This picture of apprentice Brevan Plaaitjies and his grandmother says it all after the youngster’s first career win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies was having just his fourth career ride on the Michael Roberts-trained Canford Cliffs gelding Sea Vista when winning by two lengths in the last race over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, a MR 70 Handicap.
Plaatjies had finished unplaced in his first three rides and Sea Vista drifted out alarmingly from 9/2 to 25/2.
Howeever, the youngster showed an excellent natural seat throughout and the Canford Cliffs gelding was hence well balanced throughout.
From a prominent position he kicked late and Plaatjies just guided him by showing him the stick over the last 100m.
Roberts was concerned about the 1200m trip, believing the horse to ostensibly be a 1000m horse, and he said Brevan had obeyed his instructions perfectly, which were to hang on to him until at least the 200m mark.
It was a fourth career win for Sea Vista, who is owned by Adam Kethro Property Trust in partnership with Messrs J R M Tostee and D D B Band.
Brevan was brand new to horseracing when joining the Academy.
He tanked the connections for the ride as well as the Academy for all they had done for him.
Brevan reserved a special thank you for former national champion jockey MJ Odendaal.
He said, “A big thanks to Mr Odendaal. Mr Odendaal has been teaching me and after every ride he tells me what is wrong and what’s right and I’m learning a lot from him, I’m really thankful to Mr Odendaal.”
