Race 2 at Scottsville on Sunday 14 February was won by MUSTANG SONNY, trained by Lezeanne Forbes and ridden by young apprentice Diego de Gouveia. This was Diego’s fist win as an apprentice of the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) but is just another marker on his road to becoming a professional jockey.
Diego’s family has had no involvement in racing whatsoever and he was introduced to it by good friend Callan Murray, who encouraged him to become an apprentice. After an initial stint as a first year apprentice in 2012 Diego and the Academy parted ways, but his love for horses was too strong and Diego decided to participate in Work Riders’ Challenge under the guidance of James Maree, where he had 3 winners.
Based on this success Diego became an Apprentice at the Academy at Borrowdale Park Zimbabwe, where he rode a further 3 winners. While the Academy in Zimbabwe was closed for holidays, Diego got an opportunity to be based at the Gauteng Jockey Academy, on the back of his performance during this holiday stint, Diego applied to re-join SAJA which was successful and he re-joined in January 2016 as a second year apprentice.
Diego said “I’m extremely happy to be back at the Academy and am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead of me. I cannot see myself sitting behind a desk in an office job. Racing is what I love and live for and I cannot wait to qualify as a professional jockey!”
Diego is quite philosophical saying “the Work Riders’ Challenge and Zimbabwe Racing have given me a good grounding and some racing experience, I’m hungry to keep learning more about riding and racing and am very grateful for all the opportunities trainers are giving me!” Diego also has a plan of establishing himself as apprentice this year but targets 2017 to get in the Top 3 KZN Apprentices, thereafter a Top 3 National Apprentice and then if the opportunity presents itself become Champion Apprentice. Keep an eye out for this talented, competitive sportsman whose passion for racing keeps him striving to reach for his dream.