Fortune can abound
ANDREW FORTUNE HAS A STRONG CARD OF RIDES AT TURFFONTEIN Alexander gives him most of his rides but his best chance may be on Andersontrained Pearl Valley.
Current jockeys’ logleader Andrew Fortune looks a man to follow on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow when he has a strong card of rides. It’s an interesting and demanding race meeting, despite the quiet time of year when most South African horses are resting up after having their annual inoculations, but the former champion jockey could go home with a fistful of cheques.
He teams up with trainer Gary Alexander on six horses - Flying Dream (Race 1), Duke Nukem (Race 2), Zeal And Zest (Race 4), Mr Mulliner (Race 5), The Elmo Effect (Race 6) and Fangia (Race 7). All have the ability to make an impact in their respective races, while Ernie Anderson-trained Pearl Valley in Race 3 looks a fairly safe banker.
Fortune’s last two mounts, Dianne Stenger’s charge By Jove (Race 8) and Robbie Sage-trained Dolphin in the final event, have winning claims as well.
At first glance there has to be a question mark against Pearl Valley.
After all she is still without a win as a five-year-old. However, there is not much depth to the field and form suggests she should have the beating of all these rivals in this 1450m Maiden Plate.
She has run only 13 times and has been knocking on the door in recent weeks, finishing second in her last three starts.
The first was in a 1600m race at this track, when she was stubborn loading and got trounced by Babbling Brooke (third next time).
Her next two races were over this course and distance where she ran three lengths behind Sao Paulo (second next time) and was then beaten 1.10 lengths by Public Protector, when teamed up with Fortune.
Countess Jemina, who set the pace, was nearly two lengths further back in fourth behind Public Protector and should still be held.
The other two horses who have solid credentials are Over Stated and Capricious, but on collateral form through Trip Queens and Sao Paulo, both should find Pearl Valley too good.
No horse really stands out as a Pick 6 banker, but it might pay to take a chance on champion trainer Sean Tarry and Julius Mariba in Race 9, a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m.
They partner up for Ronin Warrior, who is holding form well and has won his last two races easily.
In the first, he beat Muntu by 1.30 lengths over 1200m at the Vaal, form that was franked by third-placed Sail For Joy who has recorded a win and a second from his two subsequent starts.
Ronin Warrior then downed admittedly battling Dream Leader by 1.75 lengths over 1000m at the Vaal 10 days ago.
There are a few horses who can give cheek, but Ronin Warrior could be destined for much better things.