Record-breaking season for Juglall

The SA racing season runs from 1 August to 31 July and Mauritian Juglall, who also won the title last year, booted home 101 winners across South Africa – 55 more than the second apprentice on the log, his countryman Akash Aucharuz. Plus he rode four more in his homeland, another three in Zimbabwe and one at an apprentice jockeys’ test in Qatar.

It is also possible he will break Gavin Lerena’s record for the number of wins during an apprenticeship in South Africa before he becomes a fully fledged jockey in January next year. He has ridden 250 winners already and has five months in which to equal Lerena’s record of 283 during a five-year apprenticeship.

Juglall said the highlight of the 2012-13 racing season had to be his partnership with Ormond Ferraris-trained Cherry On The Top and their Triple Tiara.

His win on the Bridget Oppenheimer-owned filly in the SA Fillies Classic, the second leg of the Triple Tiara, gave him the first Grade 1 win of his career. The other two legs, the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the SA Oaks, are Grade 2 races.

“I get on very well with Cherry On The Top,” he said. “I must say thanks to Mr Ferraris. I’m fortunate to ride horses like that.”

Another big moment was his first ride in the Vodacom Durban July. He rode Wagner for trainer Joey Soma. They led turning into the straight but nothing won from the front that day and Wagner faded to 14th.

“It was a great honour, riding against the top jockeys,” said Juglall, who was born on 22 July 1991. “Every jockey wants to ride in the July. Just seeing my name in the Racecard made me feel like a winner already.”

His other big moment came when riding a winner for Mauritius at the International Jockeys’ Challenge in Qatar in February.

Juglall is currently stable jockey to Ferraris, who he says has helped him enormously.

He rides work for Ferraris three or four times a week and says: “It makes a big difference, knowing the horse you’re riding when you get to the races.

“I like working for Mr Ferraris because is teaching me a good way of riding. He spends time with me, going through my rides. Even when I’ve ridden in Port Elizabeth, he’ll watch me. He tells me straightaway if he thinks I rode a bad race and what my mistakes were. He also tells me when I do well.”

Juglall is hoping to continue with the association this season, although there is a possibility that he will be obliged to return to Mauritius next year.

He is attending the South African Jockeys’ Academy under the auspices of the Mauritius Jockey Club, who might require him to return home to “pay off” his apprenticeship. Negotiations are still in progress.

He concluded with: “There are quite a few people I need to thank for their support this season. My family, who play a big role, supporting and guiding me. The academy, and Gary Waterston, the riding master at the academy, who’s been with me for 3½ years now. He’s down to earth, but that’s a good way to be.

“Also, Mr Ferraris, Kom Naidoo and Tara Laing – my three main stables – and to all the other trainers who have given me rides this season. I’ve had a very good season and I’m appreciative of the support.”