Blow to Rachel’s July dream

Danie Toerien

Rachel Venniker is out of the July.

Booked to ride Red Saxon for trainer Joe Soma, and in the process becoming the first female jockey to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July this coming Saturday, she suffered a freak accident yesterday at Greyville in the last race when her mount, Kileigh’s Fate, fly-jumped and she was dislodged.

Hitting her head on the rail at the gate, she suffered a concussion and has to be side-lined for at least ten days.

“It’s really a tragedy,” said her mentor and trainer and of Kileigh’s Fate, the legendary Michael Roberts, yesterday afternoon.

“She is out of the July. She is devastated, but there’s nothing anyone can do.

“It was a freak accident, and unfortunately it happened to her at the worst possible time.”

According to Roberts she is, apart from the concussion, in good shape. She hasn’t suffered any fractures and she has not been hospitalised, he said.

He added that she will take a few days to work through the trauma, and her privacy must be respected in this time.

“Racing is a dangerous sport,” said Roberts.

“When someone suffers a concussion, it is important to ensure that they recover completely. We are talking about people’s lives here,” he said.

“I’m convinced she will want to get back to riding as soon as possible, but protocols have to be followed.”