Diego not wasting time

After only qualifying as a jockey a few weeks ago on 7 January, 22-year-old Diego de Gouveia has wasted no time in making his mark.

His win on Atyaab for Mike de Kock in the G-Bets Cape Derby on Saturday was not only his first Grade 1 win, but a first Graded win of any type.

But he did kick off his feature winning score in the Listed Racing Association Handicap on Walter Smoothie for Stuart Pettigrew in December.

But it hasn’t always been such plain sailing.

“I grew up on the east side of Johannesburg. None of my family are involved in racing, but I was friends with Callan Murray, and we both entered the Jockeys Academy in 2012.

“But I don’t think I was quite ready at the time, and left after eight months. Within a few weeks I realized I had made the biggest mistake of my short life. But it was too late to carry on that year, and the next year’s intake had already been finalized. “So in 2013 I did Mr James Ma-ree’s work riders’ course, and qualifi ed in three months.”

He made his race riding debut on 4 May 2013, and in only his second attempt brought Golden Veil home to a comfortable victory – at 45-1!

“I rode in work rider events for a year and a half, and at the end of 2014 was given the opportunity to go and ride in Zimbabwe, along with Serino Moodley.

“I learnt a lot there, as it’s dominated by South African jockeys. So when I was accepted back at the academy in 2016, I had done a fair amount for someone who was claiming 4kg, having already rid-den six winners.

“I was put on a three-year programme, due to having already done most of my first year in 2012, as well as having race riding experience.

“I would like to thank all my riding masters, particularly Mr Robert Moore and Mr Stephen Jupp for driving me to succeed, and helping me to develop and polish my technique.

The winners began to come on a regular basis, and he won on good sorts like Sniper Shot and Legend while based in KZN. By the time he returned to Gauteng in mid-2018 to finish his apprenticeship he had already recorded over 60 winners.

And things were about to take another upturn. “When I first got back to Joburg I would be at track very early, and Mr de Kock was there when no-body else was so I started riding work for him, as well as lots of other trainers.”

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