Two claiming apprentices have a collective 6 rides between them on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth card postponed to Monday.
Now based at the recently established Cape branch of the SA Jockey Academy, Brevan Plaatjies (claims 2,5kgs) and Sifisokuhle ‘Ncale’ Bungane ( claims 4kgs) are excited about their prospects in a region that has not had the luxury of lightweight riders and claiming apprentices for too long.
Brev enjoys the first win moment with Michael Roberts and Granny Essie (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The duo walked the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth course this past week with Hollywoodbets Grooms School riding master Craig Du Plooy.
Plaatjies, who has ridden 26 winners in his career to date, rode Riverstone to victory at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 5 March 2024.
Bungane has 2 winners to his credit and is reportedly looking forward to making a go of it.
A Milnerton trainer said that it was heartening and encouraging to see apprentices charging from ring to ring in the early mornings again.
Plaatjes, one of five children, hails originally from Pretoria and the family moved to KZN from Eersterus when Brev was very young. They moved around and sadly his Dad died when he was just 10.
The former Ixopo schoolboy became a jockey when his Uncle Jules Bezuidenhout pointed him in the direction of a sport that would ultimately change his life,
He rode his first winner on Sunday 13 August 2023 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sea Vista for trainer Michael Roberts.
Sunday 29 December 2024 is a day that Sifisokuhle ‘Ncale’ Bungane will cherish forever as he rode his first winner courtesy of the World Sports Betting owned Wings Of Josephine for the Glen Kotzen yard
He grew up with bleak prospects in KwaMashu and Indanda and while he harboured dreams of becoming a Cardiologist, Sifiso ended up working as a waiter at Hollywoodbets Greyville through his Chef Mom Phatheka, who worked at the Durban View Room.
Sifiso and proud Mom, Phatheka
He told the Sporting Post that he was happy to be earning a living, but constantly had customers and his colleagues encouraging him to take advantage of his slight stature – he weighed only 50kgs.
Sifiso’s pursuit of his dreams was eventually realised through the support of the Hollywood Foundation. With his mother’s financial constraints, the foundation granted him a bursary for his first year of training, providing financial relief and making his dream a reality.
His nickname ‘Ncwane’ was given to him as a result of his love for gospel music,
Sifiso’s personal story is an amazing one and he tells that while growing up, his family relied on his grandmother’s pension to make ends meet, and they managed to get by without going to bed hungry. At the age of 13, he moved to live with his mother in Inanda, where it was just the two of them.
We wish them both success in this exciting phase of their fledgeling careers.
Today’s racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth starts at 12h00.
