‘Striker’ Strydom strikes in sensational fashion and Rachel Venniker wins historic first Grade 2 race on thrilling Gauteng Guineas Day

A vintage Piere Strydom masterclass and a historic first Grade 2 win for South African champion apprentice Rachel Venniker were the standout moments of an exhilarating Gauteng Guineas Day to kick off the Johannesburg summer horseracing season.

Strydom, the 56-year-old seven-time South African champion, won the Gauteng Fillies Guineas in masterful fashion aboard Joe Soma’s impressive Lady of Power to snatch the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

And Venniker was equally impressive with the highlight of her burgeoning career, as she won the World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas on Paul Matchett’s outsider, Eye Of The Prophet, to win the first leg of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown.

Venniker and Eye Of the Prophet saw off a powerful field, as the young apprentice held off S’manga Khumalo and Royal Victory by a nose in a thrilling finish that had Turffontein on its feet.

A good crowd were in attendance for the start of The Championships series of five top quality race days and the first leg of the Triple series of competitive racing.

“Lady of Power is a beautiful filly, a huge filly, with a long stride, very relaxed in front and then she just maintains that gallop. The way she won today, the race was sort of planned for her. She’s just an easy horse to ride. It’s the first leg of the Triple Tiara, two more legs to go, I can’t stop until that’s finished,” ‘Striker’ Strydom said of the Soma filly that has motivated him to extend his stellar career in the saddle.

“It feels great winning my first Grade 2, just one step below Grade 1. I’m filled with every emotion and to do it with this horse is phenomenal. We’ve got such a close relationship. I just love him to bit. It’s a phenomenal opportunity to be given and I am so grateful to everyone who had the faith in me and I am glad we could pull it off today,” Venniker said of her Guineas win, with her memorable day getting even better as she won the last race of the day aboard Gimmealight again for Paul Matchett.

The Championships season kicked off with a bang at Turffontein as the highly-anticipated race day lived up to expectations, with a number of close races that had punters and racegoers on their feet throughout the day of exhilarating races.

Veteran trainer Joey Soma had a fantastic day, winning the day’s first two races and then capping it with Lady of Power’s win in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas to cap a fantastic day.

“What an amazing way to kick off the Gauteng Summer Season and The Championships. This competitive, exciting start to the season gives a good sense of the thrilling racing punters can expect over the next three months. The day met our expectations and I would like to again thank World Sports Betting for their sponsorship of the Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift for their sponsorship of the Triple Tiara. Congratulations to all the winning connections on the day and a special word of congratulations to veteran Piere Strydom and Rachel Venniker for their fantastic wins in today’s feature races” said Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing.

The day saw the last for now on South African soil for top jockey Calvin Habib, who on Monday leaves for Singapore to pursue his career abroad.

Here’s a full list of the winners for the exhilarating races:

Race 1: ILHA BELA MAIDEN PLATE (F & M)

Horse: Winter Mouse

Jockey: S’manga Khumalo

Trainer: Joey Soma

Race 2: WSB SPINA WINA MAIDEN PLATE

Horse: Back in Business

Jockey: S’manga Khumalo

Trainer: Joey Soma

Race 3:NIGHTINGALE PINNACLE STAKES

Horse: Shangani

Jockey: Keagan De Melo

Trainer: Tony Peter

Race 4:ATHINA MR 80 HANDICAP

Horse: Good Queen Beds

Jockey: Richard Fourie

Trainer: Mike de Kock

Race 5:WORLD SPORTS BETTING TOMMY HOTSPUR STAKES (GRADE 3)

Horse: Rollwiththepunches

Jockey: Denis Schwartz

Trainer: Roy Magner

Race 6:WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (GRADE 2) (3YO FILLIES)

Horse: Lady of Power

Jockey: Piere Strydom

Trainer: Joey Soma

Race 7:WORLD SPORTS BETTING GAUTENG GUINEAS (GRADE 2) (3 YEAR-OLDS)

Horse: Eye of the Prophet

Jockey: Rachael Venniker

Trainer: Paul Matchett

Race 8: VELVET GREEN FM 96 DIVIDED HANDICAP (F & M)

Horse: Sister Light

Jockey: Kabelo Mutsunyane

Trainer: Sean Tarry

Race 9:WSB SUPPORTERS OF SOUTH AFRICAN RACING FM 79 DIVIDED HANDICAP (F & M)

Horse: Gimmealight

Jockey: Rachel Venniker

Trainer: Paul Matchett

The next race day for The Championships Season will be Classic Day on 4 March, which will also take place at the Turffontein racecourse.

Upcoming races in The Championships series are as follows:

Day 2: Classic Day, 4 March:

• World Sports Betting SA Classic (Grade 1) (Second leg of the Triple Crown)

• Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) (Second leg of the Triple Tiara)

Day 3: Derby Day, 1 April:

• World Sports Betting SA Derby (Grade 1) (Third leg of the Triple Crown)

• Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (Grade 2) (Third leg of the Triple Tiara)

• H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1)

Day 4: Ladies Day, 15 April:

• HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1)

Day 5: Championships Finale, Champions Day, 29 April:

• Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1)

• Computaform Sprint (Grade 1)

• SA Nursery (Grade 2)

• SA Filles Nursey (Grade 2)

• Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Grade 2)

• Camellia Stakes (Grade 2)

• Gold Bowl (Grade 3)

Entrance to the Turffontein Racecourse is free throughout The Championships season.

4RACING