BRANDON Lerena speaks so softly you have to strain to hear him, but then you realise he has a story you really need to know.

Brandon is a champion South African jockey, a five-time Group 1 winner who, with his wife Carla, made a momentous decision for their children’s sake in 2019.

Built like a boxer, Brandon punched out his first winner at Scottsville racecourse in January 2005, a month after his first ride at the same track.

“I started race riding in the first year of my apprenticeship and quickly racked up, I think, 70 winners in my first season and lost my claim in my first season,” Lerena said.

“I was leading apprentice in my state for four years and I managed to win the national title at the end of my apprenticeship.

“I had a Group 1 winner in my apprenticeship as well, which is a big deal for any apprentice.

“I picked up some good horses along the way that got me four other Group 1s.

“I rode in Mauritius and had some good stints there.”

It was a leap of faith to leave home and come to Australia in 2019, but Brandon and Carla were determined to do what was right for their four children.

“The instability in South Africa with a pretty young family; it was just for their future really,” Lerena said.

“There’s an amalgamation of things – crime, schooling, health care. A lot of things have fallen by the wayside.

“It’s just so difficult for youngsters to obtain jobs. We just wanted to get a head-start for our children.

“We managed to get a sponsorship through Bjorn Baker and he offered us permanent residency here.”

Lerena made a dream start to his career in Australia when he won on his first ride but visa restrictions meant he could only ride for the ex-Kiwi trainer for the first four years.

“It was frustrating but you must remember we also went through Covid and there were visa backlogs. There were about 1,000 visas to be processed and we were in the 900s.

“So, we waited, I think, an extra two years but what can you do? Our kids were in a good school, we were feeling safe and happy about their futures; so that was really our main stress, that we had got rid of by making the move over here.

“Parents have to put their children first and do their best for them.”

The association with Bjorn was restrictive but fruitful: Brandon rode 45 winners for him and once the limitations were relaxed, he scored 18 times for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.

He and his family came to Australia to secure their kids’ future but advancing his career was also on his mind.

“I’ve still got aspirations. I’ve just moved to the Gold Coast, so it’s still very new to me,” he said.

“We’re still making connections with trainers and owners, meeting as many people as we can.

“I’m sure along the way things will change and be more positive.

“I always have trouble maintaining my weight but I’m working hard to keep it where it is.

“With that in check, I have every opportunity to do well. I just need the support.”

Brandon remembered riding in South Africa with former champion Robbie Fradd, now a riding mentor.

Fradd and Brandon both went to the South African Jockeys Academy and rode for the same trainer in Mauritius, Gilbert Rousset.

Fradd, who knows Brandon’s father-in-law – a big owner in South Africa - said Brandon was talented but needed to talk himself up.

“He’s always been quiet. He’s always been a good rider,” Fradd said.

“He needs to promote himself a lot more and he’ll get a lot of rides.”

At Ipswich last Saturday, Brandon’s skills were loud and clear as he won handsomely on Writty for trainer Chris Waller.

“She wasn’t the first one to win the start but she mustered good speed very quickly and she found a good rhythm and dominated from there,” he said.

“Thanks to Chris and his whole team, thanks to [foreman] Brett [Killion] and his Gold Coast team.

“They do a phenomenal job and just to have a winner for them is a great privilege.”