Jockey Van Niekerk seizes his shot at Durban July glory after late scratching

IN a twist of fate that seems almost scripted, jockey Grant van Niekerk finds himself in the spotlight as he celebrates his 34th birthday and a chance at victory in this year's Hollywoodbets Durban July.

- HERMAN GIBBS

Just days before the prestigious event, van Niekerk had lamented the fact that he did not have a ride after the announcement of the 18-horse field for the iconic race.

His aspirations, however, were reignited when disappointment struck for another competitor.

The ride on 'See it Again’, trained by Michael Roberts, was withdrawn from the field due to an abnormal blood count, marking a significant blow to Roberts, who described the situation as a "bitter pill to swallow".

This unexpected vacancy provided van Niekerk with an opportunity that few could have foreseen.

“He had previously expressed reluctance to benefit from another's misfortune, stating, "I did not wish to benefit from somebody else’s disappointment," upon being lined up to ride one of the reserves.