King Of The Gauls has been ridden by Richard Fourie in three of his five wins. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
It was understood on the racing grapevine that Richard Fourie had committed to ride the Tony Rivalland-trained King Of The Gauls in both the Gr 2 De Grendel Cape Merchants and the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship and that he had agreed to stay aboard even after the Vercingetorix gelding had stumbled badly at the start and run downfield in the Merchants.
It was thus a surprise to see Rachel Venniker aboard King Of The Gauls and Fourie aboard the Gareth van Zyl-trained filly Asiye Phambili in the Cape Flying.
Fourie is contracted to ride for Ridgemont, who have close ties to Hollywood Racing, the owners of Asiye Phambili.
However, in this case there is no lease agreement or partnership between Ridgemont and Hollywood.
The latter are the sole owners, having bought the filly at the Sales, where she was consigned by breeders Hemel ‘N Aarde.
Robert Bloomberg, part-owner of King Of The Gauls, was contacted by Turf Talk in what was expected to be a routine call with a quick and logical explanation.
It was unfortunately anything but.
A furious Bloomberg was adamant Fourie had reneged on a written confirmation done on November 15.
Fourie had also confirmed his commitment to King Of The Gauls in a subsequent video clip.
Bloomberg said numerous horses had been discussed at the time of the agreement that could possibly cause riding arrangement clashes down the line and included among them was Ziyasha, a top sprinter who was bred by Ridgemont and is owned by Hollywood.
He said Richard had told him he was not obliged to ride Ziyasha, because this gelding was owned outright by Hollywood whereas his retainer was with Ridgemont.
After nearly coming down in the Merchants, Bloomberg asked Fourie if he wanted to “jump ship” and his apparent reply, according to Bloomberg, was, “I made that mistake once before and won’t be making that same mistake again.”
However, Bloomberg said Fourie had phoned him about an hour before the publishing of the Cape Flying weights on January 6 and told him Hollywood had decided to run Asiye Phambili and he was obliged to ride her.
When Bloomberg pointed out that there was no partnership in the horse between the two entities, which made her the same status as Ziyasha, the reply was that the filly’s dam was owned by Ridgemont.
However, there is no official ownership association with Ridgemont.
Bloomberg said he could have actually taken the matter to the stipendiary stewards as there was a written agreement between himself and Fourie and he reckoned they would have enforced the agreement, but he added that was “not my style.”
Attorney Bloomberg revealed that after the “disrespect and disloyalty” shown to him in this instance he has decided to to take the “irreversible decision” that he will no longer act directly for any jockey going forward and he will be withdrawing as Fourie’s “attorney of record” in the current matter he was acting in.
It goes without saying Richard will not be part of any future plans with King Of The Gauls.
Ironically the pair are drawn next to each other in the Cape Flying with Asiye Phamili in gate 13 and King Of The Gauls in gate 12.
Asiye Phambili is a 6/1 shot with Hollywoodbets, which makes her the joint third favourite, and King Of The Gauls is out at 20/1.
In Fourie’s defence, he had ridden Asiye Phambili to two successive Graded wins in Cape Town and it would have been difficult for him to climb off considering the close relationship Hollywood have with Ridgemont, not to mention the latter are a breeding concern. She is likely to one day stand at Ridgemont, being a filly, and she is third favourite for this important Gr 1 race too. Fourie was likely in a no win situation.
However, Robert Bloomberg’s anger is understandable too, having laid out a plan a long time before the filly stamped herself as a Cape Flying candidate.
The price of being in high demand!
