High flying Cape Town jockey Richard Fourie believes he is finally back to his ‘old self’. Ironically it was a horrendous fall which appears to have done the trick.
Richard Fourie – back to best and a jockey to be watched
He also spoke forthrightly on the end to his ‘first call rider’ status for the Justin Snaith yard.
The latter gave his views on the matter too.
Fourie fell off the ill-fated Rock Stewart on October 12 at Durbanville.
However, rather than speaking of any adverse effects, he said:
“I had been experiencing a pinched feeling in the Thoracic (chest) area for a while and the fall appears to have released it.”
Fourie had been blossoming into a truly world class jockey at the time of his horrific fall on Jet Explorer in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Clairwood in June 2014.
A lot of the niggles he has felt since then could well have been an after effect.
It is exciting news he now feels back to his very peak and he is definitely a jockey to follow.
Justin Snaith – needs a jockey who is fully committed
Fourie believed he was within his rights to take the ride on the highly regarded Michael Robinson-trained Smokey Affair in a handicap on October 5 at the expense of a Snaith-trained horse.
He said: “I was not being paid a retainer by the Snaith yard.”
Justin Snaith agreed the jockey was within his rights, but added: “Retainer or not, we need a jockey who is fully committed to the yard for both the sake of the yard and all of our owners.”
Earlier in October Snaith said:
“If we have a horse that we think will suit Richard then he will ride it.”
Excerpt – www.goldcircle.co.za
