Another raceday and another bunch of winners for the rampant Winning Form-sponsored Richard Fourie as the 38 year old chases his best season in over two decades in the saddle.
He booted home four winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday to take his season tally to 182.
Kingsmeads Krystl (Richard Fourie) beats Global Secret (Muzi Yeni) in a cracking finish to the last (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Wednesday Fourie quartet included a double for the in-form Wendy Whitehead stable, and was crowned by the final race winner for the Hollywood Syndicate when the well-supported Gareth van Zyl-trained Kingsmeads Krystl held off a determined challenge by the enthusiastic Muzi Yeni and Global Secret.
Yeni returned to race action after a two week boardroom holiday at the Vaal on Tuesday, and would have been well pleased with his double on the day.
But Fourie seems to have the hardworking rider’s measure and increased his lead on the championship log to 66 – after being in arrears, what feels like just a matter of two months back!
The Wednesday four-timer followed a double on Saturday and Sunday in the Cape and KZN, and a three timer at Fairview last Friday.
Fourie is some 76 off his season best of 258, but there are still five months to go and he should surpass that comfortably.
He has set his sights high with the Delpech Challenge of 334 winners – and the R1 million cash incentive offered by Hollywoodbets – his goal.
So what makes the Carletonville-born Fourie so effective – despite having the courage to sever formal ties with the Snaith Racing team last year?
A discussion with a retired professional jockey about the rights and wrongs in the Melech – Main Defender incident last Thursday, brought Fourie’s name up.
“There is no limit to the amount of times a jockey can change crop hands. Just watch Richard Fourie. He is thinking all the time, and can change hands four or five times in 50m within spitting distance of the line. And he is clocking the pace. That sets him apart. He also tends to make less mistakes. And he has a top agent. It all combines to set him apart. Throw humility and confidence into the pot, and you have our next champion,” he added.
