A Jockey Challenge with 'Bling'

Bling is getting some great coverage, the below blog was on bloodhorse.com


South African known as "Bling" makes British riding debut in Ascot's annual international jockey challenge Aug. 9.

After bursting on to the scene a few years ago, S'manga Khumalo, nicknamed "Bling" on account of his peroxide blond hair, has won a plethora of group I races in South Africa, notably the 2013 Durban July on Heavy Metal.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/around-the-globe...g.aspx#ixzz39OLnOgmH

Great rider and very polite. Prepared to ride anything. He will do SA proud over there.

SCOT will feature a ten-act line-up after racing on Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup day, August 6, with Jason Donovan headlining the Here and Now tour squad.

Also booked to play their greatest hits from the 1980's are Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Jimmy Somerville, Paul Young, Toyah, China Crisis, Odyssey, Altered Images, Brother Beyond and Visage.

Course head of sales and marketing John Blake said: "‘We are delighted that so many stars have agreed to play, and we look forward to racegoers dressing up in their best 80s gear to add to the family friendly atmosphere."

Tickets start from £26, and can be booked online at ascot.co.uk or by calling 0870 727 1234.

Ascot has introduced a new family day pass for five designated fixtures, allowing grandstand admission for £39.99, a saving of over £54. Details are online.

Wiechong Marwing won the silver saddle 10 years ago

Congratulations S'Manga.Just hope you get one or two decent rides to showcase your talent.

www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=2232024&category=0


OLIVIER PESLIER has stepped in to ride in Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot for a European team captained by Frankie Dettori and seeking to repeat last year's victory in the points-based contest.

The multiple Group 1-winning jockey takes over from Andrea Atzeni in Dettori's team of three, completed by Dutch rider Adrie de Vries. They will wear blue silks in the six-race competition.

Tom Queally captains Great Britain and Ireland, in green, alongside champion jockey Richard Hughes and Jimmy Fortune, who replaces the unavailable Ryan Moore.

Craig Williams replaces the injured Yutaka Take as the Rest of the World's skipper, with assistance in yellow from Yuichi Fukunaga and South African champion S'Manga Khumalo.

Khumalo makes his Shergar Cup debut having created history by becoming his nation's first black champion jockey. The 28-year-old, known as Bling for his fondness for cheap jewellery - he invariably wears earrings - led the table throughout the season and finished 42 clear of nearest rival Richard Fourie.

Khumalo said: "I decided to go for the championship after winning last year's Durban July on Heavy Metal, when I was getting more confidence and more rides. I thought it was about time I grabbed my opportunity with both hands and then, when I had built up quite a nice lead, I decided to try even harder."

He added: "I would like up-and-coming black riders to be able to look up to me and think, ‘One day I could ride like that.'"

Hayley Turner, injured last year, makes her eighth Shergar Cup appearance for a girls team who will wear pink and are led by Canadian rider Emma-Jayne Wilson, with German jockey Stefi Hofer completing the trio.

Bling in Chinatown

His rides not the best, but he has chances on Trip To Paris and Tenor