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