Kenilworth wed 11-01-2012

Sorry Hotline,can't agree with your assessment.Your jock did nothing wrong,the filly lacks early speed and was never travelling.He was scrubbing her around the bend,she simply couldn't go with them.I think she is a very nice filly,and have followed her since she got unlucky at Durbanville when she got baulked,but it simply wasn't the right race for her today in terms of the conditions over the 1600m.Make sure your trainer puts her up in trip next time and you'll see a better result.

Your trainer should be blamed for this result and not the jock,but I'm sure the trainers manual of excuses was out around the bend already.

No problem ,we are all entitled to our opinions.....her next run is a 2000m on Met day.....but there will be someone else up ,the trainer has made that decision already......

Sorry Hotline, is it possible you can let us know what Fourie did wrong ? I watched the replay and I cannot pinpoint anything.

I always appreciate the input of the owners. Thank you very much. BUT, most trainers don't know what's gonna happen on race day and the owners get an email report or a phone call......he or she is doing well at 'home' fit and eating and etc......

It's flesh and blood. I think the pilot's don't always follow instructions of die perd het 'n pyn in sy agterstewe....whatever, I study formlines and 40% of the time it works! It's not a game for 'sussies'

So, to all the owners, I salute you. Keep the passion going(tu)

Hotline,

You know I'm a big fan of yours, most of your horses ect. I labelled FML today when the books came out, I thought the 16/10 was a little skinny though, HOWEVER I don't think Fourie did anything wrong. I have to agree with JAP. She was never traveling in the race, even after she got cover. No matter who you put up next time, make sure she runs over at least 10 furlongs (as you have indicated).

Just one of those things I guess.......hope she pulls up safe and sound!

Nice win by Ocean's btw

using young ceasour as a line horse and considering that a drop back in distance would suit young ceasour much more than fml she actually ran better than expected ....i also find it amazing when jockeys get blamed for rides BEFORE HORSES ARE CHECKED OUT THE NEXT MORNIng to see if anything untoward has happened to them plus straight after a race emotions take over and decisions are taken on these emotions.,the fact that her next start is over 2000m means her trainer fcuked up and maybe he should be the one who is fired unless he wanted to keep her ticking over till met day and this was the only suitable race...

As I said everyone is entitled to their opinion.....so if u think he rode a good race then so be it.everyone who saw me and phoned me afterwards thought otherwise.knowing it was a mile he wasn't well positioned from a good enough draw knowing there would be pace.a proper run miles is not too short for her but there was indecisiveness in an in and out ride!
I am one of the jocks biggest supporters and have been for years....but right now he is going through a difficult time and I feel his head isn't in the right place.he rode for a trainer on sat,messed that ride up badly and he won't be on any of his rides for a while.
Ultimately the trainer makes the call on who rides which horses and his decision is try someone else next time who will suite the filly better.....and also try the filly over further.
By the way the words in the ring were"this can't lose today on its work"....haven't had that said to me in the last 5 years of racing and I have had a few runners!anyway as far as I am concerned case is closed,race over.
PS....3 wins so far...1 x1400m....2x1600m.....

JAP mentioned that FML was being scrubbed as early as around the bend. While I don't necessarily agree that this action automatically equates to a horse needing further I do believe the reason for her running 'below expectation' could simply be what we all saw. FML usually finds herself midfield in her races, however I don't ever recall her having to be scrubbed along just to go with them. This was uncharacteristic of her and, who knows, maybe she wasn't feeling her best on the day.

Hotline,

I am not disagreeing for the sake of it,but I have just watched the replay of your race again.I have been punting professionally for 13 years now,and I reckon I have watched more replays than virtually anyone as I tape the racing straight to my computer.Richard Fourie is obviously not in a good mental space from what you have said in your post,but really blaming the guy for something that is clearly not there is definitely not going to solve that problem.

Here is what I see in the replay:

She jumps marginally slow,maybe 0,5L to 1L,and as a result is very quickly 6L off them down the back straight.He has her positioned near the rail,so he has done nothing wrong so far.She maintains that same position the whole way down the back straight and into the corner he starts to push her a bit as they stretch out in front.He doesn't want them to get away from her as the track is running quick and he scrubs her the whole way around the bend,with the commentator saying she has 7L(which looks about right)to find as they turn for home.He initially stays straight up the middle as they enter the straight,but then he is going to take her in to make her run.At that point Schlecter on Halfway To Heaven switches in in front of him and he instantly decides to go out now to make his run.He is forced to go right out in the end as it is the only way to get a clear run through and in the end she finishes right near the outside rail in 6th beaten 1,75L.He rides her hard the whole way to the line,so she attains the best position possible from where she came.

If anything he was a little unlucky in this race.She came out a bit slow,which meant she was immediately a bit too far back in the prevailing conditions,and then he was forced to change his mind in the straight in terms of where he wanted to make his run.In recent meetings most winners have come from up with or just off the pace.As you know the track is running very quick,and bar Gimmethegreenlight it is hard to recall a winner that has come from very far back lately.

Imo you guys have judged a jock who is already battling for confidence very harshly.In fact unjustly.

Just for the record I don't know Richard Fourie at all.

Darryl,

She came from stone last over 1800m last time,although that day she was badly drawn and I think he dropped her out on purpose.The track is very quick at the moment,the winners yesterday sat 6th,2nd,3rd,3rd,STF,STF,2nd and 6th.It is extremely difficult to make up ground unless you are way superior to the field(Casa Bravo was always travelling a winner in 6th) or they happen to go too fast in front.The wind was mild by Kenilworth standards yesterday,so it was always going to play into the hands of those who raced handy.

Race Replay

JAP I'm not questioning what you saw or how you read the race. The point I'm trying to get across is horses aren't machines. Many horses who are expected to win don't and there could be numerous reasons as to why they disappoint.