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.

There were a couple of remarkable achievements during the month, notably apprentice James Lihaba riding seven winners at a smart 21% strike rate, matched only by seasoned rider Craig Zackey with strikingly similar stats. However, Richard Fourie was head-and-shoulders above his rivals with 15 winners in KZN alone and well on course for his record attempt at 334 for a season set by Anthony Delpech in 1998. He is assured of the National Title even at this early stage of the season and we wish him well in his quest for the record.

Richard is Gold Circle’s rider of the month for February.

Serino Moodley

Serino has been in smart form of late and his services are in high demand. He is especially strong in a finish and booted home seven winners from his 50 mounts with a further seven in second. He also made successful raids on the Highveld where he teamed up with Summerveld-based trainer Lorenzo Karriem.

Serino is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for January.

Rachel Venniker

Rachel Venniker walked off with a number of awards at the end-of-year South African Jockey Academy speechday, a few days before she lost her apprentice tag to become a fully fledged jockey. She had already ridden over 200 winners as an apprentice and rounded her time off with six winners at a healthy 17% winning strike rate and over 50% of her rides finishing in the money.

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

Tristan Godden

Western Cape-based Richard Fourie continues to dominate as he hunts for rides around the country with his agent, former NHA handicapper Ken Nicol picking the plums. Fourie banged home 14 winners in KZN in November but local rider Tristan Godden has also hit a purple patch. He went through a lean spell, as most in this sport often do, but is now riding at the top of his game. He has always been a talented rider but seldom gets chances on the big stage. However, he has built up a relationship with seasoned trainer Mike Miller and together they have been having their fair share of success. Tristan rode seven winners in November at a 16% winning strike rate.

Tristan is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for November.

Richard Fourie

Richard, second to Keagan de Melo in the national jockey championship last season, is making a concerted effort to go one better this term and is currently in a title race with Muzi Yeni. He tributes much of his success to his agent, former NHA handicapper Ken Nicol, but he has received solid support from local trainers and from his 47 rides he booted home 15 winners, six more than local rider Serino Moodley.

Richard is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for October 

James Lihaba

The official racecard has his name down as Kobeli Lihaba but he is better known as James in the racing fraternity. Only recently having sing his papers, apprentice Kobeli ‘James’ Lihaba has caught the eye of many trainers with his balance and strength with one of his main supporters being Duncan Howells. “He is balanced and listens to instructions. I see other trainers have also noticed, mostly the ex-jocks,” he said. James, who cut his teeth in bush racing in the Eastern Cape, is full value for his 4kg claim and had three winners and three seconds from his 27 rides last month.

James is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for September

Muzi Yeni

Based in Gauteng, Muzi Yeni is making a concerted effort to land the National Jockey Championship, having come close on a number of occasion in the past. He has got the current season off to a cracking start, and has been well supported by KZN trainers. He finished the month with 15 winners in KZN, seven more than local weighing room rivals Serino Moodley and Sean Veale. Being a natural light weight helps his cause and he has adopted the maxim of ‘have saddle will travel’ in his quest for the championship.

Muzi is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for August

Richard Fourie 

The Gold Circle Jockey of the month award is generally reserved for a KZN-based rider but South Africa’s Champions Season attracts the full spectrum of the country’s riders for three months of brilliant racing and it would be remiss not to honour Richard Fourie as jockey of the month. The country’s leading rider and KZN-based Keagan de Melo, hit a figurative ‘roadblock’ in the last month of the season which yielded eight winners while Richard, charging in pursuit of the Jockey’s Championship, rode 15 winners that included a host of Gr1 features, thanks mainly to Sean Tarry but falling 19 short of Keagan’s national total of 277.

Richard Fourie is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month of July.

Athandiwe Mgudlwa 

Athandiwe Mgudlwa has always been a talented rider but with limited opportunities. That has all changed since he has teamed up with Gareth van Zyl and his fortunes have turned for the better. Success brings success and ‘Tandy’ as Garth Puller calls him, has become increasing in demand by other trainers. He visited the winner’s enclosure eight times in May, equal to S’Manga Khumalo.

Athandiwe is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for May