Jeffrey Syster, a 2nd year Apprentice at the South African Jockey Academy, who is currently based at Summerveld, will have his first race ride as an apprentice jockey on Saturday 25 May at Scottsville racecourse in the 4th race aboard KINGSMEAD, who is trained Michael Roberts.

Jeffrey openly admits that he is both excited and grateful about the prospect of his first race ride, saying “I want to thank Mr Roberts and the Owner, Dr N A Labuschagne, for the opportunity to ride their horse. I’m going try my hardest to follow my trainer’s instructions, do my best for my mount and ensure that my first ride is a qualifying ride.”

Jeffrey hails from Brakpan in Gauteng, where he matriculated from Delpark Secondary School in 2016. Jeffrey loves Soccer and is an avid Orlando Pirates and Manchester United fan, who plays as a striker and had a try out for Orlando Pirates in 2014 and also played for the Liverpool Academy and Samba Boys before joining the Academy.

Jeffrey has a large and close family that includes his Mom, Dad, 2 brothers and sister, who unfortunately will not be able to make the trip down to Pietermaritzburg this weekend to support him. However, the whole family will be getting together at home to watch his first race ride on Tellytrack. Jeffrey loves the support and encouragement he receives from his family, saying “I will do my best to make both my family and the Academy proud of me!”