The 2024 renewal of the popular Shergar Cup will see the teams split evenly between male and female jockeys for the first time, with six of each involved in the showdown. South Africa’s ace female rider Rachel Venniker will represent the Rest Of The World Team alongside Rachel King and Nanako Fujita.
They will compete against a European team (Bauryrzhan Murzabaye, Jose-Luis Borrego, Alberto Sanna), Great Britain and Ireland (Tadhg O’Shea, Seamie Heffernan and Billy Loughnane) and last year’s winners, the Ladies Team, comprising Hayley Turner, Marie Velon and Saffie Osborne.
Venniker’s rides include good form runner Fox Journey for Sir Michael Stoute in Race 2 over 3200m, and Michael Bell’s Carrytheone (Race 6, 1600m), a useful seven-year-old who raced at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Venniker told www.sportinglife.com: “I am stable rider for Michael Roberts, so it is brilliant to have an ex-Champion Jockey, in Britain and South Africa, as my guv’nor. He has all the wisdom in the world to pass down. I am always trying my best to apply the knowledge I pick up.
“My strengths are probably my natural understanding of horses. I have worked with them since I was barely out the womb. I think it helps a lot to know the horses and understand them.
“Michael has given me plenty of advice and I am sure I will be getting more now I have had a look at the track – a few tips about what to do and how to do it properly. Michael was an incredible jockey and is always trying to help me. I am sure it will pay off.
“It is an honour and privilege to be invited to ride in the Shergar Cup. I have been to the Saudi International Challenge but to be invited to this is incredible. When I am not racing myself, I am always watching what is happening over here and I have seen quite a bit of the racing.
“The interest back home is massive. All the trainers I ride for and the owners in my main stable are super excited and can’t wait for me to send them all my rides. I arrived on Sunday and this is my first time in the UK. I am very excited. I have been to London and done the touristy stuff and went to Newmarket to ride out for Mr (William) Haggas.
“I am the first woman in my country to ride in the Durban July. Ticking that off the list was a proud moment. I am still trying to get that elusive Group One win but my career has been going very well. So far I am the only female jockey riding in South Africa but hopefully others will follow.
“It will be incredible to be riding in the first Shergar Cup with a 50-50 split of female and male jockeys and I am so proud to be part of it. It shows how much the sport is changing.”