Richard Fourie

Richard Fourie is a runaway winner of the National Jockey’s Championship and finally broke Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 winners in a single season on June 10. It was fitting that he broke the record at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Double Grand Slam, part-owned by golfing legend Gary Player. KZN has been a happy hunting ground as he has been well supported by the local trainers where he had ridden 78 winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville, 40 on the Poly and 38 on the Turf, and 34 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville up until breaking the record. There is still a month of the current season to run and barring accidents and suspension he could well make it over the 400 winners mark.

Richard is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the month of June.

Richard Fourie

Richard Fourie is well on his way to breaking Anthony Delpech’s record number of winners in a season and the Cape Town-based rider has been well supported in his quest by KZN trainers. In the same vein as the now retired Anton Marcus, Fourie rides many false-priced favourites but he has swept all before him in KZN this month winning seventeen races at a phenomenal strike-rate of 25%. He was chased home on the monthly table by Craig Zackey, Tristan Godden and Athandiwe Mgudlwa, all with seven victories to their name. But barring any unforeseen circumstances, the record is well within Fourie’s grasp in spite of facing a seven-day suspension for one strike over the limit in an otherwise remarkable suspension-free run.

Richard is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for May.

Athandiwe Mgudlwa

Athandiwe, or Thandi to his colleagues, has recently joined forces with Alyson and Kevin Wright. A talented light-weight rider, he does not always get the best opportunities not having been connected to any one stable. But his services are always in demand as he had 43 rides in the month, the third most behind only Richard Fourie and Rachel Venniker. He made the most of those opportunities booting home five winners to take his tally to 36 for the season.

Athandiwe is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for April.

Rachel Venniker

Rachel Venniker is only recently out of her time as an apprentice but lost her apprentice claim over a year before. However, her 1.5kg sex allowance raised eyebrows as she can hold her own against the best, claim or no claim, as she illustrated when winning a Gr1 in Saudi Arabia against some of the finest international riders including regular world number one, Ryan Moore. Rachel was in good form locally as she rode eleven winners at a healthy strike rate of 19%. She also had six seconds and four thirds.

Rachel is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for March.