville on Sunday, and the meetings include three Gr 2 feature races.

The Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m on turf tonight is an intriguing affair, but the best weighted horse is Willow Magic and he also has a good draw of six, considering trends suggest draws between 5 and 8 are best for this race. Willow Magic has lost a little of the speed lately but his class could pull him through.

Normanz is drawn well in five and like most of the best progeny of Var has early pace plus the ability to kick again so he will be a big runner from draw five.

The speedy Daring Dave ran a fair race in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m despite not having had the best of preparations and having had to stand in the stalls for close to five minutes. This time he has had a better preparation, is drawn well and was also given a two point merit rated drop by the handicapper.

Isphan has a favourable draw of seven and on recent 1000m form has a chance here, especially considering his merit rating is at the top of one of the bands. He should be running all the way to the line.

Aurum Pot has plenty of pace and should be able to take advantage of his low draw.

There looks to be plenty of pace in this race, so closers like Moofeed and Tevez have to be considered.

Brutal Force has pace and won’t be intimidated in the mad scramble, so he could earn too.

Race one on the card over 1300m could see Sharp Princess following up on her ever so easy maiden win last Sunday, but Mella Maria has not been disgraced against some of the best two-year-old fillies around and should give her a good run.

In race two Muwaary will love the slight step up in trip to 1300m and should go close if getting a better start than he did in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion.

Shap Shap might appreciate the slight step down in trip.

The third is a maiden over 1200m and Forary showed signs of promise last time and Strydom stays aboard.

In the fourth the likely favourite Dark Rose might be better suited to 1000m, so the vote is given to the improving Jive Session.

In the fifth Scots Party looks ready to win from a pole position draw. First-timer Variety Romp is a half-brother to Jet Jamboree, who won the Listed Darley Arabian over this trip, but the concern is that he is a four-year-old by the speed influence Var making his debut over 1900m.

In the sixth Grey Light has caught the eye running on strongly in her last two and is likely better than her merit rating suggests. One of the joint-best weighted horses is Acrostar, who needed her last start. She has a smart turn of foot and is course and distance suited.

Black Velvet should be improving all the time and could win the eighth over a suitable course and distance.

The last could be won by Slip Dance, who is starting to improve and is well drawn with Delpech up.

The Scottsville meeting features the GR 2 Track And Ball Derby and the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks, both over 2400m.

The Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket will be hard to beat in the Derby as the wind operation he has had appears to have been a success and he should run close to his best. French Revolution is a well regarded sort who has always been viewed as a staying type and he could show up well here in his first hurdle towards the eLan Property Group Gold Cup field.

Kingston Mines has a touch of class and this will likely be another preparation run ahead of the Gold Cup. Krambambuli has been working very well at Summerveld and will relish the trip. Disco Al ran a cracker in the Lonsdale and should make another bold bid here. Double Clutch has had a better preparation than he had for the Betting World 1900 and on pedigree he should stay the trip. Master James is a progressive sort who is coming into his own and he runs as if he will enjoy the trip, although on pedigree there will still be question marks. Savage Wind looks outclassed here.

Shingwedzi likely needed her last run and could be the one to beat in the Oaks.

Patchit Up Baby ran a cracker in the Gr 1 SA Oaks and this solid sort should be right there. Vino Veritas is the best weighted horse in the race and is in fine form. The progressive Gallica Rose impressed last time when winning the Listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m with joint-topweight and is proven over this trip. Supercede was beaten just a length in the East Coast Handicap and faces Gallica Rose on the same terms, so is interesting stepped up to this trip. Former SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud doesn’t have an easy task at the weights, but the yard are confident of her running a fine race. Olma ran well in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and if settling better than she did in the SA Oaks she could be a big runner.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)

The “miracle horse” Double Clutch is being given “a good chance” of winning Sunday’s Gr 2 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville by the Paul Lafferty yard, “provided he stays the trip”.

The four-year-old Stronghold gelding will be making a last minute bid to book a place in the Vodacom Durban July as the final field for the big race will be announced two days later on June 23.

Lafferty’s assistant trainer Roy Waugh said the courageous bay gelding had wrenched his back after being knocked sideways in the Listed Easter Handicap on April 10. He had still gone on to win the race, but he had subsequently required physiotherapy and had missed about a week of full work.

He was consequently not fully stripped before his unplaced run in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900.

Before that he had won three races in succession, all over 2000m, and leapt 20 points in the merit ratings to 99.

He had won most of those races from the front, but this was chiefly due to a lack of pace in the races, as he has shown before that he is capable of coming from last.

His dam by Northern Guest was unplaced but is a full-sister to a horse that won over 2400m and his second dam also won over the Derby distance.

Waugh was confident Double Clutch would stay the 2200m July trip, but still felt there would be a question mark over this 2400m distance.

Double Clutch has a tough task on Sunday receiving only 1kg from 112 merit rated Equus Champion Stayer Hot Ticket, meaning he is 5,5kg under sufferance. However, he is the third best weighted horse in the eight horse race on official merit ratings so has a chance of winning if Hot Ticket fluffs his lines.

Double Clutch has run three times at Scottsville and finished second in two of them, so appears to handle the track.

Furthermore, he will be ridden by the very much in-form championship chasing jockey Gavin Lerena from a plum draw of two.

Double Clutch was diagnosed with West Nile  disease in the first half of last season. This is the same disease that was believed to have killed the mighty Jet Master.

Double Clutch weighed 100kg less than he does now and was close to being euthanized. The veterinarian had also advised that even if he did recover he would never race again. On one occasion the yard were unable to help him walk from his stable across a strip of concrete onto a grass patch. He was simply too weak.

He eventually managed to  achieve this short trip after being fitted with special foam shoes. It is quite incredible that he has won five races since making a full recovery from his illness and is an entry in the country’s premier race the Vodacom Durban July.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Double Clutch (Nkosi Hlophe)