Rascova (far side) just pips arch rival Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Gary Player did not pull his punches in an exclusive interview for Turf Talk with Dave Mollett earlier this week and he was highly critical of Richard Fourie’s ride of Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes.
However, Turf Talk reader Pravin Chetty has jumped to Richard’s defence.
Garp Player said, ” … I think if my horse had won the Majorca and had not lost by an inch, yet unfortunately we all make mistakes. But Richard Fourie rode a terrible race, if he’d run and listened to instructions, he would have won.”
“If he rode the similar ride that he had in winning the Met against the rail, which made a vast difference. But we all make mistakes. But it’s a very costly mistake because if she’s a two-time Group 1-winning mare, she obviously is worth a lot more if she goes to America and then would definitely be invited to the Breeders’ Cup.”
“Plus, I’ve got two half-sisters, which would have meant an awful lot to them. Plus, as a broodmare in the future. But the jockeys don’t seem to worry very much about all this.”
Harsh words.
However, on a first view of the race the criticism is understandable (see the opinion of the Turf Talk editor at the end of this article).
Reader Pravin Chetty’s responsed to Gary Player’s criticism of Fourie.
Pravin wrote, “With reference to the Mr Molly effort regarding Mr Player, I have a few disconcertions.”
“With regards to the Majorca, Rascova has beaten Double Grand Slam more than once, whether to win the race or not. Hence it was not inconcievable that Rascova could have done it again.”
“Mr Player asserts that Mr Fourie did not ride to instructions, and should have ridden Double Grand Slam as he did Eight on Eighteen. However, surely every trainer has instructions for their jockeys, creating a myriad of scenarios at the jump. It must surely be up to the Jockey to then have a ‘plan B’.”
“My Opinion, after watching the race many times, is that DGS lost the race because of a tardy jump. She was at the rear of the field and then Mr Fourie was forced to come around them as the field slowed drastically. He was then sitting 2nd, unable to get to the fence, kept out by the leader. This played into Rascova’s hands. I believe that if Mr Fourie had sat at the rear, Rascova would have had 1st run on her and probably still won. THIS IS RACING!!”
“BTW my money was on DGS, despite being associated with the Kotzen stable, who I might add were bullish about Rascova’s winning chance. I believe Mr. Fourie went all out to win the race, is probably the best we’ve produced, is amicable, honest and open about his rides, all we can ask for as a Punter.”
“My opinion, again, is that for Mr Player to suggest that jockeys don’t take consequences of not winning a race’s impact on the horse’s future, and indeed the horse’s siblings’ futures, is ludicrous. Surely the jockey should be focused on winning the current race, solely?
“Mr Player is a legend in his own right, in the Golfing & horse racing spheres, but has excelled himself in self-mastery & self-discipline. However, to commit to paper that “we all make mistakes”, immediately followed by “Richard Fourie rode a terrible race”, has not been well considered, and in fact he has been quite controversial previously.”
The Turf Talk editor has to admit to being surprised when seeing Fourie opting to go around the field when he could have sat at the back and used the filly’s incredible turn of foot in the straight to pick off the other runners in a small field of seven. However, on the other hand the going is quick at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth at present, the pace was developing at a crawl and Rascova has a fine kick, so perhaps he did the right thing in going forward.
In fact the sectional data supports his strategy as the early fractions were slow. The sectional data is difficult to interpret, but the words of guru analyst Karel Miedema in a message to the Sporting Post, who carried Dave Mollet’s article, say it all.
Miedama said, “Before criticising jockey Fourie’s ride, Gary should have studied the sectional times of the race. He might have had a different view and not such harsh words.”
The Turf Talk editor would still have preferred a ride of sitting at the back as in his opinion she would still have had a good chance of fetching Rascova off the back of a slow pace such is her devastating turn of foot. It must be remembered the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes was run at a crawl, Double Grand Slam was held up off the pace and despite being badly hampered in the straight still managed to beat Rascova, who had sat in second place in the running without cover, in much the way Double Grand Slam had done in the Majorca.
Readers: Please email your views if you want to to editor@turftalk.co.za
