We’re down to the business end of the horse racing season with four fixtures left in the 2023/24 calendar, starting with the Kenya St Leger on Sunday at Ngong Racecourse.
The weatherman has forecast a warm and sunny long weekend and the seven-card meeting has some tantalising contests lined up.
This season has been exceptional for the Sport of Kings which has seen unprecedented growth in crowds, become the home of Nairobi’s most enviable fashion scene and witnessed perhaps the most closely and fiercely contested jockey championship in the recent past.
Kenya’s electromagnetic voice of sports radio, Chiko Lawi, a newfound aficionado of racing, summarised the Kenyan public’s obsession with racing, “horse racing does what sports is supposed to do and be, on a different level."
It has the passion, the skill and the challenge, but it also has the entertainment, it has a vibe, a party vibe. It brings people together. People come to racing to show their style and latest fashions, have fun and enjoy the racing.”
The St Leger race day has attracted Eric Sands, one of South Africa’s most experienced and successful trainers.
Sands has never watched live racing in Kenya but was excited by the prospect. “I’ve always wanted to come and see it. The only time I’ve been to Ngong Racecourse was in the off-season four years ago and I didn’t know anyone. Some stable hands showed me around and made me tea," he said.
"It was like I was family. I imagine that the racing will be a carnival type of day and I’m looking forward to it and enjoying it with the people.”
The festivities that Kenyan racing has become synonymous with will have a special flair and flare for St Leger, with Capital FM building on the success of their partnership with racing and extending their investment by hosting the Capital Pony Afterparty.
Danny Munyi, Capital FM’s Head of Programming, explained: “I think horse racing has registered tremendous growth and the atmosphere and ambience is simply the best you can find in Nairobi. Racing has a great future. We believe in racing.”
With the fanfare around racing growing into a jamboree that highlights the sport, owners, trainers and jockeys all recognise the significance of the crowds, which, jockeys in particular, thrive on.
Last season’s Champion Jockey, Lesley Sercombe, is cautiously optimistic about her prospects of victory and enlivened by what the day holds.
“I love the crowds. It’s great. They make a big difference. The ground has hardened up so am looking forward to it. I look forward to riding Saint Moritz in the Civil Service Gold Cup. I still believe he’s the best horse in the country and with the most potential,” said Sercombe.
The day starts at 1 pm with the 1800m Kenya Police Cup where the in-form Russian Wonder is the punters' pick.
The 1600m Excalibur & Windjammer Handicap 1:35 pm pits the promising but out-of-form Welcome Breeze against the preferred Joanna. Both are running light, have great jockeys and it should be a closely fought affair.
Arguably one of the most interesting races of the day, the Civil Service Gold Cup at 2:10 pm over 1600m, will see the magnificent Saint Moritz, ridden by Sercombe, take on his old rival, the giant General Lee, ridden by Henry Muya.
Both leviathans start as underdogs against Coffee Break, ridden by the experienced James Muhindi.
The main race is the Kenya St Leger at 3:20 pm over 2800m with the Kenya Derby winner, Deon, ridden by Muya, the favourite. Also in the running is the Kenya Oaks winner, Ten Eighty, ridden by Muhindi.
The wildcard contender is Beford, ridden by the gifted apprentice Michael Fundi and trained by the talented Tony Kuria in what was once an untouchable formula for success that now needs tinkering.
Another outside contender is Beeston ridden by the ever-consistent Charles Kimani.
The 3:55 pm Jill Harley Memorial Trophy over 1200m should see Darling Me take honours. The 1200m Nairac Gold Circle Tray sprint at 4:30 pm is another fascinating contest with the recently undefeated Rahal lining up against Leap of Faith and the crowd favourite High Legislation.
