Serino Moodley

Serino Moodley was the hardest working jockey in KZN having 63 rides in the month of July. This resulted in him heading the winner’s log with nine victories one more than visiting riders Richard Fourie and S’Manga Khumalo who had the choice of some plum rides. S’Manga was aboard star filly Quid Pro Quo in all three of her feature victories. Serino has built up a strong relationship with recently crowned KZN champion trainer Gareth van Zyl and he looks to have a bright future ahead.

Serino is Gold Circle’s Jockey of the Month for July

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.

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