Author Archives: Yegan Kander

Trainer of the Month – March 2024

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Tienie Prinsloo

Tienie Prinsloo is the only former Kimberley-based trainer to stay the distance when Flamingo Park closed and some moving to KwaZulu-Natal. It has been a struggle and Tienie currently has one of the smallest strings in Summerveld but he saddled eleven runners for three winners and two seconds in the month at a 54% win/place strike rate.

Tienie is Gold Circle’s Trainer of the Month for March

Jockey of the Month – March 2024

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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.

Trainer of the Month – February 2024

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Wendy Whitehead, Alyson Wright and Gareth van Zyl dominated the leader board as far as winners went in the month and the trio paid to follow with a R1 bet on Wendy’s runner realizing a R11 return on investment. However, veteran Dennis Bosch has scaled down his operation in recent years and only saddled eleven runners in the month. Three of those were winners with three runner-up placings for a 54% winning strike rate.

Dennis is Gold Circle’s trainer of the month for February. 

Jockey of the Month – February 2024

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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.

Trainer of the Month – January 2024

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Byron Forster

Byron’s name does not appear on the official trainer’s log but as KZN assistant to Western Cape-based trainer Andre Nel he runs the Summerveld yard. A long-time assistant to Paul Lafferty, Byron took his chances when assistant to Nel came up as he was basically on his own. He sent out 22 runners for four win and three seconds for a healthy 18% winning strike rate.

Byron is Gold Circle’s trainer of the Month for January