Former professional jockey Louis Burke grabbed an early lead in the 2024/25 Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series which got underway to a hotly contested start on Tuesday.
The R110 000 Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Workriders’ Maiden Plate run over 1100m was the first leg of the popular series which is being held for a third consecutive year.
The Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series acknowledges the vital contribution to the industry of workriders, and provides an excellent opportunity for qualifying riders to showcase their skills and talent on the exciting stage of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing, while gaining genuine race-riding experience.
Louis Burke gets Rafa Bay to rally down the inside and beat gutsy first-timer Flying Finley (Luke Coleman) in the exciting opener (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
On Tuesday the 2023 Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series runner-up Louis Burke booted the 18-10 Justin Snaith-trained favourite Rafa Bay home for owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith.
The 3yo led early but was passed at the 250m by Luke Coleman on the Paul Reeves first-timer Flying Finley, who looked set for a winning debut. But the determined Burke had other ideas on the more experienced Rafa Bay and the Avontuur Stud-bred galloper rallied to clinch a courageous victory. A delighted Aza Mjongile was the winning groom.
Burke is enjoying a super season, and made it two from two this term, having ridden Dawn To Dusk to victory, also for the Snaith Racing Team, at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on 31 August.
Another former professional jockey, Luke Coleman was on runner-up Flying Finley, while Siphiwo Feni partnered Phil The Fluter into third, with Aviwe Bikwe steering Casa Estiva into fourth to complete the quartet.
Sinethemba Nikani ran fifth on the improved Peter Wrensch-trained The Postman, to gain the last of the multiple points haul, with the balance of the riders earning a point each for completing the race.
The competitive ten horse line-up included the veteran ‘senior statesman’ of the ranks, and defending Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series champion William Bambiso, who enjoyed no luck on Spirit Guide, who finished out of the money.
Speaking of no luck, Mncedi Sigenu’s skills were tested when the enigmatic Maneki Neko appeared to rear as the gates were sprung, and put paid to his chances in the first strides.
Please click on the Cape Racing clip of the event:
Louis Burke is a talented horseman and has quite a back story, having spent a post matric gap year doing voluntary work for the South African Riding for the Disabled Association.
In 2015 he enrolled at the SA Jockey Academy and was a ‘senior’ in terms of age.
It was in his second year, and at only his 20th ride, that Louis rode his first winner as a professional.
It was a humble beginning but the sixth race at the now closed Flamingo Park Racecourse on Monday 3 October 2016 is one he will always cherish as he scored on longshot Jozi Babe for trainer Sarel Von Willingh Smit.
Jono Snaith and part owner Gina Goldsmith chat in the background as Louis Burke enjoys the occasion (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
While the workriders earn the standard riding commissions, a grand prize of R25 000 is on offer in the Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series, and will be shared amongst the top five riders on the final log.
Points are earned by individual positions in each of the four races and to keep all stakeholders updated, Cape Racing will publish a regular log.
The R25 000 prize pool will be allocated as follows:
- Winner earns R12 000
- Runner-up earns R6 000
- Third place earns R4 000
- Fourth place earns R2 000
- Fifth place earns R1 000
The Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series continues on 4 December, 29 January and 22 February, culminating in an exciting finale on 16 March 2025, the Cape Racing Sales Day, featuring the inaugural running of the R5 million CRS Big Cap, and which heralds the sun set on the summer season.
