The Apprentices of the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) had a weekend to remember this past weekend! The weekend kicked off at Greyville racecourse on Saturday where the Apprentices won 4 of the 10 races carded. Ashton Arries rode a delightful double winning Race 3, the first of the Apprentice Races, aboard “ASIAN STAR” and Race 7 aboard “ADMIRAL’S GUEST” both trained by Mark Dixon. Diego De Gouveia won Race 5 aboard “PARABOLA” trained by Brett Crawford and Khanya Sakayi won the second Apprentice race, winning Race 9 aboard “ROY’S KAITRINA” trained by Duncan Howells. Akshay Balloo kept the Academy flag flying in Cape Town on Saturday, when he won the eighth race at Kenilworth aboard “JANICE’S SECRET” trained by the Carl Burger and Riaan van Reenen partnership.
On Sunday at Turffontein was the much anticipated Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge, where Apprentice Lyle Hewitson was drafted into the South African team. Lyle was relishing the chance to compete against the International Team and used the opportunity to record another incredible achievement in his career, scoring 74 points in the challenge finishing runner up to PJ McDonald who won the Victor Ludorum and being the highest scoring South African Jockey! Lyle’s performance on Sunday included 4 places and victory in Race 9 aboard “BUBBLY REPLY” trained by Grant Maroun.
Lyle followed up, on his excellent performance in the Air Mauritius International Jockeys’ Challenge, at Fairview racecourse on Monday, where he had another 4 places and a victory in Race 6 aboard “CAT IN COMMAND” trained by Yvette Bremner.
South African Jockey Academy Principal, Graham Bailey, was full of praise for the Academy Riding Department saying “the success achieved by our Apprentices this past weekend is due to the tireless efforts of our Jockey Coaches, Robert Moore, Terrance Welch, Stephen Jupp, Nicky Roebuck and Laurence O’ Donoghue who work continuously to improve the riding ability of our Apprentices!”