Richard Fourie returns at Kenilworth on Wednesday, a fortnight after that crashing fall on the ill-fated Rock Stewart at Durbanville, but he is no longer first-choice jockey for Justin Snaith, writes Michael Clower.
Justin Snaith – fabulous five winners on Saturday
The all-powerful Snaith Racing team has provided the 30-year-old with 27 of the 32 winners he has ridden this season but he is down to ride only one of the 43 horses it has either declared or provisionally declared from Wednesday to Sunday.
Fourie has made no secret of his wish to pick and choose his rides ever since he cut short his Hong Kong contract earlier in the year while the huge Snaith operation obviously needs to have first call on a top jockey.
Richard Fourie – freelance
Its blistering form has been the glue that has kept the two together this term but apparently Fourie’s decision to ride the Mike Robinson-trained Smokey Affair in Saturday’s Choice Carriers Championship instead of any of the Snaith three has broken the bond.
Justin Snaith said on Saturday: “We will be using jockeys from up-country on certain days,” before adding: “If we have a horse that we think will suit Richard then he will ride it.”
Fourie added on Sunday: “Yes, it’s very much like that. I am making a comeback slowly and at this stage I am [riding freelance].”
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