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By Ray Hickson

It’s no easy task to replace champion jockey James McDonald on any horse, let alone for your first metropolitan ride, but Heavelon Van Der Hoven couldn’t be more excited about partnering Kobe Rocks at Rosehill on Saturday.

If his name isn’t familiar that’s because to date he’s only had 16 rides in Australia, for four winners, and under the terms of his sponsorship he can only ride for trainer Bjorn Baker.

The 28-year-old grew up in Namibia, in a town called Rehoboth which is south of the nation’s capital Windhoek, and his road to Sydney has been an interesting one.

Heavelon Van Der Hoven after a win on Twice On Sunday at Hawkesbury. (Pic: Bradley Photos)

“I grew up on a farm so I grew up with horses. Ever since I was young I just wanted to be a jockey,’’ he said.

“My mother and father were very supportive, they were divorced when I was young but they still supported me and I went to the academy in South Africa.”

That was in 2011 and it took five years for Van Der Hoven to really get noticed and it was a chance booking for South Africa’s first $1m race – the CTS Million Dollar run at Kenilworth in January 2016 – that put the then apprentice “on the map”.

Weichong Marwing was booked to ride Illuminator but had to pull out on race morning and Van Der Hoven, who was literally in the right place at the right time at the stable with the horse’s connections, was handed the ride and he scored on the 16/1 chance.

“That was the one that put me on the map, I had a few Group 2 and Group 3 wins after that,’’ he said.

So how did Van Der Hoven make his way to Australia? In April 2019 he started a six month stint riding in New Caledonia and received a call from expat South African Celeste Whitmore, who works for Bjorn Baker, and an offer of a job.

He arrived in November and rode sparingly in his first few months based at Warwick Farm before snaring his first winner at Bathurst on Anzac Day.

“It’s a lot different, racing is phenomenal here and I’m enjoying it so far,’’ he said.

Baker said he’s fortunate to have Van Der Hoven and South African rider Brandon Lerena working for him and is adamant they have a future here once their sponsorship ends.

“I’m lucky I have two riders that are very good, Brandon Lerena and him, and at the moment they can only ride for me,’’ he said.

“Once they have permanent residence, they’ll be getting a lot more rides no doubt about it. They are both absolute pleasures to deal with.”

Kobe Rocks is one of two horses Van Der Hoven is booked to partner at Randwick on Saturday, the other being Exotic Ruby, and horse and rider are very well acquainted.

James McDonald rode the gelding to victory at Warwick Farm earlier this month and while Van Der Hoven said it’s a tough act to follow he’s excited at getting the opportunity in the Peter Kafataris Handicap (1300m).

“I do most of the work on him,’’ he said.

“I’m well aware of his ability, I think he has plenty of ability, and he’s working well and I’m going to grab the opportunity.

“You win your races from the barriers and barrier one is a big advantage for me and for Kobe.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting