Can Foudre finally crack it in the Cape?

Jack Milner

Broodmare Halfway To Heaven could not have had a more auspicious start to her career as her first three foals – Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam and Golden Ducat – were all Grade 1 winners.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, and the next group were not as distinguished although both In Limbo and Celestial City have won races.  

However, Foudre, who is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson in the Western Cape, has yet to win a race, although he has placed in all of his four starts.

Bass-Robinson has admitted she is still attempting “to get to the bottom” of this son of Fire Away.

Foudre finished second on debut over 1250m and third in his second start over 1400m before being turned over at prohibitive odds (3-10) when second over 2000m, which prompted his connections to geld their highly regarded three-year-old.

Craig Zackey, in his capacity as retained rider for owner Lady Laidlaw's Khaya Stables, has ridden him in all of his starts, the latest of which was over 1400m with Foudre finishing a staying-on fourth beaten 5.70 lengths by Solomons Seal, who has subsequently run well to finish fourth at a higher level in a Graduation Plate.

On the evidence of his most recent effort, Foudre will undoubtedly be a better horse over ground so the step up in trip to 1600m in Race 3 on Wednesday should unlock the improvement needed to see him open his account under Zackey.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 16 Tambourine Man, 7 Congressman, 6 Dancingtothelight, 15 Moonacres

Race 2: 9 Rainbow Lorikeet, 8 Enchanting Choice, 11 Callmegetrix, 5 Princess Izzy

Race 3: 2 Foudre, 13 Greenland, 9 Mr Belvedere, 6 Givethatmanabells

Race 4: 4 Unicorn Alert, 2 Augusta Blue, 3 Michael Faraday, 5 Fibonacci

Race 5: 11 Incredibill, 5 Trippi's Silk, 2 All About Ronnie, 7 Bristol Hercules

Race 6: 7 Beyondtheboundary, 6 Future Prince, 2 San Pedro, 8 Rosh Kedesh

Race 7: 5 Shifting Path, 6 Mr Frostie, 10 Heknows, 1 Grand Bay

Race 8: 13 The Abdicator, 1 Axl, 10 Meu Capitano, 5 Future Variety

BEST BET

Race 7 No 5 Shifting Path

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 13 The Abdicator

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 7x18

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 7, 16

Leg 2: 8, 9, 11

Leg 3: 2, 13

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 5, 11

Leg 6: 2, 6, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 8, 9, 11

Leg 2: 2, 13

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4

Leg 4: 5, 11

Leg 5: 2, 6, 7

Leg 6: 5

Leg 7: 1, 10, 13

PICK 6

R1125

Leg 1: 2, 6, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 3: 2, 5, 11

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 5: 5

Leg 6: 1, 5, 7, 10, 13

JACKPOT 1

R100

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 5, 11

Leg 3: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 5

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 2, 5, 11

Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 5

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7, 10, 13