Talk of a split or ‘cooling off’ in the longstanding and massively successful association between newly-crowned SA Champion Trainer Justin Snaith and top jockey Richard Fourie have been doing the rounds for over a week now.
The Sporting Post has received numerous questions from readers as the horseracing rumour mill inevitably generates various conspiracy theories on an almost daily basis.
Richard Fourie – looks to be spreading his wings (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
At a glance, the reality of the top team’s Cape riding engagements certainly tells something of a story.
At Kenilworth on Tuesday, Fourie only rides for the powerful yard in two of six races contested by their ten runners on the day.
On this coming Saturday, only one of Fourie’s six Kenilworth rides is for Snaith.
On Friday at Fairview, all of Snaith’s four runners will be ridden by Fourie.
A spokesman for the stable told the Sporting Post in a short response to a question put to them on Monday said that they were ‘still using him a lot’.
“He is riding everything at Fairview on Friday. He is a top jockey,” he added.
Last season Fourie rode 103 winners for Snaith at a strike-rate of 19,04%.
On Saturday, Intrepid was his 30th winner for the family operation this term – their strike rate is currently just over 21%.
The Jonsson Workwear-sponsored Fourie has ridden 58 winners in total this season and is presently at fourth position on the national log.
He could not be reached for comment.
