After enduring his own family ordeal just months ago, Zimbabwean-born jockey Karl Zechner is keen to return to Kangaroo Island this week to help the locals deal with their recent bushfire disaster.
Zechner’s wife and young son were held up at gunpoint along a South African highway around Christmas time, hastening the hoop’s move to Australia to ply his trade.
The 32-year-old – who has posted almost 600 winners – arrived in South Australia just over a month ago, and while yet to taste victory on local tracks, has already ridden at Kangaroo Island and is acutely aware of the positive difference racing can make on the lives of bushfire-impacted locals.
“I’d obviously heard about the bushfires and I rode at the first meeting after that,” he said.
“It’s lucky the races even went ahead, but it was nice to see so many people out in support, enjoying themselves.
“I’m sure they’ll get a lot of support for their meetings this week as well.
“It was a really nice experience; I loved it actually, so I’m really looking forward to getting back there for their carnival.”
The two-day 2020 Sealink Kangaroo Island Racing Carnival starts this Thursday and climaxes on Saturday with the $25,000 Dudley Wines Kangaroo Island Cup.
Thanks to his PR visa, Zechner will be based in Adelaide for two years, and is settling into Adelaide life with his wife, Lauren – a qualified lawyer – and two children, Riley, 3, and Declan, four months.
Zechner was based in Johannesburg and has also ridden in New Zealand and Mauritius, but said relocating to Australia was an easy decision.
“I wanted a future for my kids; a better place to grow up,” he explained.
“Obviously there are issues over there in Johannesburg. My wife’s now been held up twice, and you can’t have a clear mind going to work and having that hanging over your head.
“But going forward it’s looking all good. We’re all stoked to be here – in fact we couldn’t be any happier.
“The hospitality has been unbelievable. I’m enjoying it, the wife’s enjoying it, and we’re over the moon.”
Zechner rode over 100 winners in the 2015/16 season, including the first and third legs of Abashiri’s South African Triple Crown, most notably the final triumph in the Grade 1 South African Derby at Turffontein.
Zechner was in action at the Bordertown meeting on the weekend and says he will continue “plugging away” looking for his first winner in Australia.
“I’m doing a lot of track work in the morning for various trainers,” he said.
“I’m just doing as much as I can, and hopefully I pick up some more Saturday rides down the line. I’ve had a few already.”
Photo captions:
Karl Zechner aboard South African Triple Crown winner Abashiri. PHOTO: summerhill.co.za
