Fourie expects to ‘Jet’ home

Danie Toerien

With seven Grade 1 winners to his name this season, Richard Fourie is undoubtedly the jockey of the moment.

Whether that’s a South African record, doesn’t matter much to the amicable Fourie, because as he says: “It’s a record for me.

“There’s a lot of talk about it. Everyone seems to have an opinion. Whether it is the record or not, it is a record for me.”

Since ending his exclusive arrangement with trainer Justin Snaith earlier in the season, Fourie has seen his career being catapulted to new heights.

“Yes, it’s allowed me to spread my wings and I’m flying for a change.

“If I had ridden for only one stable, I would not have had seven Group 1 wins. I would have been lucky to have three.”

Fourie could well add to his tally of Group 1 winners come Saturday, the grand finale of the South African racing season, where the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, and the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m – both a R1-million in stakes – headline the 10-race card.

“I’ve been very fortunate this season with Sean Tarry, Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith, all champion trainers, letting me ride their best,” said Fourie ahead of Champion Cup Day.

He has nine rides on Saturday and, having had more than his share of luck with the barrier draws on the day, he is most likely to ride his eighth - or more - Group 1 winner for the season, where he sees Jet Dark as his best ride. But more about that later.

Asked if he will be chasing the champion jockey title next season, Fourie was rather non-committal.

“I’m going to do what I’m doing now, which is my job. If that allows me to win the championship, then great. But my plan is to just carry on what I’m doing,” he said.

“I haven’t set any goals for next season. All I want to do is ride winners and see how that works out.

“It’s a long season. When you chase titles, you have to start early, but I’m going to take a couple of weeks off just to regroup myself, mend the little aches and pains, and then continue with my career.”

According to Fourie, chasing the champion jockey title means that he will have to, pretty much, ride at every race meeting.

“With the cost of flights on one hand, and the stakes and earnings on the other, there’s a gap. I have to have at least five rides on a day just to break even.

“To chase the championship is a very costly exercise. Everybody wants to win it, but it comes at a cost.”

The cost is also not just financial.

Riding seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, takes a heavy toll on family life and the quality of life for a jockey.

“Constant travelling turns you into a stranger for your loved ones. I’ve experienced that already this season. It’s not pleasant.”

While next season remains an open book, Fourie has opened up on how he sees the chances of his nine rides on Saturday, and how the races might unfold.

Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Darley Arabian over 1600m

“Cat Daddy looks to be the main danger. Indlamu did run a good race all things considered, but he is the kind of horse that likes a soft lead. I don’t see him getting that here. There is quite a bit of speed here. He should run well, and I’m expecting to make the Trifecta or the Quartet. That’s my expectation.”

Cat Daddy, trained by Glen Kotzen, is the defending champion.

Grade 2 Prosport International Debutante Presented By Gagasi FM over 1200m

“I’ve never ridden Antigua Night. I worked her on Monday and she did nicely.

“But this is a very difficult race. At least I have a good draw, which helps a lot.

“It’s a very open race with horses from Joburg and Cape Town, as well as the Durban horses. It’s probably the most difficult race to find a winner as most of the field are very decent horses.

“It makes it difficult to plan for a race like this, but at least I have a very good draw, which makes it a bit easier.”

Grade 2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m

“Without Equal is a nice sort. I’ve never ridden him, but I have raced against him. He’s a speedy one. He gallops very well.”

According to Fourie, the big threat is Captain Casey.

“If you look at the form line of Captain Casey, it’s very strong at the moment. His form is holding up and a lot of winners have come from that form line. He doesn’t have the best of draws, but he’s good enough to overcome it.”

Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m

“I think this race is a contest between Hold My Hand and Time Fo Orchids.

“I have won on Hold My Hand. She gave me a very nice feel. She’s a progressive filly. And fearless. She wasn’t scared to take gaps.

“Time Fo Orchids ran a very good race last time out from a bad draw. This time she’s drawn well, so she looks a big runner.

Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m

“I think the horse to beat here is Laguna Verde.

“It’s my first time on Prophet, but I’ve raced against him, so I know him. In the race at Scottsville (two runs back) he got taken out. I was drawn next to him on Countdown and we both got interfered with at the start of the race. We lost a lot of ground and had to pull back and go around the outside.

“I like Prophet from this draw. It helps a lot. He also looks like a horse that’s crying out for this sort of distance.”

Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m

“It’s a big ask from Captain’s Ransom first time out against the boys. The arrangement was that she could run if she gets a good draw, and she got a fantastic one (gate No 3).

“She’s no sprinter, although she did win at Scottsville over 1200m. On that day she was really spot on form. I didn’t feel she was at her best in the Garden Province (last time out).

“This is her third run after a break and she is a definite contender because she’s just so good.

“She’s won five Group 1s, that makes her a superstar.

“The 2.5kg allowance is also a great advantage.”

Grade 3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup over 3200m

“This is a two-horse race between Nebraas and Black Thorn.

Black Thorn did win the Gold Vase on July Day, but I do get a bit of weight from him. The weights are very compressed here, with bottom weight at 54kg. There are a whole bunch of horses that are under sufferance.

“Nebraas stays all day. He is a tested stayer and he gives you everything.

“Regardless of the outcome, Nebraas should be champion stayer. He’s just done so well this season.”

Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m.

“Race over.

“I’m going to let Jet Dark beat them by as far as he can.

“It’s not a race. At weight for age, he’s going to kill the field.

“The last couple of years we’ve seen some great battles between Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge. Now it’s Jet Dark and Kommetdieding.

“But Jet Dark has done a lot more than Kommetdieding this season.”

Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m

“Pink Tourmaline. Whoever beats her, wins. My filly, Follow The Star, needs further.

“Pink Tourmaline is the ideal 2000m filly. We saw what she did at Scottsville. She won well. She’s 108 rated.

“Marina is on 117 and she gets a 1.5kg swing at the weights, so the race is between those two.

“With that said, I still expect to finish in the Quartet, but 2000m is a bit sharp for Follow The Star. She’s better over 2400m and further.”

Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap over 1000m

“Isivunguvungu certainly has a good winning chance. I expect the race to work out very well for him. I’ve been on him and he’s always given me a good feel.

“He’s got a nice galloping weight, and it seems the perfect sort of race for him. He will come very close.

“There’s tons of speed in this race and he will enjoy that.”