Legislate storms clear to win the Gr1 Daily News 2000
Richard Fourie, sidelined since bruising his neck and shoulder when Jet Explorer fell in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, resumed trackwork on Thursday and will return to race-riding at Kenilworth on Tuesday,writes Michael Clower.
His doctor gave him the go-ahead on Wednesday last week, when Fourie spoke about his decision to partner 7-2 favourite Legislate in the Vodacom Durban July in preference to In The Fast Lane who he partnered to victory in both the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas and the Woolavington.
He said: “When Legislate won the KRA Guineas I knew that he was the horse I wanted to ride in the July. But, if he wasn’t running, I would definitely want to be on In The Fast Lane. She has a big chance at the weights.”
In The Fast Lane will be a major factor in July
Legislate will be Fourie’s fifth July ride. The closest he has come so far was seventh on Russian Sage in 2008.
Grant van Niekerk now comes in for the mount on 16-1 chance In The Fast Lane and she will be only his second ride in the race. He was beaten a short head on 55-1 shot Smanjemanje on his first two years ago.
Justin Snaith, successful with dead-heater Dancer’s Daughter in 2008, is also keen to run Readytogorightnow as well as last year’s runner-up Run For It even though both are currently friendless at 330-1.
He said: “MJ Byleveld may ride Run For It and Muzi Yeni could possibly be on Readytogorightnow.”
Jet Explorer, fifth last year, continues to respond to treatment in the Summerveld Equine Hospital with his smashed nose and jaw both wired.
Snaith said: “The bones are all in place and we are just hoping that they knit as they should. We have about four weeks to go with this but the horse is doing well.”
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