Richard Fourie has hit home 218 winners after today's Kenilworth meeting in the quest to beat Anthony Delpech's 335 for the season, a South African record set in 1998/1999.
The ex Hong Kong rider is on target for the record which many 'experts' claimed was impossible at the beginning of the season.
There aren't many trainers who have said 'no' to Fourie allowing him to have the choice of almost all mounts this season, a truly unique situation.
Whilst Delpech had winners at Borrowdale in Zimbabwe and more fixtures to ride in, and Fourie has had little competition. Last seasons champion, Keagan De Melo is out the country riding in Hong Kong, whilst previous champ, Warren Kennedy is taking all before him in New Zealand. It's now left Fourie on his own to claim the spoils.
His style of riding is more American than South African as. he uses his back to get the most of out his mounts. His secrets are his balance, race positioning and timing. He just knows where to place a horse and how to run them down. He claims that if you don't know timing, then won't make it. He's likely right. He perfected that in Hong Kong. There have been very few occasions this season's where Fourie has mistimed one and it's been the hallmark of his season to date.
He sits on a 21.93% winners to rides strike rate with the 218 wins from 994 rides.
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