Nowadays it is nigh impossible to go through the card for a South African race meeting without coming across the familiar name of Richard Fourie aboard a potential winner that makes for an attractive betting proposition. The eight-raced card on the Inside track at Turffontein on Thursday 21 March is no exception.
With one hand already on a maiden Champion Jockey title, Fourie’s attention has turned to breaking the record of 334 winners in a season set by Anthony Delpech to claim the R1-million bonus offered by leading sports betting operator Hollywoodbets.
Having surpassed the 200-winner milestone at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Wednesday, Fourie’s ‘trek’ to the Highveld for the midweek Joburg meeting is likely to bring with it further success in bid for glory.
In Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, he rides the only runner with the benefit of experience, the Roy Magner-trained It’s Personal. This What A Winter colt showed speed on debut over 1200m before tiring late to finish a well-beaten fourth under 4kg-claiming apprentice Trent Mayhew.
On that evidence, the shorter 1000m distance should be more to the liking of It’s Personal who would also have improved appreciably with that outing under his belt.
The same applies to The United States filly Rodeo Drive in Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1000m, as Sean Tarry’s charge is one of just two runners in the race to have seen the racecourse.
She finished a promising second on debut over 800m back in December and should, with natural improvement, go one better and complete a quickfire double for Fourie and his many followers.
Feeling Groovy finished half a length behind Ariel’s Jet over 1600m a fortnight ago and the latter is 2,5kg better off when the pair renew rivalry in Race 5, a fillies and mares MR 71 Handicap over 1800m. However, the Fourie-factor aboard the Paul Matchett-trained former and the extra 200m could turn the tide in favour of Feeling Groovy.
Another Tarry-trained runner is likely to complete a race-by-race double for Fourie, with Willow Express seemingly good value to make a belated return to winning ways in Race 6, a MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
This Willow Magic gelding has not won for the better part of two years – 676 days to be precise – but has rediscovered his form and consistency given relief from the handicapper and dropped in the weights. He has finished fifth twice, fourth once and second twice in his last five outings.
Willow Express was a fast-finishing second off his current mark over 1500m on this track four weeks ago. He was heavily supported on that occasion and should repay his supporters with an overdue fifth career success from stall 2.
Clive Robinson
