AN intriguing and close battle has developed for the 2019 jockey’s title.

Two apprentices who started their race riding careers in September of last year have literally taken control, bringing home the winners at a rapid pace.

Christopher Mamdeen leads at the moment with a total of 37 winners with Reyan Lewis four behind on 33.

Both Mamdeen and Lewis rode three winners each on the 13-race programme on Saturday last (May 11, 2019) to move further ahead of rivals in the standing. And, if that was not enough, the two young reinsmen returned on Wednesday, May 15 with two winners each.

Mamdeen winners on May 11 were Prince Sammo in the first race for trainer Oneil Markland, Virtuoso in the seventh race for trainer Junior Small and Chief of State in the ninth race for trainer Spencer Chung.

Lewis was successful aboard Schlesinger in the third race for breeder, owner and trainer Carl Anderson, Cue Three in the fourth race for trainer Steven Todd and Nuclear Lava in the eighth race for trainer Everal Francis.

While on Wednesday, Mamdeen was atop Resurgence and Berry Boy, both for trainer Ian Parsard while Lewis was the winning rider on Vice Royalty for trainer Junior Small, and Eye Candy from the barn of trainer Steven Todd.

It is fair to say that both Mamdeen and Lewis are developing quickly and are showing remarkably maturity in the saddle, winning from in front as well as coming from behind. Right now, the two lads and their agents seem to know where to get the winning rides and are often aboard seven or eight horses on any given race day.

While it is still too soon to make any predictions, it would be quite a feat if one of these lads actually goes on to win the championship in their first full year of riding competitively.

The proof of the Mamdeen/Lewis pudding is going to come when they are not allowed to claim weight and that time is rapidly approaching. What that both have in common is a light body weight which should assist when the apprentice “bug” is removed.

Interestingly, a check of the top 10 jockeys, shows four (Lewis, Mamdeen, Tevin Foster, and Kiaman McGregor) on the list.