KZN-based apprentice Rachel Venniker is in the process of rewriting the history books!
At Turffontein on Saturday she took another step to a top ranking amongst female first year apprentices in South Africa
The SA Jockey Academy has confirmed that Genevieve Michel rode 56 winners in her first year, while Jessica Goslett rode 45.
The Dacha-sponsored Venniker booted home a terrific double for lady trainer Dianne Stenger and could upstage those impressive numbers!
Rachel Venniker – growing in stature (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Her first winner was in the fourth race aboard the 8-1 shot Ms Flower Power, and she followed up in the same silks for the same trainer when Mauby won the seventh race.
Miss Venniker has gone from strength to strength in a short time, and race-riding is clearly improving her seat, strength and fitness.
And she is changing perceptions in a male-dominated profession, with even legendary champion jockey Michael ‘Muis’ Roberts, who has supported the 20 years, admitting that he had in the past had reservations about female jockeys.
“It is a very tough sport and dangerous sport but I saw so much potential in her. She was dedicated and the way she held and sat on a horse, she was so well balanced and had lovely hands, and then I compared her to some of the first year apprentices. She lives for riding and deserved to be given a chance,” he is on record as saying earlier.
Before she secured her place at the SA Jockey Academy, Rachel had been riding work for Wendy Whitehead and for Roberts.
The former champion jockey put her on increasingly stronger horses and she handled it every time.
After a meeting with her parents, Roberts, Garth Puller and Kevin Wright presented her case to the riding masters of SAJA, who had rejected her application previously.
As they say, the rest is now modern history!
Ed – this editorial has been adjusted after the initial publication.
