The pure brilliance and confidence of high-riding Winning Form-sponsored jockey Richard Fourie was the difference between victory and defeat when the smart Fire Away filly Luna Halo got her head down to win the R200 000 Listed Breeders Guineas in a Netflix-type thriller at Fairview on Friday.
Luna Halo gets the verdict under Richard Fourie to beat Siddeley (obscured) and a low flying Joy And Peace under Chase Maujean (Pic – Pauline Herman)
After Smanga Khumalo threw a tearaway curved ball into the mix in the shape of Kelly Mitchley’s Passchendale, who made it two races in one as she sped off to lead her field by many lengths, the race looked to be teetering on the brink of disaster inside the 350m for favourite backers as Luna Halo found her feet but appeared to be labouring.
In a tactical and cucumber cool display of riding, JP van der Merwe slipped Snaith raider Siddeley (28-10) down the inside and she looked to have the favourite’s measure.
But Fourie (194) is well on his way to a double century of winners this season, and he made the difference to grab a short head victory on Luna Halo in a time of 97,84 secs.
Fourie admitted afterwards that he thought he was beaten and that his mount doesn’t quite see a mile out. An amazing achievement in the circumstances!
Lancaster Bomber’s daughter Siddeley ran a cracker at her first try at a mile, while Joy And Peace (10-1) stayed on best of the balance a half length back in third. The latter looks one for the notebook over more ground in 6 months’ time.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Luna Halo was a R160 000 purchase from the 2022 National Yearling Sale. She is now a winner of 7 races and 3 places from 11 starts for stakes of R639 625.
A daughter of Wilgerbosdrift’s War Front stallion Fire Away, she is out of Captain Al’s twice winning daughter Sun Sentinel.
Richard Fourie and Alan Greeff enjoyed a treble on the day, while Muzi Yeni and Gavin Smith grabbed a double.
- The next Fairview racemeeting is on Friday 8 March.
