SA Horseracing recently took time out to find out more about the up and coming Joshwin Solomons who is an apprentice from the South African Jockey Academy.

Do you have any family connections to racing? If yes, please elaborate.
Yes my father is Jockey Morne Winnaar!

How did you get involved in becoming an apprentice?
I used to go to races with my Dad and Western Cape Riding Master, Mr Welch, saw me and said I must apply, which I did and was accepted into the Academy in 2018.

How long have you had aspirations to become a jockey?
For a few years before I applied.

Are there any special traits or requirements one needs for the profession?
Hard Work, Dedication and being Consistent.

How do you keep fit physically and mentally?
I go to gym twice a week at the Academy, I also ride a lot of work at track in the mornings, 6 days a week.

Who, if anyone, has inspired you in racing?
Anton Marcus inspires me a lot, he is a great jockey and role model, who always talks to me about how I rode, what mistakes I made and how I can be better. He really inspires me a lot and I hope to be as dedicated, hardworking and successful as him when I qualify.

Who is your favourite jockey and why?
My Dad Morne Winnaar is my favourite jockey, he always places his horses very well in races and he always gives me good advice about all my races rides as well as motivating me and giving me a lot of confidence.

What are the qualities or attributes that an apprentice needs to have in order to be successful in this game?
Focus and Hard Work are both very important!

What race do you aspire to win, both locally and nationally?
The Vodacom Durban July and the Sun Met are the races I would like to win!

Where is your favourite racetrack?
The Greyville racecourse is my favourite because I like the type of racing there, it’s a short, sharp racecourse where everything is much faster and quicker and as a jockey, when you ride here, you have to make quick decisions.

What would you like to see changed in racing?
I would like to see more people becoming involved in all aspects of racing, from owning horses, to coming to watch and betting on the races. I think the HollywoodBets and Gold Circle partnership is doing a great job in achieving this and they must continue with this and bring more and more changes to racing.

What advice would give someone keen in getting involved in becoming an apprentice?
You need to be focused on becoming a jockey and work as hard as you can to achieve that goal. It will be tough but having focus will help you a lot.

How many winners have you had to date?
I have had 1 winner so far!

Give us an example of what you have learnt about racing riding (or work riding) specific to your technique or weakness that you have worked on successfully?
I had to learn to how to connect with horse when riding. It’s not something that is easy to explain but once you do connect with the horse it changes everything about how you ride. The Riding Masters at the Academy helped me to develop my connection with the horse.

Where do you see yourself in the future in this racing industry?
I want to be a competitive jockey in South Africa and travel and race at the different race tracks.

What do you think of the SAJA and the work they do for you?
The Academy is very good, but also very tough! We always have something to do, especially once you start riding work at track in the mornings. But I love being at the Academy and working with horses! Everything the Academy does, is to make us better riders and jockeys!