FILE PICTURE: A jockey prepares for a race, 31 January 2015, at the J&B Met 2015, in Cape Town. An estimated 20 000 people attended the Met this year. Picture: Willem Law
Fortune has battled with his weight and only managed to ride 22 times last year and won four races.
His most recent ride was last November and he got Miss Saigon into the winner’s enclosure.
Around Not Across looks the one to beat in this Maiden Plate. The King’s Apostle gelding ran a promising debut in August last year when staying on well after a slow start to finish runner-up to Pigeon Flyer in a 1200m race in heavy going at Kenilworth.
Around Not Across was expected to win his next outing from pole position draw at the tight Durbanville track in September. However, the Joey Ramsden trained three-year-old proved troublesome at the start and despite racing handily, only managed a modest fourth behind Westchester over 1300m.
Ramsden wasted no time gelding Around Not Across after that run and he has been given plenty of time to recuperate.
The trainer’s yard is in good form at the moment and the opposition is not that strong.
Annigoni has also been gelded since he last ran and he looks Around No Across’ only live threat.
This Silvano three-year-old ran a promising debut over 1000m at Kenilworth but has tended to lack a strong finish in his last two starts. He might need a longer trip to be seen at his best.
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