Shamaree muir loses ‘bug’
Leading apprentice Shamaree Muir lost his apprentice weight claim, otherwise known as the ‘bug’, last weekend.
As a result although still listed as an apprentice Muir will not be able to claim any weight. Muir is the first of the batch of 20 apprentices who started their riding careers on September 8, 2012.
Apprentices are usually given a period of three years before becoming fully fledged jockeys, starting with a claim of four kilogrammes. After they have ridden 10 winners that claim is reduced to three kilogrammes.
Further, when they ride 30 winners the claim goes down to two kilogrammes.
Thereafter apprentices lose their ‘bug’ one year after riding their 30th winner, as in the case of Muir, or at the completion of the stipulated three years of apprenticeship.
Two other apprentices, Prince Holder and Renardo McNaughton, have already ridden 30 or more winners.
