While he does have good relationships in the Western Cape, record-breaking Champion rider Richard Fourie looks to have his rides laid out on a silver platter on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
He should have a very good day and trainer Brett Crawford, who has his yard in top form, should also not go home empty handed.
In Race 1, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, Fourie rides Fencing Master for useful trainer Piet Botha. The Captain Of All colt was eating up the ground last time out, which was over the same course and distance, but the line came in time for winner Dawn Till Dusk. That was a work riders’ contest and Fencing Master may have won it he had sat closer to the lead.
Galactus is quick and jumps from gate No 1, but he is dropping in distance from his last start and tries a left-handed turn for the first time so Fourie could take advantage.
Watch out for beautifully bred Peregrine Falcon who makes his comeback, as he showed potential on debut.
There is not much form in Race 2, an Open Maiden over 1250m. Fourie gets a leg up on Eric Sand’s Canford Cliffs colt Mystic Majesty who he has partnered before. The pair were beaten under three lengths by Justin Snaith’s promising Sail The Seas two starts back and his last run, when fifth looks below par, but it must be remembered that with all the rain, trainers were battling to get them fit at the time.
With fitness not an issue, he could be a steering job for Fourie. It is worth mentioning that there is a half-brother by leading stallion Vercingetorix to superstar Princess Calla, Honor Of Kings, making his debut.
The comment from the Snaith yard is ‘Nice type, has not galloped, each-way chance’.
Snaith then gives Fourie a few ‘meaty bones’ and they could be his best rides on the card. Both I’m So Pritti (Race 3) and Champagne Kisses (Race 4) are beautifully bred and in typical Snaith fashion, have been improving with each run. As a result, they both rate hard to beat.
I’m So Prittie has a bit more in her favour as she jumps from a plum gate and looks head-and-shoulders above the raced runners while Champagne Kisses is running in a more competitive race but has the pedigree to be champing at the bit of the 1400m.
Fourie looks to have big claims in the rest of the card but in two of those races Brett Crawford’s charges could put a spanner in the works. Infrared (Race 6) and Great Cat (Race 7) are both in with big chances in their respective heats.
Infrared ran a smashing race beaten only 0.80 lengths in his first start after running a respectable sixth in the Grade 1 Splashout Cape Derby and could turn the form around with Future Turn who had race fitness and finished ahead of him last time.
Great Cat is taking on many improving young three-year-olds in her event, but she is in top form and may not lie down when challenged for the win down the lane.
Clive Robinson
