Philisande is making an impact at the Jockeys Academy

The 90-winner rural racing hero Philisande Mxoli was accepted into the South African Jockeys Academy (SAJA) at the beginning of the year and is already making an impact riding work.

Philisande, now 20-years-old, started riding in rural races in the Eastern Cape at the age of 13.

Unlike KZN rural racing, in which the racing gait is limited to trotting, the Eastern Cape has races in both galloping and trotting gaits.

Therefore, Philisande arrived at the Academy with experience in riding “short” (short stirrup straps and thus high in the saddle) at a flat out gallop. Furthermore, he clearly has BMT as he has won the “Berlin November” twice. The latter is the equivalent of the Vodacom Durban July in Eastern Cape rural racing.

His winning mounts in the Berlin November were Remember and Final Judgement (not to be confused with the former Glen Kotzen-trained filly of that name).

The rural races take place on fields, as opposed to the racecourses of professional racing, and the distances Philisande was racing over were 1000m, 1200m and 1400m.

Philisande has taken well to the Academy and is enjoying himself.

Lopez Mogongo and his team look for Academy candidates around the country every year and do the assessments. Philisande was one of two picked from the rural racing organisation. He was accepted as he had the right physical attributes, he did well in the fitness tests, he had natural balance and his experience counted in his favour as he already had good hands.

He has been the first of this latest in-take to make it to track and has been riding at Ashburton for the like of Duncan Howells and Belinda Impey and also for private trainer Doug Campbell.

He has impressed a number of watchers and has already been given the responsibility of galloping horses on the grass.

Riding Master Laurence O’Donoghue said, “He is doing very well.

“He has nice hands and is a good horseman.”

Philisande said he was expecting to have his first race ride next year. – Gold Circle To take a bet go to www.bettingworld.co.za or www.tabonline.co.za