The South African Jockey Academy reports that their apprentices have travelled the country the past few months making their racecourse debuts in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Gqeberha.
On 30 August Donald Geerthsen travelled to Cape Town to ride at his very first race meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse. His Cape Town debut came with success in Race 5 aboard HAT’S PRIDE trained by Glen Kotzen!
Trent Mayhew made his Highveld debut on 3 September and won Race 10 for trainer Tony Peter aboard GOLDEN SICKLE.
Later that month James Lihaba travelled down to Gqeberha with Riding Master Rocky Agrella to make his Fairview debut with one winner and one place. James won Race 7 aboard PINNACLE trained by Gavin Smith.
Four days later he travelled to Johannesburg and had his first Highveld winner in Race 7 at Turffontein Racecourse aboard FORT LAUDERDALE trained by Barend Botes.
A Trent Mayhew winning moment (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trent Mayhew had an incredibly special first win at Vaal Racecourse on 28 September for the Mayhew Racing Stable winning Race 3 aboard SOUTHERN STYLE trained by his father Craig Mayhew.
Trent travelled to Gqeberha with fellow apprentices Nirvan Nastili and Brevan Plaatjies to make their Fairview debut on 7 October. The day was a success with two wins and two places for our apprentices.
The facial expression says it all! Nirvan Nastili celebrates on Iron Bark (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Nirvan opened the race meeting with a winner in Race 1 aboard MISTER WHISTLE trained by Emmanuel Kaknis and Trent won Race 8 aboard ACT NATURALLY trained by Zietsman Oosthuizen making it a debut success for the Academy.
Nirvan returns to Fairview Racecourse on 17 October with 8 rides. Siyanda Sosibo will be joining Nirvan in Gqeberha for his debut at Fairview Racecourse with 6 rides.
On 7 October Keratile Katjedi made his Cape Town debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville where he won Race 5 aboard BARDOLINO trained by Brett Crawford and placed in Race 10.
Keratile returns to Cape Town with 3 rides on 14 October and 7 rides on 16 October.
A very big thank you to all the trainers and owners across the country for providing these amazing opportunities for our apprentices which have allowed them to travel nationally for race meetings with great success. We wish our apprentices all the best for the season and know they will continue to make us all very proud!
