Apprentice Jaswick Jordaan on the radar! By Leon Setaro

Apprentice Jaswick Jordaan on the radar! By Leon Setaro




I'm a believer in natural born talent, the x-factor, genetic
predisposition.. call it what you like but it applies across all spheres
of life. Horse racing is no exception and this is particularly
applicable to jockeys, those riders that perch their lives atop highly
strung, galloping horseflesh at speeds in excess of 60km/h. It's rush
hour traffic out there and not everybody's cup of tea but for some, this
is where the dream culminates - on the track winning races. Plenty has
been written about the bond shared between horse and human, an awareness
and intuition not available to all, where natural born horsemanship
comes in on a level beyond the 5 senses by which we define our physical
existence. Arguably, some jockeys have it and some do not.

Competing as a jockey is not a team sport, when the gates open a jock
must tackle the competition as an individual. They're much like any
other racing driver though in that participation is paramount yet
ultimately they are only pilots, limited by the capabilities of their
ride beneath. A champion horse will notch up a runaway win almost
irrespective of the jockey, and likewise, even a champion jockey can do
little with an 'inferior' horse. As such, we can only speculate and
offer opinion in place of definitive comparison when it comes to rating
jockeys head-to-head. Raw talent can also be difficult to identify,
especially without the prerequisite 'competitive' book of rides on tap.
One person who has an impressive track record when it comes to spotting
talent early is trainer Paul Lafferty. He's indentured a string of
apprentice jockeys over the years that have gone on to successful racing
careers; Greg Cheyne, Sean Cormack, and more recently Brandon Lerena and
Karis Teetan. This season his latest find from the early apprentice
ranks is Jaswick Jordaan and the two have struck up an enviable
partnership producing 5 winners and 9 (1st 3) places from 35 starts this
season.


Another winner for the Lafferty/Jordaan combo - Sports Factor
at Greyville 30th Oct09. Trainer Paul Lafferty has been a defining part
of Jaswick Jordaan's career strike rate success.

17 year old Jaswick Jordaan joined the Jockey Academy 2 years ago
following a move from his hometown Highschool, Emil Weder in the Western
Cape. He signed his riding papers earlier this year and got his first
taste of the racetrack back in May down the Scottsville straight. Within
3 months he'd clocked up a 30% place strike rate and his first career
win was soon to follow aboard Roofing (see caption) at the end of
August. That was less than 3 months ago and since then he's literally
burst onto the scene and currently holds joint 2nd on the KZN Appies'
log. Perhaps even more significantly, he also holds the highest winning
strike rate of all apprentice jockeys in KZN.


Jaswick (near side) rides his first winner to victory from the
front at Scottsville on the 26th August this year aboard 20/1 shot
Roofing.

Jaswick Jordaan hails from horse country, wild horse country to be
specific. He's grown up with horses and horses are his game and his
passion. Today everything about him and his focus comes down to horses,
racing and his career as a jockey. In his hometown neighbourhood the
kids used to do their thing on horseback, that was the style and Jaswick
was quick to learn the ropes, up and riding at 7 years old. The bug had
bitten and it wasn't long before he was out with the older kids taking
part in their daredevil horse antics. Speed and racing was all part of
the fun and for kicks they would go out after the wild horses resident
in the surrounding hills. Two up on horseback they'd chase the herd
down, corner them and then get their jump on to wild.. no saddle, no
bridle, only a no holds bucking rodeo before galloping off at the mercy
of the beast until the herd could run no more.


Jaswick Jordaan aboard Song of Russia (far side) edges out
Taiki Dancer (Anthony Delpech) to win by a head at Clairwood 14th
October-09

At this stage Jaswick had never seen or heard of horse racing as we know
it.. until 2 racing savvy gents from the local community came a knocking
after having noticed his spirit with horses and suitably small frame.
That day, that visit.. changed everything and so begun the start of the
'consume-all' dream - to become a jockey. Two years later and the wait
for enrolment age into the Academy had arrived.. and the rest is
unfolding right now. It may be early days for this youngster but the
signs are all there - born for it, loving it, passionately living it!
From the wild hills of Cape outback obscurity into the public eye and
professional racing, Jaswick has acquired an early taste for success and
looks to have a promising road ahead. Week after week he's getting a
delectable spread of decent rides from KZN trainers and has also drawn
some noteworthy comments from respected online racing community
commentators as well.

The 'Oracle' Matthew Lips is on record as saying, 'This Jordaan kid can
ride. That was the second week in a row that he controlled the pace and
pinched the race. He has sussed out Greyville faster than some senior
jockeys.'

And from one of my favourite forum contributors Andrewest, 'I will
follow him.. the new "striker" in the making'

Catch Jaswick Jordaan in action tonight at Greyville in the 3rd race
where he's carded to ride odds on favourite Tialata for the Mike De Kock
yard.

For a full analysis of the meeting listen to James Goodman's audio
podcast here


Thanks to www.formgrids.co.za and www.nhra.co.za for providing easy and
comprehensive access to local racing stats.

Leon Setaro is a full time horse racing journalist/publicist for
www.interbet.co.za - where you can wager with the Tote and the Bookies
from one online betting account.

To keep up to date with all the latest racing news on your mobile phone,
visit news.interbet.co.za

Cheers Leon, we have another JJ to follow

I shall have to watch Natal to see this kid -

Goodluck to Jordaan

Keep the ball going "Jurrasic Park" and dont get the fame get to you

And bring home the bacon tonight for Mike

It`s a good start for the Interbet Podcasters

Correct decision demoting Tialata?

Sometimes this racing game leaves a HORRIBLE taste in my mouth!!!!

I got a sudden rush of blood just before the off and I decided to back Tialata, banker her in P6's and quartets and took a nice double with her and Torob!!!!!

Now I'm left holding my wanger with nothing to show for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

................This is a little upsetting to say the very least.


Bad luck Jurassic Park....not your fault bud!!!

What happened? Watched the race but missed the reason for the result.

The winner drifted accross the second,not sure if there was much if any contact,intimidation was the reason giving for the enquiry..

Definite interference at the 300 metre mark - bit difficult to see from the teletrack head-on, but I think the Stipes got it right (they have got bigger and better patrol replays) and seeing that the winning distance was a short head with Rapid Flow running on strongly - would have surely won if the race had been straight forward.

Im not too clued up on the SA rules,but ive never seen a softer disqualification.What was the young lad too do?