Andrew Harrison

Many top jockeys will attest that their mere presence in the saddle has bookmakers strangling prices; ask now retired multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus. Questioned about the market support for Sardinia Bay, current champion jockey Richard Fourie was blunt.  “Everything I ride and Mr Ennion trains will start short. It’s the norm.”

In truth, there were only six runners in the Middle Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Durbanville yesterday and Sardinia Bay was probably the only real option available to Fourie’s agent Ken Nichol, who incidentally guided the rider to his record breaking championship tally last season, and Fourie made the most of it, giving the gelding a top ride.

The pace was always going to be on from the jump and Fourie was content to ease off the gallop before making his move. Sardinia Bay hit the front some way out but he won under the hands from the game mare Candy Town. It was a top draw display from rider and horse.

Fancied North Point, jumped slowly and was never in the hunt, not making any impression on the leaders and finishing out of the money.

If Fourie gave Sardinia Bay a tremendous ride, he out-did himself on Moody Blue for Mike Stewart in the C Stakes for a quick double. When Fourie becomes animated and ‘bouncing’ in the saddle, you know that he is giving it absolutely all and it proved to be enough as he kept Moody Blue going just long enough to hold a late-charging Catch A Penny and Chad Little who came from last to failed by the shortest of short-heads.

Calvin Habib is not a regular visitor to Cape Town but he paid for his airfare winning a smart race for Adam Marcus on Fort Yukon in the first, the first of two for Marcus with Dream Searcher in the sixth adding to his afternoon’s tally.

Having ridden the gelding at his previous start, Habib was confident with what he had under him, taking the lead early and punching for home at the top of the straight. Love From Afar and Bourbon King tried hard to make a race of it but Fort Yukon kept finding and eventually drew off to win comfortably.

Ennion was in the winner’s enclosure for the second time as Miss World blew them all away in the Progress Plate. Ridden by former Durban View Room waiter, apprentice Sifiso Bungane who has 18 winners under his belt, the daughter of One World came from off the pace and finished with a wet sail putting plenty of daylight between herself and Tulip Fields and Wander Dune.

All the money was Fourie’s mount Goodnessgraciousme but the gamble went astray. After threatening briefly she faded out of contention.