It is said that sometimes, the best man for a job is a woman.
Well, this saying will certainly come under scrutiny at the Vaal on Thursday 30 March when Kelsey Mayhew-Munger gets her fifth career ride in the card opener.
Wife of jockey Ryan Munger, Mayhew-Munger will be aboard three-year-old filly Poursomesugaronme for trainer Ashley Fortune, making them the only all-female trio in the race – and on the card.
Mayhew-Munger, a licensed assistant trainer and work rider, scored her first win on her debut ride aboard Miss Soho for Fortune in October last year, so the trainer/jockey combination look well set to double up in this Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1000m.
She has ridden Poursomesugaronme before – five runs back when the filly just ran out of steam on a yielding Vaal track to finish fourth in only her second outing.
After that, husband Ryan was tasked with the “man’s job”. Pairing up with the daughter of Captain Of All, he rode her to a third-place finish, and the pair then followed up with a hat-trick of runner-up finishes.
The highest-rated and best weighted runner in the field of ten, Poursomesugaronme is overdue to exit the maidens and in this field should have no trouble getting the job done.
One cannot help but wonder what the bragging rights will involve in the Munger-household if Mayhew-Munger does steer Poursomesugaronme to victory.
It is interesting to note that the Mayhew-Munger couple will be leaving South Africa shortly so seek greener pastures in Canada.
The couple are on their way to Ontario where Munger will be in action at Woodbine when the Canadian season begins on 22 April. The pair are due to arrive in Maple Syrup country a few weeks before the start of the season there.
Munger’s best chance for success on the day seems to be in Race 6, a MR66 Handicap over 2400m, where he will be aboard Lady Sanza, also for Fortune.
This four-year-old Rafeef-filly started her career in Zimbabwe. She found it hard to adapt to South African racing after relocating towards the end of last year, but suddenly found her running shoes again when tested over 2000m for the first time last time out.
Going even further now, she could well double up on South African soil.
Interestingly, Munger was champion rider in Zimbabwe in the 2017-18 season.
The biggest dangers to Lady Sanza are top-weighted Flag Bearer and Absolute Value.
Clive Robinson
