Apprentice jockey Sima Mxothwa will join the growing list of expat South Africans riding in New Zealand when he makes his race day debut at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The 22-year-old rider has had a lifelong involvement in racing and was inspired to follow a career in the sport when attending race meetings in South Africa as a child with his father.

“My Dad used to work as a strapper and my brother is a professional jockey,” Mxothwa said. “I grew up around horses and I had a passion for horses, and I always dreamed of becoming a jockey.”

Mxothwa attempted to follow that passion in his homeland, however, he was knocked back from South Africa’s jockey academy several times but jumped at the opportunity of heading to New Zealand to fulfil his dream when approached by New Zealand Equine Academy’s Donavan Mansour.

“I started riding thoroughbreds at the age of 15 back in South Africa,” Mxothwa said. “I applied for the jockey academy in South Africa, but I got rejected a couple of times, so I went back and finished school.

“When I finished school, I got a call from Mr Mansour telling me that there was an opportunity that I can do my apprenticeship in New Zealand and asked if I wanted the opportunity, and I took it with both hands.

“I came to New Zealand 12 months ago and I have never looked back. I enjoy what I do.”

Mxothwa has based himself in the Waikato where he is enhancing his riding skillset under the tutelage of former Champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan and Group One-winning hoop Lieth Innes.

“I am based in Cambridge, and I am with the Equine Academy. I work in Matamata for Mr Lance O’Sullivan and Mr Andrew Scott at Wexford.

“I am in a really good space learning from Mr O’Sullivan and Mr Leith Innes, who recently joined the Equine Academy. I am in a good position with such great people supporting and teaching me.

“I wanted to thank the NZEA Academy, Mr Daniel Nakhle, Donavan Mansour and Leith Innes. A very big thanks to Wexford Stable as well, it is a privilege to have my first race day ride for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.”

Mxothwa is pleased he is able to don the Wexford silks in his first race day appearance when he partners with Jaffira in the Mark Sanders Memorial (1400m).

“It has always been my dream to become a jockey and it is finally happening, I am really excited,” Mxothwa said.

“He (Jaffira) is a really nice horse with plenty of potential. I am really looking forward to riding him. He is one of the first horses I galloped when I first got to Wexford, and I have worked with him for quite a while now.

“He should run a cracker of a race. He has drawn nice in three and with a four-kilo claim he should go well.”

Mxothwa said he is filled with nervous excitement ahead of his race day debut.

“It will be my first time in such an atmosphere,” he said. “I have done a couple of trials, but it is not going to be the same, it is a professional race so I am just hoping everything goes our way.”

While his family won’t be able to be trackside to enjoy the experience with Mxothwa, he said they will be watching with excitement from South Africa.

“My dad, mum and brother said they will all be watching me,” he said. “With the time difference, they should be sleeping, but they said they would stay up and watch my first race day ride.”

Mxothwa is enjoying his time in New Zealand, but admitted the cold winter mornings have taken a bit to get used to.

“I am loving it here,” he said. “New Zealand is a really nice place, and a really safe place compared to back home. I have met some really lovely people in the racing industry and outside of racing. The only thing I am not enjoying is the winter as it is a bit cold. But so far, so good – I am really happy."