Strike it rich with Strydom
IF ALL THE RACES WERE HANDICAPS CHALLENGE WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE
Edict Of Nantes is Striker’s ride for Green Point Stakes and Queen’s Plate.
Six international jockeys will have the chance to experience South African hospitality for the next few days as we have the Air Mauritius Jockeys’ International taking place at Turffontein tomorrow.
Naturally, if you’re a competitive sort of person, it is always great to see another style of riding. There are six races at the event this year and the only question is whether one should have maiden races included in the competition. In that sort of race you often get a talented horse and a battling horse carry the same weight which makes it unfair in an event in which points for your position decides the outcome.
One perhaps should have all the races as handicaps as theoretically it is the handicapper’s job to weight horses in such a way as to get a dead heat between all the runners so the outcome is a lot fairer. Naturally, luck will play a part but handicap racing would make it a better competition. Although you can’t be judged on six rides you still want to have a reasonable chance of showing your ability and talent.
Anyway, I wish our team the best of luck.
Next week we stage the Sansui Summer Cup and the field with draws are out. It is quite a competitive race and with 20 runners and if you get a bad draw it minimizes your chance of winning. I ride Master Switch who has landed a wide draw. That obviously will not help our chances but my initial outlook on the race is that Brazuca looks the horse we all have to beat. He also has a bad draw but luckily enough he has the speed to overcome the draw.
More about the Summer Cup next week but last week I rode in Cape Town and was lucky to be aboard Edict Of Nantes who managed to win in a very strong field. I’ve been booked to ride him in three weeks’ time in the Green Point Stakes.
I hope he does well so I can stick to the ride as Anton Marcus is first jockey for Mayfair Speculators. The plan is that I will ride him again in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as Anton will ride Legal Eagle who will be very well handicapped. But that could change for the Sun Met.
On Thursday we had an unpleasant incident in Race 4 at the Vaal when Chase Maujean’s mount, Toby Coates, came down. Chase broke his leg and will be out for a few months so we hope he has a speedy recovery.
The reason for the delay following the incident was that the jockeys were concerned there was not an ambulance available, but that was quickly sorted out.
Incidents like this are a reminder for jockeys of the danger of our trade and what a great job the medics on standby do for us.
Racing tomorrow is on the Inside track at Turffontein and Race 1 is for workriders where Ouro looks hard to beat. First time out she finished second and as she did receive a lot of betting support that day she obviously shows potential at home. Take Exactas and Trifectas with her to win with Juanita, who could be the value and make the bets pay a little.
Race 2 is a fillies’ handicap and End Game looks the horse to beat. I rode her last time when she had a bad draw and was coming off a rest. Now she is drawn No 1 and has to be fitter so she is the obvious horse to follow. Unfortunately she is quite a difficult ride as she has a tendency to pull quite hard which affected her chances last time.
Being drawn No 1 she now has a lot more in her favour as Craig Zackey has a chance to settle her.
The rest of the field has similar form so basically if you look past her anyone of the others can win.
Race 3 is another handicap. The horse with the strongest form is possibly Whosethebossnow. He finished three lengths behind Unagi last time and he came out to win again. Whosethebossnow is drawn a bit wide but as it is a small field with the others not having much pace he should be able to overcome his draw comfortably.
The danger could be Tommy Waterdevil but for the Place Accumulator you can banker Whosethebossnow.
Race 4 is the first leg of the International Jockeys’ Challenge and is a Maiden Plate. Tigerlace is the horse with the strongest form with Secret Potion the danger. Those two should be good enough for the PA.
The rest of the field does not have inspiring form so you could easily consider the field for the Pick 6.
Race 5 is another Maiden Place where the main contenders are Finding Troy, Royal Resolution and Flexible Fugitive. For the PA include Finding Troy and one of the other two. Those three should be good enough for the Pick 6.
Race 6 is a 3000m Handicap which makes it difficult to find a winner because the pace is a big part. The horse with the best form is Stunned. His danger is Fortune Fella who ran a cracker last time from a bad draw and a distance too short. Unfortunately he’s carrying a hefty weight over this distance.
Their biggest danger could be Arlington as I’ve suggested for quite a long time this horse needs further and hopefully I will be proved right. Those should be good enough for the PA but for the Pick 6 if you look beyond them then add in the horses you like otherwise go with the field.
Race 7 is another handicap for fillies and last time Sabina’s Dynasty won with consummate ease. The horse who ran second was Smokey Affair who is now 4kg better off. But the way Sabina's Dynasty beat her, the 4kg advantage might not be enough. Therefore Sabina’s Dynasty should at least be a PA banker.
She could be a possible Pick 6 banker as well but if you’re looking to go against her add in Smokey Affair, Costa Da Sol and the unknown younger filly, Dame Kelly.
Race 8 is a typical fillies’ handicap where it is difficult to find a winner. Many of these have finished close to one another and this is where luck in running could play a big part. When I look to book a ride for myself in this kind of race I consider the draw on the Inside track as it could play a big part. Therefore I am looking at Rose Water, Monarch Air and Kapenta Bay, who should enjoy the track as she shows a lot of speed. For the PA go with all three and don’t be scared to add one of your fancies as well.
For the Pick 6 put in those three and as many others as you can afford.
Race 9 is another handicap and looks quite a competitive race once again. I’ve cut it down to Captain Chips off No 1 draw, with Private Ruler the danger. They should be good enough for the PA but for the Pick 6 consider Mambo Symphony. Unfortunately he has a wide draw to overcome.
In Race 10 we could possibly finish off on a winning note with a bet on Raasmaal. His form is good enough to win and his fitness should be spot on with his last run under the belt.