The 47-year-old former champion has only had six rides this season and but he has ridden two winners, both on Miss Saigon. He has been similarly carded up since only to have to cry off because he couldn’t get light enough to take the ride. His mount has 60kg here and Fortune has told Ramsden that he will get close enough to ride.
Andrew Fortune
The money has already poured on and, after opening 12-10 favourite with Betting World on Monday, the three-year-old was down to 1-2 by yesterday afternoon. He has not been seen since September when he started hot favourite at Durbanville only to over-race.
“He had two twisted testicles so he was gelded and he then had a nasty foot abscess,” says the trainer. “But we have got him fairly right.”
The obvious danger is 7-2 chance Seattle Kat who went close over this course and distance last month and, like Fortune’s mount, is having his third start.
Nordic Wind, scratched from the Listed race on Met day because she had been coughing, should be hard to beat in the opening Maiden Juvenile Plate. She ran on strongly after starting slowly on debut and went into the notebooks of many punters, including James Goodman on Winning Ways.
But don’t overlook Just Felicity who also ran well on debut and is fancied by Greg Ennion. “She is a smart little filly. Her first run was the first time she had seen grass and she would have run the winner close had she not raced green,” says Ennion. “She shows a huge amount of ability at home.”
Mohammed Allie and Hilaria are overdue a win and, with Sean Cormack riding out of his skin, the 16-10 favourite should be able to beat Provenance (5-1) in the Legislate Maiden.
Yalla Habibti has a big chance at 7-1 in race four if you are prepared to forgive her last run when her rider reported that she was not striding out freely and when the racecourse vet said she was blowing hard.
“I couldn’t find anything but she is a small filly with a choppy action,” says Eric Sands.” She needs to be covered up and I think she just saw too much daylight.”
That said, Captain’s Dove has more obvious credentials, particularly as she again drops in trip, although you won’t get rich backing her at 8-10.
Svala (already backed from 9-2 to 3-1) is the only newcomer in this race and Yogas Govender says: “The trip will be a bit short for her but she has ability.”
Finally Good Grace stands out in race eight after running so well on debut. Unfortunately the value has already gone and you can’t now get much more than 9-10 (she opened at 14-10). Her first run was packed with promise.
