Blaine Marx-Jacobson was caught wide on Carnelo in the last race at Turffontein Inside today, but that didn’t stop him cruising in by 2,90 lengths, meaning he had ridden the second Jackpot (JC Photos)
Blaine Marx-Jacobson has put himself in contention for the South African Apprentice title with some outstanding riding over the last couple of months culminating in four successive wins at Turffontein Inside today meaning he had ridden the second Jackpot.
Marx-Jacobson had been praised by many for his excellent seat when romping home by four lengths on his race-riding debut on October 17, 2024, on the Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Coming In Hot over 1200m at the Vaal.
However, by the end of the 2024/2025 season he had added just one more win in 63 more rides, so was going along at a strike rate of 3.12%.
It was also clear this season he was battling to find his feet.
At the beginning of February Marx-Jacobson had ridden just three winners for the season from 97 rides for a strike rate of a paltry 3.09%.
However, a slow start to his jockeyship career puts him in good company, including with two of South Africa’s greatest, Jeff Lloyd and Piere Strydom.
Lloyd had only 22 rides in his first six months of race-riding and accumulated six places without a win.
Strydom took 56 rides to have his first winner.
However, when it clicked with those two greats they went into overdrive and both became South African Champion Apprentices, before their glittering careers as fully fledged jockeys began.
Marx Jacobson has also suddenly clicked and from the beginning of February to now has had 70 rides for 16 wins and a strike rate of 22.86%.
Those 16 wins have included five doubles and today’s four-timer.
It is Marx-Jacobson’s uncomplicated style and outstanding balance that has been eyecatching from a style point of view.
He is very still in the saddle and has a straight back while driving with the arms, a style reminiscent of Piere Strydom himself.
The legendary Strydom, commenting on the similarity in style, agreed that he seemed to be trying to copy his style and added, “It takes time, but he is on the right path.”
Marc-Jacobson was claiming 4kg today, so there is still a long road ahead.
However, one other reason he looks to have a bright future is because he has good tactical awareness.
In the last race he was caught wide, but didn’t panic and managed to keep his mount, the seven-year-old Shaylen Naidoo-trained Greys Inn gelding Carnelo nice and relaxed.
The gelding duly found extra down the outside to run out a comfortable 2,90 length winner at 7/2 odds and that saw Marx-Jacobson clinching his four-timer.
His others winners were on the Corrie Lensley-trained Erupt gelding Paul Revere, who was backed in from 4/1 to 9/4, the Lensley-trained Erupt gelding Kambati, who returned odds of 7/1 and the Grant Maroun-trained Futura gelding Unsolved Riddle who returned odds of 2/1.
Marx-Jacobson is now on 19 wins for the season at a strike rate of 11.66% and he is suddenly just eight wins off the pace in the national apprentice championship .
Mxolisi Mbuto leads with 27 wins at a strike rate of 9.71%.
Marx-Jacobson thanked many people at the end of today’s racing, but reserved special praise for his Highveld Riding Master, Robert Moore, who is clearly an inspirational leader as he receives accolades from the apprentices under his guidance on a regular basis.
