The best time to follow a jockey is when he is on a mission and in Richard Fourie you have just that – for the next two months at least. He is chasing a Champion Jockey title which is a formality, and more importantly, a South African record for most wins in a season.
Even that looks virtually certain, but we can be sure he will be trying to win as many races as possible.
He has a full book of rides on Fairview Polytrack this Friday, and we will concentrate on four of them.
The first comes up in Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Stakes over 1200m, where he rides Walt Whitman. This Canford Cliffs juvenile showed promise on debut when fourth behind Golden Link over 1400m considering he had a couple of things go wrong that day. He jumped slowly and shifted under pressure, so good improvement should be forthcoming.
The drop in distance should also suit the colt.
Blinkers are expected to do the trick for Hanging Rock in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m.
This three-year-old filly has been very consistent without winning and was third on her local debut when trying the Polytrack for the first time.
More was expected from this Canford Cliffs filly that day but jumping from pole position this time around she should make amends.
The Greeff-Fourie combination has been lethal with regards to filly Luna Halo and she looks the right one in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m.
Fourie has come out on top in seven of the 9 nine times he has been aboard Luna Halo. She is also unbeaten in two starts on the Polytrack.
Lunar Halo carries 62kg and will be giving weight away to all her rivals but is still the best weighted runner in the field.
Greeff continues to impress with his runners he recruits from other trainers and four-year-old gelding Siberian Steel could be of some value in Race 7, a MR 90 Handicap over 1200m.
The What A Winter gelding was not disgraced when fifth on local debut and could appreciate the Polytrack surface.
Clive Robinson
