Fortune to ride for a quid 

Three Highveld trainers have chosen to take horses to Flamingo Park today to contest the Kimberley 1400 (Non-Black Type) but they might all be chasing locally based trainer Tienie Prinsloo.

Prinsloo saddles Quid Rides with Andrew Fortune aboard and although he carries top weight of 61kg and could find this 1400m a touch sharp, the four-year-old son of Modus Vivendi looks the runner to beat.

A glance at his record indicates he has run three times over 1400m and finished unplaced in all of them but two of those were on the turf at the Vaal although the third was over this course and distance.

Interestingly, life changed for Quid Rides when Prinsloo tried him in a set of blinkers. He ran second in his next two starts and then Fortune climbed into the saddle. Since then Quid Rides has won three in a row by a total distance of 15.75 lengths. Two of those wins were over 1800m and the other over 1600m so it will be interesting to see how he fares over this trip. They are drawn No 5 so Fortune should be able to pace him quite easily.

Jaguar won well over the course and distance last time but a run earlier was beaten five lengths by Quid Rides. He is 4kg better off and better suited to the distance so should go a lot closer this time.

Louis Goosen brings Move Like Jagger from his Vaal stables. With just 54kg to carry and a No 2 draw, could give the locals a good run for their money. Four of his five wins have been over this distance but he is questionable on the sand. He has not raced at this course and was unplaced in his only start at the Vaal.

Jack Friday is drawn No 1 and has S’manga Khumalo in the irons. He also has the beating of Quid Rides based on their last meeting. He beat Prinsloo’s charge by 2.50 lengths and is 6kg better off. But that was over 1800m and was also before Quid Rides joined up with Fortune. It will be interesting to see who is better suited to the drop in distance.

Also take note of Son Of Approval. It is very rare for Tyrone Zackey to take runners to Flamingo Park and he is one of the shrewdest trainers around. This gelding is racing off a 49 merit rating on turf but has a rating of 77 on the sand so you can expect a big run from the son of Miesque’s Approval.