Avontuur-sponsored treble SA Champion Apprentice Luke Ferraris has qualified as a professional jockey.
The talented young man, who joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2017, won 244 races during his apprenticeship of which 10 were graded/listed races.
Luke Ferraris (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
He rode his career first Gr1 winner on Miss Florida for Justin Snaith in the Allan Robertson Championship in May 2019
Luke hails from a family with a long and illustrious history in South African racing. His grandfather Ormond Ferraris was the doyen of the Highveld racing scene for decades. It was a proud moment when Luke chalked up two winners for him at the Vaal on Tuesday, 24 April 2018.
Luke’s father David, has been based in Hong Kong as a trainer since the 2003/04 season, where he found early success with six-time Gr1 winner Vengeance Of Rain and has been plying his trade there ever since.
On an historic Sunday – 10 June 2018 – three generations of the Ferraris family graced the Hollywoodbets Scottsville winner’s enclosure in their separate capacities on the same day. An iconic moment for this blue-blood racing dynasty.
Luke is likely to be engaged to ride the fancied L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate runner-up Rainbow Bridge when Cape Met declarations are made on 20 January.
While it is a medium-term plan, he is likely to be headed to Hong Kong as his career unfolds.
