The trailblazing Rachel Venniker was the first female jockey to ride in the Summer Cup when she partnered Shango for Sean Tarry in the 2022 renewal of the Highveld showpiece.
Rachel Venniker – groundbreaker! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
On Thursday 14 November, the dual former SA champion apprentice became the first official jockey declaration for the stake boosted R6 million Betway Gr1 Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on 30 November, and will partner Zeus for Fabian Habib.
“He’s a striking horse and he has top form over ground. His last run when lumbering 62kgs when beaten 3,50 lengths behind Poets Warrior in the Allied Steelrode Java Stakes was a nice effort. I am looking forward to the big day,” Rachel told the Sporting Post on Thursday afternoon.
Zeus is currently quoted at 20-1 in the big race antepost market and forms part of a handful of potential runners clamouring for what looks to be five berths up for grabs.
Besides being the first lady rider to compete in the Hollywoodbets Durban July when partnering Hluhluwe for Justin Snaith in the 2024 renewal, Rachel made more history internationally when she won Saudi Arabia’s Invest Saudi International Jockeys Challenge Stakes. In the process she became the first South African female rider to win in the desert Kingdom and the first to defeat male rivals such as Ryan Moore (whose mount ran third) and former Australian legend Damien Oliver (fifth).
Rachel also enjoyed a rewarding Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup tournament in August when she booted Holkham Bay to victory at her first ride at the historic Ascot racecourse.
Final Betway Summer Cup entries close at 09h00 on Monday, 18 November, after which the weights will be announced.
Declarations must be in by 11h00 on Wednesday, 20 November and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on the same afternoon.
