The Kenilworth Stipendiary Stewards, envisaging angry punters all over South Africa, were quick to hold an inquiry into the Christmas Market Pinnacle last Saturday.
The Stipes Reported on the second race on Saturday 24 November:
The Board reviewed this race with regard to the riding tactics adopted by all the riders in this race. Jockey R Fourie (MADE TO CONQUER) appeared before the Board and was questioned regarding his riding of MADE TO CONQUER. In view of his evidence submitted, and the video evidence reviewed in his presence, his explanation was noted.
Michael Clower writes that the race was won by 20-1 rank outsider Milton with the riders of the other four runners seemingly making no attempt to bridge the gap when Corne Orffer poached a ten-length lead.
Richard Fourie – explanation noted (Pic – Chase Liebenberg Photography)
What made it worse in the eyes of punters and public was that the winner is trained by Billy Prestage who frequently instructs his jockeys to try and pinch a commanding lead. The shocks he has brought off with these tactics include Red Peril in the Settlers Trophy and Milton in the Premier Trophy, both last year.
He could hardly believe his luck this time and exclaimed: “Were they mad letting my horse go like that?”
The stipes promptly summoned Richard Fourie, rider of odds-on Made To Conquer and the leader of the “chasing” pack, to ask him to explain his riding. As they heard what he had to say, and looked again at the film of the race, they realised that there was no case to answer. From a long way out Milton’s pursuers were cooked as completely as a Sunday braai.
Fourie said: “If I could have sat closer I would have done so but they (the three Justin Snaith runners) were unfit horses and they had only had one 1 400m gallop.”
Senior stipe Ernie Rodrigues, taking the writer through the film, said: “Corne Orffer pinched the race at the 800m mark but the rest were gone by the top of the straight.”
The wily Prestage now has his sights set on a second Premier on December 15 while Snaith will split Durban July second and third Made To Conquer and Elusive Silva, and Cape Summer Stayers winner Strathdon, between the Premier and the January 5 Peninsula Handicap.
The result:
| No | Horse | ACS | SH | Trainer | Jockey | Wgt | MR | Dr | OB | SP | FP | Len | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | MILTON | 7chG | A | Bill Prestage | C Orffer | 60 | 108 | 1 | 15-2 | 20-1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | MADE TO CONQUER | 5bG | A | Justin Snaith | R Fourie | 60 | 108 | 2 | 19-20 | 9-10 | 2 | 4.25 | |
| 1 | ELUSIVE SILVA | 6chG | A | Justin Snaith | B Fayd’Herbe | 61.5 | 111 | 3 | 2-1 | 71-20 | 3 | 7.00 | |
| 6 | MAC DE LAGO | 7bG | A | Dan Katz | * L Burke -4 kg | 58.5 | 101 | 5 | 8-1 | 9-1 | 4 | 8.75 | |
| 5 | STRATHDON | 5chG | A | Justin Snaith | B Lerena | 58.5 | 102 | 4 | 28-10 | 5-1 | 5 | 9.50 |
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