Winning Form-sponsored jockey Richard Fourie continued his march to his first national championship title with a four-timer at Fairview on Friday for trainer Alan Greeff.
Fourie has formed a powerful combination with the Halo Stables team in Gqeberha, and booted home Global Lady (7-1), Puerto Plata (7-2) and Official Secret (8-10) for a straight hat-trick in the second, third and fourth races on Friday, before riding a cracker to get United Express (4-1) up in a head bobbing duel with apprentice Kobeli Lihaba, who did nothing wrong on Beau Kala.
Four in the bag! Richard Fourie returns on United Express (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Fourie is in the form of his life and at close on Friday 9 February his 164 winners – that’s 50 ahead of nearest rival Muzi Yeni – have come at a win strike rate of 20,50%.
The only other rider with a better strike-rate this season is Aldo Domeyer on 21,70% – but he is languishing well down the table with 36 winners.
Fourie’s work-rate is up this term, from an average of 120 rides a month last season, to his current 134.
Hollywoodbets offered a R1 million cash incentive at the start of this season for the first jockey to surpass the 334 record winner mark which was established by former multiple national champion Anthony Delpech when he shattered Piere Strydom’s record in the 1998/1999 season.
Last term it was another Winning Form-sponsored rider in Keagan de Melo who reached the 275 winner mark and was crowned SA Champion Jockey.
Fourie fell 17 winners short of the now Hong Kong-based De Melo in second when achieving his personal best ever season tally of 258 winners, and he may still harbour long shot hopes of breaking the 25 year old Delpech record!
The next Fairview racemeeting is a polytrack programme on Tuesday 13 February.
