Well done to Rachel Venniker!

We congratulate Rachel Venniker on her excellent win in big company, in Saudi Arabia’s Invest Saudi International Jockeys Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyahd last Friday.

She said: “It is phenomenal! It is my first time to ride outside of South Africa and I have so many people to thank. Michael Roberts [top-class jockey-turned trainer] has helped me so much back home, but thank you to everyone who has supported me. I would also like to thank the owner and trainer of this horse Cliffs Of Fury.”

“It sends a message to aspiring jockeys to just keep trying,” Venniker, who is South Africa’s only active female jockey, told the Racing Post.

Rachel is considered inferior to male jockeys by the South African National Horseracing Authority’s CEO, Vee Moodley, who has given her a lifelong 1,5kg claim. 

The ‘Moodley Claim’ is only applied in France right now and has done exactly zero for female apprentices – typical of the dictatorial application of rules evident since Covid-19.