The South African team comprises Mark Khan (captain), Anton Marcus, Piere Strydom, Kevin Shea, Karl Neisius and Weichong Marwing. Michael Roberts will manage the team and Anthony Delpech is the reserve rider. Dettori drew likely favourite Kingdom Come in the first leg, the evergreen Connnoisseur in the second, another probable favourite in On The Bluff in the third leg, and Caribbean Coast, who had a great run last time out after being gelded, in the fourth leg.
But this is a team affair and even if one jockey manages to shine in all four races, it will be the team which accumulates the most points that will finally win the Challenge.
The winning rider will get 15 points, 12 points for second, 10 points for third, 8 points for fourth, 7 points for fifth, 6 points for sixth, 5 points for seventh, 4 points for eighth, 3 points for ninth, 2 points for 10th, 1 point for 11th and nil to the rider who finishes last.
While there are reserve runners who will come in should there be any early withdrawals, should a jockey not get a run in any race, his team will be awarded six points. The horses were seeded and the draw constructed in such a manner to ensure that no jockey or team would end up with four poor rides.
So that has made the outcome extremely tight and it will be tricky to calculate which team will come out on top at the end of the day.
The South African riders were presented with their Protea colours at the same function. Marwing, who is in Hong Kong, was unable to attend the event and his mother collected the jacket on his behalf.
