Jockey Richard Fourie may not have a full card of rides at the Vaal on Saturday, but he might have the two that count as he will be riding current favourite Captainofthegreen in World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1475m as well as stable companion Confederate in the World Sports Betting Grand Heritage consolation over the same distance.
Fourie has some other good rides on the card but we will concentrate on these two runners.
The Grand Heritage is the only South African race that contains more than 20 runners and is run over this unusual distance up the Vaal straight.
This year 24 runners were accepted but then trainer Sean Tarry opted to run Jordan in the Consolation event which reduced the main race to 23.
Captainofthegreen has won four times in his 12 starts but it is worth noting he just completed a hat-trick when winning his latest start, a MR 96 Handicap at Turffontein over 1600m on 30 November.
It seems the gelding operation he had in March has brought out the best in him racing-wise as he had a merit rating of 81 at the time of his operation and he is currently on 96, with the likelihood that figure will rise should he win this event.
It will be the first time Fourie sits on the Gimmethegreenlight gelding but he does not look a difficult ride.
Confederate has not been out of the first two in his five starts and he was a fluent winner of his latest start. That was at this track on 28 November.
Coincidentally, it was his first run after being gelded.
The Fire Away gelding picked up a six-point penalty for that good win.
Rival in this race Count Invicto was 2.25 lengths behind Confederate that day and is 3kg better off with that rival. Count Invicto has also only had three starts, winning twice, so is open to a lot of improvement so should be a lively danger.
Clive Robinson
