Callan does one to Oz

You can't blame Callan with the poor stakes on offer in Cape Town and South Africa in general, he also can't get a full book of rides anymore....

Below is lifted from www.racing.com/news/2021-07-20/news-jock...hoop-to-call-sa-home

South Australia will have a new jockey on its roster for the new season, with multiple Group 1-winning rider Callan Murray set to arrive from South Africa next month.

The seeds for Murray's move to Australia were sown when he spent time in Melbourne as an apprentice in the summer of 2016/17.

"Australia was the first international stint that I did when I went over to Melbourne and stayed with Matt Pumpa and rode for David Hayes," Murray said.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was a great experience for me, although it wasn't too long, and I could definitely see it as a place that I could call home at some stage in my life.

"I've done a lot of travelling and feel like it's time to find a place to settle in. I really enjoy the scene of Australia, I haven't been to South Australia yet, I'm really looking forward to setting up a base for myself."

good for him.

Has a few rides on Saturday 17 May 2025 and Sunday 18 May 2025 in South Africa

Sylvester wrote:

Has a few rides on Saturday 17 May 2025 and Sunday 18 May 2025 in South Africa
 

Thanks for the interesting threads @Sylvester

Is Callan back permanently or just on holiday???

......seems that he is on a permanent holiday....his ozz stats are dismal.....huh

He will get big support from De Kock stable.
Many winners to be had with a reinvigorated, young string that the stable is building.

A good rider but not great.
Interesting to see how his riding has developed since being based in Australia.

Just engaged to an Australian lassie I think, maybe visiting to meet family and friends

Thought he was mad to leave, had the best job in South Africa, de Kock looks desperate for a new jock, hopefully he stays and helps bring back the glory days.. PS I think his partner worked for de Kock in Australia as well

It doesn't matter how good you are if you don't get rides with chances.

I'm prepared to bet that any jock outside the top 10 and within the top 50 ie. 11-49 would become a top 10 or possibly top 3 jock if he got the Sakkie job.

This game is all about fashion. There are some obvious exceptions but there's not much wrong with the majority of jocks. It goes down to what opportunities they get. 

Let me throw out a name that will get the Lerena clan worked up. Give him the Sakkie job and stick with him - he will be top 5 at worst after a season. Jason Gates.  There are many others

Over the Air wrote:

It doesn't matter how good you are if you don't get rides with chances.

I'm prepared to bet that any jock outside the top 10 and within the top 50 ie. 11-49 would become a top 10 or possibly top 3 jock if he got the Sakkie job.

This game is all about fashion. There are some obvious exceptions but there's not much wrong with the majority of jocks. It goes down to what opportunities they get. 

Let me throw out a name that will get the Lerena clan worked up. Give him the Sakkie job and stick with him - he will be top 5 at worst after a season. Jason Gates.  There are many others

100%
 

Warren Kennedy is a great example.
Was a hard worker and when he got the opportunity, he made the most of it.

If the jockey does not have the right attitude then it will not work.

If Grant van Niekerk puts his heart in the game he will ride all of his colleagues to sleep.