JOCKEY Tshwaro Appie rode a well-judged race on Mike de Kock’s Guy From Dubai to win a Conditions Plate over 1800m on sand at the Vaal, Thursday.

Appie, who’d recently successfully appealed against a preposterous Stipes’ suspension and had a 20-day penalty set aside, showed that his confidence hadn’t taken a blow during this unnecessary ordeal.

An appropriate victory salute from Tshwaro Appie on Guy From Dubai.  Will he get called in for plotting to hit the second horse in the face?

Appie sat patiently on Guy From Dubai a few lengths off the free-galloping pacesetter Lavender Landscape – not an easy thing to do when you’re riding the far-too-long-and-thankfully-soon-gone abortion of a straight at the country track.

Whilst eyeing Lavender Landscape, a hardened front-runner who actually broke away with 500m to run, Appie also had to consider challenges from those behind him, including the capable Big Shot, whose rider was also trying to anticipate the right moment to pounce.

For a while there, Lavender Landscape look like he would outrun them and one could almost hear Mike de Kock cursing under his breath, but Appie waited even a few seconds longer and let his mount loose at precisely the right time. Guy From Dubai came forward to take on and pass Lavender Landscape and hold off the late-charging Big Shot – incidentally franking the form of last week’s Gr3 winner Roman Carnival.

He’s only 25 years young, is Tshwaro, and there’s plenty of time still to establish himself as not just another battling jockey. He deserves more chances from trainers and we’ll be holding thumbs those chances start coming.