‘Fourie spotting’ leads us to Spring Kiss

Jack Milner

We have all kinds of hobbies that involve spotting – Train spotting, plane spotting, car spotting, bird spotting etc.

But currently in South African horseracing we have a new kind of hobby called “Fourie spotting”.

The first item people rush to when the ComputaForm comes out is to find out what jockey Richard Fourie is riding at the meeting.

He is the most sought-after jockey and with him chasing for the jockeys’ title and a record number of winners, he often ends up with the best rides.

For example, on Wednesday we all hoped that Cupid’s Song would be "the one" but trainer Tony Rivalland withdrew his charge from Race 5 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

So, let us look at Spring Kiss in Race 6, a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m on the Polytrack. 

Fourie had not been aboard this four-year-old daughter Querari filly until her last start when he was engaged by trainer Andre Nel. No doubt Fourie and/or his agent had assessed the filly's form and decided she was ready to notch up a second victory.

Whatever the case they were spot on and aboard Spring Kiss for the first time, Fourie brought her home to beat Pretty Analia by 0.40 lengths. 

It was not an easy victory, Fourie having to use all his wiles and skill to get her up, but she was backed in from an opening call of 11-2 to go off a 5-2 favourite.

Fourie must have seen more in her and has taken the ride for the second time so from No 3 draw, one can expect another big run from this filly.   

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 3 Sweet Julia, 6 Head Girl, 8 Emerald Green, 1 Vathomvlaffie

Race 2: 1 Play With Fire, 3 Floral Fantasy, 11 Valli Gal, 2 Sacred Lily

Race 3: 3 Madison Valley, 5 El Rey Viene, 2 Pirate Prince, 8 Syx Hotfix

Race 4: 4 Circle Of Grace, 3 Lucretius, 7 Wyatt's Choice, 1 Fine Admiral

Race 5: 9 Future Of Energy, 7 Pascali, 5 Midnight Caller, 4 Rodriguez

Race 6: 3 Spring Kiss, 4 Oh So Squishy, 12 Pretty Analia, 8 Gilda Gray

Race 7: 1 Wyzeact, 7 Sleek As Silk, 6 Morgan La Fay, 2 Ralph The Rascal

Race 8: 8 Phaka Imali, 10 Knight Warrior, 2 Dancing Dora, 6 Big Slick

BEST BET

Race 2 No 1 Play With Fire

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 4 Circle Of Grace

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 3x5

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 3, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 3, 5

Leg 4: 3, 4, 7

Leg 5: 7, 9

Leg 6: 3, 4, 8, 12

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 3, 5

Leg 3: 3, 4, 7

Leg 4: 7, 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 12

Leg 6: 1, 6, 7

Leg 7: 2, 8, 10

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 2, 3, 5

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 7, 9

Leg 4: 3, 4, 8, 12

Leg 5: 1, 6, 7

Leg 6: 2, 6, 8, 10

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 2: 7, 9

Leg 3: 3, 4, 8, 12

Leg 4: 1, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R96

Leg 1: 7, 9

Leg 2: 3, 4, 8, 12

Leg 3: 1, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 6, 8, 10