Rachel Venniker returns to the winner’s enclosure after clinching a double for Paul Matchett at the Vaal today with two two-year-olds, both by Erupt (JC Photos)
Rachel Venniker rode a double on the Highveld today and will be hoping her first Gr 1 is “a major” on the Highveld as she rides the 25/2 shot Without Question in the Gr 1 wfa R2 million Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on April 6.
She has ridden in 11 Gr 1 races to date, including in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in 2022, the Betway Summer Cup in 2022, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in 2023 and the WSB Cape Town Met this year.
Her third place finish on What A Question in the Met is in fact her best finishing position in a Gr 1 to date.
She rode a polished race setttling the The United States gelding in third place with cover after jumping from draw seven out of eleven.
Without Question stayed on well in the straight to finish a 1,65 length third at odds of 50/1.
Trainer Justin Snaith and owner Nick Jonsson have rewarded her for that fine ride by keeping her aboard.
Venniker has had one Listed race victory in her career, on See It Again, and her only Graded win to date has been in the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on the Paul Matchett-trained Eye Of The Prophet (Gimmethegreenlight) last year.
Today she rode a double for Matchett both on two-year-olds by Erupt and both in 1400m events.
She rode Moonlight Trader to an easy 2,50 length win and Queen Of Fire to a cosy win by a length.
The double takes her to 43 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 9.95%.
