Andrew Harrison
Most jockeys will tell you that when their confidence is up, that confidence for some reason tends to transfer to their mounts. Some years back, Jeff Lloyd went through a three or four-month stint where he was almost invincible and attributed his winning streak to confidence in his ability.
Andrew Fortune is never short of confidence whether going through a lean patch or not, but he is currently in the prime of his life at 57 years old. “ I’m so confident that I think I’m the best jockey in the world,” he chimed after a typical Fortune display on Lucinda Woodruff’s filly Wedding Vow in the first.
Never in trouble as he navigated the early stages. At the top of the straight he was on the heels of favourite and pacemaker Siyabamelela who Sean Veale had pressed forward early for the lead, and he never broke his bridge as Wedding Vow sailed clear to win as she liked.
Terry Fripp has been around the block more than once, from Summerveld to Dubai and back, and given the opportunity by Candice Bass he is doing a fine job in saddling winners for her KZN satellite yard. Whatastar added another to the stables growing list as Serino Moodley managed to keep his mount mostly clear of the pack in the charge for home. Whatastar hung badly towards the inside rail, momentarily forcing Craig Zackey to ease on the favourite De Gulden who held on for third as Futano slipped through on the inside rail for second.
Zackey said the check had not made any difference to the result but added that De Gulden will likely be avoiding the poly for the time being.
Young apprentice Damyan Pillay took a page out of the Andrew Fortune book of race riding as he got the promising Magical Sky home in the opening leg of the PA.
One could have thrown a blanket over the seven-horse field for most of the race and Alyson Wright admitted that she got a little anxious as Pillay sat motionless until the final furlong. “We told him to be patient but I thought he was being a little too patient. But he knew what was under him.”
Poly specialist Magical Sky responded to Pillay’s late efforts and went on well to hold off Catch Penny and Kytheria.
The first leg of the Pick 6 developed into little more than an exercise canter for the Glen Kotzen-trained hot favourite Vixens War. She carted Craig Zackey to the front from the jump and extended in the straight to win easing up by nearly four lengths ahead of stable companion Takethegreenlight in a bloodless victory.
Mohandas has seldom been far off the money in is 48 starts and added a fifth win to his credit when putting his best foot forward in the D Stakes over 200m. In a race run at no great pace, Tristan Godden time his assault on the finishing line to perfection and Yogas Govender’s charge responded to comfortably hold off a late challenge from Double Olympic and the grey Arctic Fury who battled home in third.
Master Du Rouvray has always been held in high regard by Mark Dixon although the gelding took some time to realise his potential. He shed his maiden back in September last year and yesterday racked up his fourth win as Keagan de Melo made light of the geldings 62.5kg, sweeping around the turn in an early move that paid off. The son of Master Of My Fate quickened past his rivals and then stayed on gamely to hold off a late-charging Syx Hotfix.
Serino Moodley was crowing from the roof tops as Stuart Ferrie’s charge Town Crier took advantage of a ‘long rein’ on Next Of Kin to win the seventh, a Class 4 over 1600m. Given a copybook ride from his inside gate, Town Crier accelerated out of the pack crossing the subway led by Pied Piper to win well. However, he may have been a tad lucky as Sean Veale appeared to have got his reins in a tangle and his left hand was ‘fishing a long line’ to prevent Next Of Kin hanging in under pressure. The grey closed in fast but not fast enough.
With Mauritius racing seemingly back on an even keel after a couple of years of turmoil, the prospects of their apprentice riders taking advantage of the thoroughly professional grounding at the SA Jockey Academy is bright. Apprentices from the island granted the benefit of the SAJA generally take their opportunities seriously and Anaas Mosaheb rode his second winner when scooting home on ML Odendaal’s mare Mystique Rouge in the eighth. She burst clear of the pack two furlongs out and was not for the catching.
To press home the Mauritius point, Divesh Ramkhalawon and Iannish Taka fought out the last with Chara Sands getting the better of Yadav Singh’s Victor Rail. Ramkhalawon has burst onto the scene in the last four months and Michael Roberts has been quick to take advantage of his 4kg claim.
