Richard Fourie steers Rafeef colt Thunderstruck to a second career Gr 1 victory (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The Sean Tarry-trained Thunderstruck put himself in pole position to be named Equus Champion Sprinter after beng given another fine ride by champion jockey elect Richard Fourie in the Gr 1 wfa Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint over 1160m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
He was drawn on the right side in barrier nine out of ten and shortened into 18/10 favourite after his conqueror in the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship, Dyce, drifted out to 6/1 after a disappointing run last time out.
Thunderstruck looked to be in trouble at the 350m mark because a gap between the speedy pair Iphiko and Mover And Shaker was closing and he still had a length or two to make up on the leader Golden Sickle, who was showing no signs of stopping.
He then began lugging inward when Fourie smacked him with the left hand.
He changed whiphands and a couple of smacks saw him finding the extra to pass Golden Sickle and win by 0,30 lengths.
Fourie had put the stick away for the last 75m as the horse had been still tending to lug inward.
Golden Sickle had also lugged in.
Rulership finished a two length third and was followed home by Kiss Me Captain and Iphiko.
Dyce, a five-year-old entire, didn’t show his usual pace, but was in touch, However, he did not go through with it and only beat home the slow-starting Ready To Charge.
Thunderstruck added this Gr 1 as a four-year-old to his Gr 1 Gold Medallion win as a two-year-old.
This season he has had six starts for a Gr 1 win, a Gr 2 win, two Non-Black Type wins, a Gr 1 second and a Gr 2 second over 1450m to the top class Main Defender.
There are still two open Gr 1 sprints in the season to go, the Golden Horse Sprint, a handicap over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, and the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint.
