Grant Van Niekerk Appointed As Chief Stable Jock For Mike Bass Racing
Mike Bass Racing is pleased to announce that young Cape based jockey Grant Van Niekerk has been appointed as the new retained rider for Mike Bass Racing with immediate effect.
Van Niekerk has been a regular work and race rider for the stable over the past few years and we have made the decision to offer Grant the opportunity of being the stables “first choice”.
The offer was made last week by Mike Bass and accepted by Van Niekerk on Thursday morning. Van Niekerk said “I am delighted with the opportunity to ride for Mike Bass who is a master of his trade, and this is a great opportunity for me. It’s an honor for me to be the first choice jockey so early in my career for such an established and successful stable, and they can be assured of my very best dedication”
Mike Bass was equally pleased with his new appointment “ I have had my eye on Grant for a while now, and he has really developed into a self assured and smart little rider. I think he deserves the opportunity to ride first choice and I think we might make a good team”
Since graduating from his apprenticeship in 2012 Grant has booted home more than 150 winners with a string of graded and listed races. His successful association with dual Gr 2 winner Smanjemanje has been a highlight of his career thus far and he is still in search of his first grade 1 winner. This season he has ridden over 50 winners with an 11% winning strike rate after being sidelined for 2 months.
Equine Insurance Company, Kuda Insurance, has also spotted an opportunity in the young jockey and has offered a comprehensive 1-year sponsorship deal to Grant, which will commence 1 September 2014.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity, and now its time for me to show them all that I also mean business” he said.
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