South African Apprentice Jockeys Cole Dicken and Tyrell Maharaj will be jetting off to the British Racing School at the end of this week, for 4 weeks, to complete the International Apprentice Course at the British Racing School campus in Newmarket.

The South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) has partnered with the British Racing School (BRS), through funding from The Childwick Trust, which allows two of its Apprentices to be able to get such an opportunity annually. Cole and Tyrell are the fourth set of South African Apprentice Jockeys selected and it is hoped that going forward more South African Apprentices will continue to be given this opportunity.

Cole and Tyrell, both indicated they were humbled to be chosen for this opportunity and were looking forward to their time at the BRS and hoped to make the Academy and South Africa proud. Cole said “I’m very excited, it’s my 1st time overseas and I’m looking forward to learning new things as well as riding and working in a new environment. I’m also hoping to emulate the success that other apprentices such a Diego de Gouveia, Nathan Klink and Kabelo Matsunyane who completed International Apprentice Course, have achieved.” Tyrell also commented, saying “I’m honoured and grateful to be selected for this amazing opportunity, I’m looking forward to the gym work as I’ve heard it is very tough and I will try my best on the course!”

Cole and Tyrell, will initially be under the guidance of National Jockey Coach, Robert Moore, whom is going across briefly under invitation from the BRS to continue with the collaboration and information sharing between SAJA and the BRS. As SAJA Headmaster, Graham Bailey, explains” we have a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the BRS and to date our Nursing Sister Debbie Butt, Jockey Coach Nicky Roebuck and I have been across to the BRS as part of a programme of information and knowledge sharing that has benefitted both institutions. I’m sure Robert Moore, with his vast experience as a Jockey Coach in both South Africa and Korea, will contribute significantly to this collaboration and will come back with new ideas to implement upon his return!”