ANTON MARCUS

Anton Marcus is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the month.

It may be said that Anton gets all the best rides and for him to top the winner’s log for the month is nothing really to get excited about. But, for any jockey to get nearly 50% of his rides across the line first in one month is exceptional and if not a record, then very close to one.

Making the achievement even more remarkable is that it was not just a case of two out of four rides which is well within the scope of any jockey, but during November, in addition to his rides in other centres, Anton partnered 42 horses and steered 19 – 45.24% – into the winner’s box with eight of his other rides finishing in the placings.

That was an outstanding achievement and more than worthy of the award.

Well done Anton.

WARREN KENNEDY

The Gold Circle Jockey Award for the month goes to Warren Kennedy

Dedication and perseverance have been part of everyday life for Warren who has stuck to his guns over the years in a tough business where he has had to compete against some of the greatest jockeys this country has produced including some that have proven themselves among the best in the world.

His reputation as a rider that does his best on every horse he partners now sees him sought after by many stables and during October threw a leg over 60 horses – 11 more than any other jockey – and steered 11 of those into the winner’s enclosure to top the jockey table for the province.

In addition, Warren is having success in other centres and is currently sixth on the National Jockey Log.

Well done Warren

APPRENTICE LUKE FERRARIS

The Gold Circle Jockey Award for the month has been bestowed on apprentice Luke Ferraris

South Africa’s newest racing sensation, Luke Ferraris has the royal blue blood of South African racing running strongly through his veins being the grandson of legendary trainer Ormond Ferraris and son of top trainer David Ferraris who plies his trade in the East.

However, racing has shown that the right blood does not necessarily produce a champion and many hopefuls have failed.

Not with young Luke though. The young man has taken racing by storm to the extent that during the month he was engaged to ride in no less than 62 races – more than any other rider including some of the country’s leading jockeys. And he made the most of those opportunities finishing second to Anton Marcus on the KwaZulu-Natal jockey log with 11 winners and 12 placings with a win-place success strike rate of close to 40%.

It was a great performance for a young rider and more than worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Luke

KEAGAN DE MELO

Keagan rode 8 winners during this month from 46 rides. He also had 6 seconds, 1 third and 4 fourths. He is a young man that goes about his business in a quiet and professional manner and his results speak for themselves. He has been travelling a lot recently and is clearly a young jockey that must be followed.

Well done Keagan and keep up the sterling riding.

BERNARD FAYD’HERBE

Bernard has been awarded the Gold Circle Jockey of the month for June 2018. He rode 7 winners from only 33 rides and notched up an impressive 51% wins and places strike rate. This top rider can only ride at a certain weight and is always competitive and no stranger to the winners enclosure, especially in the Graded races.

Well done Bernard!

ASHTON ARRIES

Apprentice Jockey Ashton Arries rode 42 horses for the month notching up 6 winners and 15 places. His total stake money earned was R550350-00 – during this month Ashton also lost his claim as an apprentice and also suffered a fall riding Dancing With Tatum at Greyville and had to step down from several of his rides – despite this he still managed to rack up some impressive stats and achievements.

Well done Ashton.

Keagan De Melo

Keagan De Melo is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for January 2018.

One of the hardest working jockeys on the circuit, commuting between the Highveld and KZN, Keagan won eight races at a winning strike rate of 20% and total stake earnings of over R578K.

Congratulations Keagan.

DENIS SCHWARZ

Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus were the leading riders in KZN during December but apprentice Denis Schwarz had an exceptional month, booting home nine winners and is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for December.

Well Done Denis!

KEAGAN DE MELO

Keagan has matured into a highly talented rider whose services are not just sought by local conditioners but in other areas as well. He has proven an asset to the Duncan Howells stable which topped the trainer log in KwaZulu-Natal this month.

Keagan had 39 rides in the province during the month and steered nine of them into the winner’s enclosure at a winning rate of 23%, which is close to a win from every four rides. Punters that followed him with a R1 win bet on each of his rides will have been more than happy with a return on their investment of R35.30. Adding to his winning tally, he managed to get another 14 of his rides into the placings.

A good month and well done Keagan

GUNTER WROGEMANN

Gunter has been around a long time and has ridden many, many winners in his career for a variety of stables, mostly in the Highveld region. He is a very skilful jockey and a fierce competitor and since Louis Goosen has relocated his stable to Ashburton Gunter has been far more active in KwaZulu-Natal where, in the past month he finished second to Anton Marcus on the local log with nine winners.

Gunter has also got off to a good start in the new season nationally and is currently fifth on the National Jockey Log with 36 winners and a win-place strike rate of 56%.

The likeable jockey is likely to spend a lot more time in KwaZulu-Natal during the current season and is sure to make his mark on the winner’s table.

Well done Gunter