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

GRANT VAN NIEKERK

It was a month where the graded races were spread widely among the riders with Anthony Delpech, who had the most overall winners with a tally of 16, managed the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes and the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet while S’manga Khumalo bagged the Grade 3 SABC Gold Vase and Grade 2 eLan Gold Cup and a total of eight winners during the month.

Grant had less success overall with three winners and 11 places but he rode two Grade 1 winners on Inara in the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes and on Marinaresco in the Mike & Carol Bass Champions Cup.

It was a difficult choice to make but it was decided that Grant’s achievement as a visiting rider with less opportunities was worthy of the award.

Well done Grant

ANTON MARCUS

Anthony Delpech is in devastating form and himself deserved the award for his 19 wins, and particularly for his success on the Justin Snaith runners on Guineas Day and in the Woolavington 2000.

But while winning races is important, which Anton did well with 15 during the month, winning under trying circumstances deserves recognition and in Anton’s ride on Rabada to win the Daily News 2000 one saw outstanding jockeyship as he nursed the Mike Azzie charge to the line without panicking after he dropped his stick at the top of the straight.

It was an outstanding display of level-headed calm under incredible pressure as he kept the colt balanced with encouragement only by flicking the reins and pushing to hold off the challengers in the finish.

An inspirational performance worthy of the award.

Well done Anton

Anthony Delpech

Top jockeys usually end up riding the top horses and generally having higher rates of success and in spite of relinquishing his role as stable jockey for the powerful Mike de Kock stable, Anthony is riding the crest of the wave and a whole lot of winners to boot.

He has teamed up with Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer and while it is said that a change is as good as a holiday, there has been no vacation for the likeable rider who is riding at the top of his game.

During the month he booted home 20 winners and finished in the placings in another 34 races which is an outstanding record and worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Anthony

Keagan De Melo

Keagan has proven himself to be a very talented rider and has partnered many good horses, and others that had been struggling a little, into the winner’s enclosure.

During the month he was a busy man with 84 rides of which 15 found the number one box and a further 32 fought their way into the placings. The hard work paid real dividends and with the winter season at hand, he could be expected to continue his current run of form.

Well done Keagan

ANTHONY DELPECH

Anthony is one of the most sought after riders in the country and has produced some stunning winning rides in his career. Although contracted to the Mike de Kock yard for some years he was snapped up by other stables whenever possible.

Now, having relinquished his contractual ties to the De Kock yard – although he will still take some rides for it – he will be in even greater demand and a variety of other rides will be available to him.

His success in the saddle was fully demonstrated during the month with an incredible 12 wins and 19 places from just 37 races at a win-place rate of 83.78% which was outstanding.

Well done Anthony.

WARREN KENNEDY

South Africa has produced numerous jockeys of international standard, many competing successfully on tracks around the world, but there are many others operating most of their careers in the shadows of the superstars, seldom getting the breaks they deserve.

Warren is one of those, a hard-working and dedicated rider’s whose talents have been acknowledged by trainers in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape where he has steered many runners into the winner’s enclosure.

During the month he showcased those talents by winning nine races and getting another 20 of his mounts into the placings, an effort worthy of the monthly award.

Well done Warren.