Strydom backs local hopes
PORT Elizabeth-based trainer Jacques Strydom has the Midas touch when it comes to training stayers. So much so that his dominance of the PE Gold Cup has earned him the nickname ‘Gold Cup King.’
He sends out a twopronged attack – Desert Wisdom and Frikkie in this Saturday’s R1,25-million eLan Gold Cup at Greyville.
“I actually finished fourth in this race with a horse named Me Tarzan years ago – maybe I can get a bit closer this year,” said Strydom.
He is quietly confident that at least one of his two seasoned stayers can win this Grade 3 race to be run over 3 200m.
Interestingly, Frikkie finished second in this year’s PE Gold Cup and Desert Wisdom sixth, however, the trainer strongly believes both are far better than those performances suggest.
“To me Frikkie was extremely unlucky not to win that race,” he said. “I feel like the jockey should have sat on him a bit longer. The horse is working very well at home and I think he’ll do very well at Greyville.’’
This son of Elusive Fort is no stranger to Greyville; having run a commendable fourth over 2 000m at the course in January 2017. Marco van Rensburg takes the ride and the pair come into the race with a light 52kg. That’s a massive 8kg less than July runner-up Made To Conquer.
“Look, he stays, but it’s a very competitive race. We’re not just going there for fun – if things go our way I’m confident my horses will run big races, both of them.” he said.
The trainer admitted Frikkie is the stable elect, but also made it very clear it was only because of the six-year-old’s advantageous No 5 draw.
As far as Desert Wisdom is concerned the trainer believes you can put a line through his disappointing last run when finishing 6.10 lengths behind Plano.
“He fly-jumped out the gates and I think the jockey was a bit trigger happy. He hit the front far too soon and was run out of it,” he said. “Honestly, this horse is 100 per cent fit. I have no complaints, if he was drawn well I would be very bullish, but he’s got the worst draw of all unfortunately.”