Inaugural Highveld Work Riders v Jockeys Challenge launches at Champions Day on 1 May 2021

Phumelela is pleased to announce that a Highveld Work Riders v Jockeys Challenge race has been added to the Champions Day race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday 1 May.

The day, which boasts 7 feature races including the Champions Challenge (Gr1) and the Computaform Sprint (Gr1), will now also play host to an exciting challenge between the top 8 Highveld work riders and the top 8 Highveld jockeys. The race will be a R150,000 Maiden Plate over 1160m and teams will comprise the top 8 riders on the respective Highveld logs for the current racing season as at 31 March 2021. The work riders will receive a 3kg weight allowance from the professional jockeys.

Captain of the Jockey Team, S’manga Khumalo is very excited to be taking part, "It's an awesome concept, founded by Cape Racing and Khaya Stables, where it was a huge success in its inaugural running on Derby Day. The workriders work tirelessly alongside jockeys each morning at the track and we have the utmost respect for these unsung heroes.

It’s going to be a great honour for them to ride competitively against their role-models in a race. Through a great programme led by ex jockey/trainer Mr. James Maree I have been seriously impressed with the rapid progress made by the workriders over the years and my team and I won't be taking the challenge lightly. The pressure is on us and it will definitely be a closely fought contest - but we are out there to win. All that's left to say is, may the best team WIN!"

Patrick Davis, Racing Executive for Phumelela said, “following the success of the inaugural Work Riders v Jockeys Challenge in Cape Town in February, we wanted to extend this to the Highveld where we already have a well-established work riders programme. 72 work riders races are staged annually on the Highveld and this important programme run by James Maree has unearthed a wealth of talented riders over the years. For these guys to take on the professional jockeys in a challenge like this gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents on a high profile day.”

The teams are as follows per the above criteria:

WORK RIDERS

Joe Gwingwizha (Captain)

Samuel Mosia

Phelisile Mongqawa

Chamynorowa Mabaya

Tshepiso Matsoele

Daniel Baase

Goodman Dadamasi

Phillip Mlangeni

(Reserve - Linyelo Mafethe)

JOCKEYS

S’manga Khumalo (Captain)

Lyle Hewitson

Gavin Lerena

Muzi Yeni

Craig Zackey

Warren Kennedy

Luke Ferraris

Piere Strydom

(Reserve - Chase Maujean)

The horses for the race will be seeded by the Racing Operator after final declarations and the riders will be drawn alternately for the 16 runners to ensure a balanced and competitive event. Points will be awarded based on each rider’s finishing position in the race.