Latest news with #AnnabelAndRobArchibald
The Australian
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Van Der Hoven moves to Brisbane on a whim and a prayer
Namibia-born jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven is shifting from Sydney to Brisbane on a whim and a prayer. With the backing of the strong Annabel and Rob Archibald stable, Van Der Hoven will this week move with his two dogs into his new unit at Ascot, just a stone's throw from the Doomben and Eagle Farm racetracks. The 32-year-old jockey finished his five-year Sydney stint in style last Saturday, steering the Jim and Greg Lee-trained Glorious Moments to victory to secure his first NSW metropolitan win. The next day he packed all his belongings into a friend's ute and trailer and started driving to Brisbane, stopping at Murwumbillah on the way. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Van Der Hoven had already launched a few hit-and-run missions to southeast Queensland – his last starts up north were on Caloundra Cup Day at the Sunshine Coast on July 5. He will start the new chapter in his career at Doomben next Wednesday when he is slated to have four rides for the Archibalds, with whom he has a superb 21 per cent winning strike rate. 'I've always had it in the back of my mind to move up there if the right opportunity comes because I really like Brisbane,' Van Der Hoven said. 'The weather and the atmosphere play a big part. It's more chilled and relaxed and there are nice tracks up there. 'I'm not a city boy. I grew up on a farm (in Reheboth, just south of Windhoek in Namibia) and I like the outdoors. And I like the water a lot.' Heavelon Van Der Hoven comes back to scale after his victory on Glorious Moments at Royal Randwick on Saturday – his first NSW metropolitan win. Picture: Getty Images • Harley hopes Cool Archie is his ticket to Group 1 stardom The seeds for Van Der Hoven's sea-change were planted early this year when Annabel Archibald sought a meeting with the jockey. 'Annabel asked 'would you ride for me up there?' and I said 'yeah if you'll support me' and that started the whole thing,' Van Der Hoven recalled. 'I'll try to do my best to be a city rider up here and try to get a few features if possible.' Van Der Hoven said he knew Brisbane-based Irish jockey Robbie Dolan from the days when he used to play golf in Sydney with the Melbourne Cup-winning hoop, but he was not moving north to make friends. • Rutledge's 'omen' win on The Irish written in the stars 'I don't really associate with a lot of racing people. I just keep to my own,' he said. 'Once I'm up there riding, trainers will obviously know that I'm planning to stay and maybe I can go to work for them and show my face around. 'There will be ups and downs and it'll be a challenge but I just have to take it on. 'But everywhere is hard, you just need the right support and connections I guess. I'll just put my head down and work hard.'
News.com.au
28-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Namibia-born jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven will start from scratch in Brisbane this week after his big move from Sydney
Namibia-born jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven is shifting from Sydney to Brisbane on a whim and a prayer. With the backing of the strong Annabel and Rob Archibald stable, Van Der Hoven will this week move with his two dogs into his new unit at Ascot, just a stone's throw from the Doomben and Eagle Farm racetracks. The 32-year-old jockey finished his five-year Sydney stint in style last Saturday, steering the Jim and Greg Lee -trained Glorious Moments to victory to secure his first NSW metropolitan win. The next day he packed all his belongings into a friend's ute and trailer and started driving to Brisbane, stopping at Murwumbillah on the way. Van Der Hoven had already launched a few hit-and-run missions to southeast Queensland – his last starts up north were on Caloundra Cup Day at the Sunshine Coast on July 5. He will start the new chapter in his career at Doomben next Wednesday when he is slated to have four rides for the Archibalds, with whom he has a superb 21 per cent winning strike rate. 'I've always had it in the back of my mind to move up there if the right opportunity comes because I really like Brisbane,' Van Der Hoven said. 'The weather and the atmosphere play a big part. It's more chilled and relaxed and there are nice tracks up there. 'I'm not a city boy. I grew up on a farm (in Reheboth, just south of Windhoek in Namibia) and I like the outdoors. And I like the water a lot.' • Harley hopes Cool Archie is his ticket to Group 1 stardom The seeds for Van Der Hoven's sea-change were planted early this year when Annabel Archibald sought a meeting with the jockey. 'Annabel asked 'would you ride for me up there?' and I said 'yeah if you'll support me' and that started the whole thing,' Van Der Hoven recalled. 'I'll try to do my best to be a city rider up here and try to get a few features if possible.' Van Der Hoven said he knew Brisbane-based Irish jockey Robbie Dolan from the days when he used to play golf in Sydney with the Melbourne Cup -winning hoop, but he was not moving north to make friends. @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 18, 2025 'I don't really associate with a lot of racing people. I just keep to my own,' he said. 'Once I'm up there riding, trainers will obviously know that I'm planning to stay and maybe I can go to work for them and show my face around. 'There will be ups and downs and it'll be a challenge but I just have to take it on. 'But everywhere is hard, you just need the right support and connections I guess. I'll just put my head down and work hard.'
