Trois Trois Quatre free of his millstone

Jack Milner

Timing is everything, even for a racehorse.

This South African season has been focused in the main on whether any jockey would be able to break Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 winners in a season.

In fact, a bounty of R1-million was put up for any jockey who could better that total.

All eyes were on Richard Fourie who travelled the country in search of winners and on 8 June, with just under two months left to run in the season, Fourie rode winner No 335 to push him past that total.

After retiring from riding, Delpech went to work for Hollywoodbets as their racing manager, and this total had become quite an obsession, they named a horse after that record. And because Delpech was born in Madagascar and was brought up speaking French, the horse was named Trois Trois Quatre.

This son of Rafeef looked to be quite special and appeared to be heading for the top when winning three successive races as a lightly raced four-year-old. Trained by Mike de Kock, talk of a feature-race success was bandied about.

However, after winning that third race in September last year, Trois Trois Quatre seemed to freeze. Despite finding betting support and starting favourite on numerous occasions, this gelding was unable to notch up another victory.

But then something weird happened. In his first race following Fourie’s breaking the record, which came 10 days after that event, Trois Trois Quatre suddenly found his best form and romped to a 3.75-length victory.

It was as if Trois Trois Quatre had been hanging on to that record and when it was over, he could finally let go of it.

To add to the irony, Fourie was in the irons.

On Wednesday Trois Trois Quatre returns to Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the course where he broke his maiden, to line up in Race 5, a MR 94 Handicap over 1950m, and will be looking to continue that winning run.

Interestingly De Kock has engaged 4kg claiming apprentice Brevan Plaatjies and that will see his weight drop from 59kg to 55kg. Hopefully that will be enough to see him claim win No 5.

His main threat is likely to come from Sean Tarry-trained Willow’s Wish, who ironically will be ridden by Fourie.

This six-year-old gelding also had a lengthy spell of more than a year before finally winning his last start, but that was on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He did win at Scottsville, but that was three-years back and he could battle giving 6kg and a beating to Trois Trois Quatre.

Race 1: 5 Saudi Sweep, 8 Ayuwi Yuwi, 13 Lady Slipper, 6 Say It Loud

Race 2: 6 Vihaan's Web, 4 Isikwishikwishi, 8 Luhamba Phambili, 2 Actor

Race 3: 11 Captain Marsala, 4 Landseer, 7 Milan's World, 6 Rototo

Race 4: 5 Intuitive Spirit, 8 Future Flo, 7 French Trip, 1 Bella's Pablo

Race 5: 7 Trois Trois Quatre, 9 Willow's Wish, 2 Pas De Nom, 8 Pirate Prince

Race 6: 9 Lucky Dollar, 13 Selukwe, 1 To The Rescue, 6 Palermo

Race 7: 10 Patants Heir, 2 Shanta's Pride, 4 La Divina, 1 Chelsea Flower

Race 8: 16 Moya Wa Laliga, 7 Fire Tonic, 15 Mar Del Plata, 2 Intrepid

BEST BET

Race 2: 6 Vihaan's Web

VALUE BET

Race 6: 9 Lucky Dollar

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 4x11

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 5, 6, 8, 13

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 4, 11

Leg 4: 5, 7, 8

Leg 5: 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 6, 9, 13

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 4, 11

Leg 3: 5, 8

Leg 4: 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 9, 13

Leg 6: 2, 4, 10

Leg 7: 7, 15, 16

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 4, 7, 11

Leg 2: 5, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 10

Leg 6: 7, 15, 16

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 10

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 10

Leg 4: 7, 15, 16