SplashOut-sponsored Apprentice Savanna Valjalo broke the ice at Hollywoodbets Greyville at her 11th ride under rules on Wednesday when she steered KMV Retrofit to a maiden victory for Gareth van Zyl.
Savanna Valjalo – proudly enjoys her first professional post-race interview (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The petite 26 year old already had 3 winners to her credit as a Workrider prior to Wednesday and burst on to the scene as the winner of the 2024 Okapi Ladies Race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the favourite Gravity for Justin Snaith and leading owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith.
On a sunny Durban Wednesday, Savanna rode a confident race from the front on the 3yo Royal Mo filly who led early, and despite being passed late in the home run by Smanga Khumalo on stablemate Di Rosa, the 4kg claimer put the former SA champion jockey politely in his place by coming back to gain victory.
In a nice touch, her fellow apprentices were joined by senior rider Chad Little in congregating at the parade ring to welcome her to the number 1 box.
The Ten Einde Farm bred winner is raced by Ravi Padayachee’s Lucky Vest 12 CC and was winning at her 9th start.
Guard of honour! Colleagues welcome Savanna to the winner’s enclosure (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Savanna joined the SA Jockey Academy as a ‘mature student’ at the age of 26 in January this year and rode Rhythm for Alyson Wright in the tenth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 18 May 2025 for her opening ride as a licenced apprentice jockey.
Becoming a jockey was a lifelong ambition that started on the back of a tickey-high pony named Silwan over two decades ago.
“Work until your idols become your rivals,” is the personal philosophy of the clearly motivated young woman who has followed in the footsteps of the top-class former SA Champion Appentice Rachel Venniker in the South African lady jockey professional ranks.
