Van Wyk earns his stripes
NIKLAAS “Ivan” van Wyk saddled his first winner as a licensed trainer when Ashley de Klerk’s six-year-old gelding Putchini won a MR68 Handicap over 1 200m at Scottsville on Sunday in the capable hands of Billy Jacobson. More than 11 years ago Van Wyk (51), who grew up loving horses, found himself a job as a groom with veteran trainer Chris Erasmus at Turffontein.
He handled top filly Ice Lily and handicappers Bo West and Shakeitupbaby and says: “I learnt most of what I know from Mr Erasmus, who still advises me today and is only a phone call away.”
Van Wyk, who’d worked himself up to the rank of assistant trainer, moved from Johannesburg to Durban in 2011 when Erasmus was put in charge of a string owned by Koos and Lorraine de Klerk of Yellow Star Stud.
With a further six years under his belt, Van Wyk was ready to take over when Erasmus departed recently.
Van Wyk commented: “I am thankful and privileged to have this opportunity.
“I’ve had support from the De Klerk family, fellow trainers and the stipes. “I am keen to have more winners and things are improving. I’ve had a frustrating time with places, but having the first winner under the belt changes everything, it brings confidence.”
Ramsay
Yellow Star Stud was formerly owned by Craig Ramsay, who immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-2000s. “We have excellent tracks here, a sand track of about 1 400m with an 800m run-in, and two grass tracks, one has an uphill,” Van Wyk noted. Putchini is probably the best older horse in the stable, but Van Wyk has a few two-year-olds that will run in due course.
“We have three nice youngsters by Kildonan, they should come to hand soon and will race as two-year-olds,” he said.
Van Wyk only see his Cape Town family a few times a year, but they are in full support of a man who has given heart and soul to the game and is now in a position to go from strength to strength. – Turf Talk BERNARD FAYD’HERBE can celebrate his 36th birthday a day early by winning the first two races at Kenilworth today.
Both Henry Tudor and Bid Before Sunset have losses to recover after starting favourite and finding one too good for them earlier in the month. Indeed it’s a little surprising to see Justin Snaith turning them out again so quickly.
“Fitness,” he replies when quizzed about this. “I want them both to win a maiden and then I can rest them. They are fit and I think they will both be hard to beat.”
Henry Tudor has finished second in all his last three starts but he looked genuine enough 11 days ago when the form – dividing Victorious Captain and Photocopy – looked solid. The gelding was installed 2-1 favourite by World Sports Betting but money has come for Fool Proof who has been cut from 9-2 to 5-2. Also to consider is Southern Sun who has drifted from 3-1 to 9-2 but ran a cracking debut in June.
Ridden by an apprentice, he started at 100-1 and beat all except White River in a big field that included (an admittedly unlucky) Cot Campbell. “He surprised me that day,” recalls Dean Kannemeyer who adds that some of his runners may need the outing after their vaccinations.
Bid Before Sunset was a little disappointing last time considering how promisingly she had run on debut and, although ridden to lead just over 50m from home, she hadn’t shown the pace that many punters expected.
But she is a warm favourite at even money and the early market suggests that Capaill (7-1) is a threat. However Kannemeyer’s Royal Frost (backed from 9-1 to 6-1) is expected to run well – “She ran a nice race last time and she will continue to improve,” says her trainer. One word of warning, though. Neither of the Snaith hotpots is well drawn – Henry Tudor is eight out of ten and the filly nine out of 14. The penetrometer readings last Saturday showed that those racing on the inside (ie drawn low) had a 5% advantage over those in the middle and a 6% advantage had any jockey been foolish enough to try to come up the stands side.
Fayd’Herbe has a few other good rides and just possibly the draw may swing it for him in race three.
Courtisan
Courtisan is hot favourite at 18-10 after a better first run that Spam Alert but Richard Fourie’s mount will start from pen 14 whereas Spam Alert is drawn two and is a big price at 7-1.
his fortunes here, though, Fourie can win the Betting World Maiden on Counting Stars who looks value at 6-1. He was only just behind last Saturday’s easy winner Rommel in a big field last month and has a reasonable draw. Orakal is 15-10 favourite and is the obvious danger.
Our old friend Power Grid is drawn nine out of 13 in race seven but last week’s rain will help. The early punters have taken the value, though, and he has been cut from 7-1 to 4-1 joint favourite with Master’s Spirit.