Hastings’ jockeys look to close the gap as Perez plays away

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With more than a third of the Hastings’ racing season in the books, the leading-rider table has a familiar look to it with seven-time champion Amadeo Perez currently nine wins ahead of his closest rival, Kimal Santo.

Unlike the past few seasons there are several riders queued up behind Perez and all are in closer proximity than is often the case by this time of year. And, this weekend, with Perez off to ride a trio of Hastings-based horses in Edmonton, there is a chance to close the gap. Santo is well on the way to eclipsing last year’s 31-winner haul and is one of a growing colony of Caribbean riders trying to dislodge Perez from his throne.

“I was here in January and February, on the farms, breaking young horses, as well as galloping horses,” Santo revealed this week. “I usually don’t come back until March or April and that definitely helped. People could see the hard work I was putting in.”

Santo has a mount in every race on Friday evening and is determined to stay in touch with Perez.

“It would be nice to beat him, obviously,” Santo agreed, “but It’s not easy even keeping up with him!”

Fellow Trinidadian rider Kerron Khelawan, currently in third place with 16 wins, agrees with Santo that eating into their rival’s lead is easier said than done.

Khelawan said: “It’s not like we just pick up Amadeo’s rides when he is elsewhere. He has an agent who also looks after other riders and when he is away, then the other riders represented by his agent will often pick up those spares.”

Like Santo, however, Khelawan also returned to B.C. a little earlier than normal and is determined to hang on Perez’s coattails as long as possible.

“I came back a bit earlier because I was in Arizona riding over the winter,” Khelawan explained. “It helped because I’ve been getting some rides with barns I’ve never been getting before.

“I’m grateful for the owners and trainers who have given me a chance this season and I would definitely like to see if I can win a championship, one day. If people continue to give me opportunities and some ‘live’ mounts, as they’re doing, then who knows what might happen.”

Jamaican Rider Chris Mamdeen, who has ridden 13 winners so far this term, is less bashful when it comes to his own ambitions.

“It’s been better this year, more competitive and I’m getting some live horses now and, so far, I’m getting the job done,” he said this week. “I always set a target for myself and try and improve each season. I would like to be in the top two and that’s what I want to try and achieve.”

Mamdeen is currently 14 wins behind Perez and all three chasing riders are winning at a rate of 23 per cent, an excellent return, but still shy of Perez’s punishing 30-per-cent winners to rides ratio.

The reigning champ won’t miss many days and his rivals will need to start closing the gap urgently if they’re to stop him making it a record-equalling eight riding titles.

Current standings by numbers of winners: Perez, 27; Santo, 18; Khelawan, 16; Richard Balgobin (apprentice), 14; and Mamdeen, 13.

Friday night selections: First race, 7 p.m.

Race 2 (7:30 p.m.): Nu Soup for Baby was just a nose away from a second-consecutive win last time and can move rider Mamdeen closer to his rivals.

Race 4 (8:30 p.m.): Vector had everyone else in his rear-view when going down by a length to the smart Thomspon last time and Santo can notch another win as he looks to close in on Perez.