Anthony Delpech

It was a month where many riders shone and accolades must go to the likes of Warren Kennedy, Anton Marcus and even Muzi Yeni who has raced sparingly in the province but rode a super race on Ten Gun Salute to win the Betting World 1900.

But Anthony has been one of the riders that punters have had confidence in following and during the month, riding for various stables, he has found the winner’s box on average once in every four rides. He tops the jockey table for the month with 10 winners from 39 rides with another 11 of his mounts finishing in the placings to give him a win-place percentage of just on 54%.

He has ridden some outstanding races and perfectly timed finishes and his consistency in performance is worthy of the award.

Well done Anthony

Warren Kennedy

The wheel of fortune is constantly turning and Warren’s change of fortune in recent time is testimony to that. In times past when many of the top riders that have moved on were still plying their trade in this country, the talent that Warren had was not appreciated and he did not get the opportunities he deserved.

But things have changed and his services have been utilized by a number of stables with success and he is earning the rewards.

During the month he booted home 11 winners with 23 of his other mounts finding places at a win rate of 20% and win-place statistics of 61.82%, the latter only bettered understandably by Anthony Delpech and Anton Marcus.

Well done and well deserved Warren

ASHTON ARRIES

Getting ahead in a sport as tough, demanding and competitive as horseracing is not easy for a variety of reasons and even more difficult for a young apprentice jockey. Opportunities are not readily available with a host of experienced and talented riders on hand.

But potential talent is quickly recognized among the trainers and they are prepared to give the young and enthusiastic apprentices a chance to show their ability.

Ashton has obviously caught the eye and during the month was given a leg up on 51 runners from which he managed to extract nine winners and steer another 19 of his mounts into the placings at a win-place strike rate of just on 55%.

The road ahead for this young rider will be long and tough but his future could be bright.

Well done Ashton

ATHANDIWE MGUDLWA

At a time of the year when race fields are smaller and opportunities less available, the not so fashionable riders have a tough time securing rides. What makes things more difficult is that races become even more competitive because of the lower standard of runners taking part.

It is a time when aspiring young riders have the chance to show their skills and Athandiwe certainly made the most of his chances in steering seven of his mounts into the winner’s enclosure and another 16 of his 62 rides into stake-paying positions for owners.

Athandiwe has always shown that he has the talent and it was just a matter of getting the opportunities to show it. For punters who followed him with a R1 win bet on all his rides, they were well rewarded with a R42 return.

Well done Athandiwe

KEAGAN DE MELO

There is no doubt that Anthony Delpech is riding at the top of his game and has to be credited for his excellent performance during the month where he bagged nine winners from 27 rides.

Opportunity to ride the better horses is a key factor for racing success and Keagan has gained that since joining the top Ashburton stable of Duncan Howells which finished a close second on the monthly trainer list for the month.

Keagan has always shown his ability in the saddle and has grabbed every opportunity with both hands which this month saw him riding eight winners from 52 mounts and steering another 13 into the placings.

With many top riders out there it is a tough challenge and Keagan deserves this monthly award for taking it up and producing the goods.

Well done Keagan

ANTON MARCUS

Outstanding is the only way to describe the performance in the saddle by Anton during the month and while it could be said that he benefits from a strong support base, not all his successes during the month were on mounts from his regular stables.

From his 69 rides, he made it into the winner’s enclosure an amazing 22 times while a further 25 of the horses he rode finished in the placings. That is one of the finest performances by a jockey in South African racing history as it was also more than double the winning rides of any other jockey.

Talent, like that of his internationally successful brother Basil, is undoubtedly the key but his dedication and professionalism sets him apart from most other riders in the country.

Well done Anton

BRANDON LERENA

As expected, the services of Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech were again in demand and with links to top stables and good horses they made the most of it and topped the jockey log in the province.

But one man who makes every opportunity count is Brandon Lerena and during the month he managed eight visits to the winner’s enclosure and steered another eight of his rides into the placings. It’s a matter of dedicated application of one’s talent and Brandon has done that.

Against stiff opposition Brandon’s stout efforts are worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Brandon

ANTON MARCUS

Anton is one of the country’s leading jockeys that has also held his own on the international stage and as he rides for the most powerful owners in the country, it would be expected that he gets plum rides on top horses.

However, the test of horsemanship and riding ability goes further than just steering a good horse into the winner’s enclosure and Anton has shown he can get many of his rides that do not appear to have a winning chance across the line first.

This month he was again in fine form in finding the winner’s enclosure on 15 of his mounts and getting another 22 into the placings. He won six more races than any other rider and his win-place ratio of 77% was outstanding.

Professional dedication, coupled with outstanding talent, are the keys to his success and earns him the monthly award.

Well done Anton

WARREN KENNEDY

In most competitive sports the stars and fashionable participants get most of the accolades and opportunities and horseracing is no different. The top jockeys are in demand and get most of the opportunities on the better horses and the status of the leading riders continues to rise.

But there are many hard-working and very competent riders that fail to get the big breaks yet stick to their tasks and are able to display their talent when given the chances and Warren is one of those.

Warren has been around for a long time and in the past month proved he is more than capable of getting the job done steering seven of his 58 rides into the winner’s enclosure and another 19 into the placings, a performance worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Warren

SEAN VEALE

Sean has never been short of talent but for some years that talent was not fully exploited through the lack of opportunity. Then he joined the leading stable of Dennis Drier and with the opportunities came success and the full extent of his talent as an aggressive, powerful rider was revealed.

Those talents have also been exploited by other trainers and during the month, while Anthony Delpech pipped him by one winner for the top spot, Sean steered 10 of his 51 rides into the winner’s enclosure with another seven making the frame.

An impressive performance worthy of the award.

Well done Sean