STRIKER PROVES TO BE DEADLY ON THE CONGLOMERATE
Favourites fail the July
A CONSTANT theme in Grade 1 races over the years has been that mostly they get run at a slow pace and riders need to be as handy as possible to be able to give their rides as little ground to make up in the home straight and jockey Piere “Striker” Strydom did exactly that with The Conglomerate and they were able to pull of victory in the Vodacom Durban July (Grade 1) at Greyville on Saturday.
It was a particularly brilliant ride considering Strydom had to jump from the outermost stall.
The race had looked to be a very competitive race this year and Bela-Bela went off tote favourite but he joined a long list of disappointments in the race, although by finishing sixth, 2,4 lengths behind The Conglomerate - and did at least pay out for Place bets.
Races are only officially won at the post but one can say the race was won by Strydom in the first 400m as he was able to come across from his wide draw to be just off the early pace and did not race wide at any stage.
Dynamic led for most of the race but Strydom had him in his sights when into the home straight and took it up 250m from home and just when it looked like he would score comfortably a low flying Marinaresco charged at him but was still a neck adrift at the post.
Positive rides wins races and this was a great ride from the multiple South African champion jockey.
Mac De Lago ran on late for third and a nose ahead of It’s My Turn who ran fourth. Rank outsider Saratoga Dancer was next.
The disappointments behind Bela-Bela were French Navy, Black Arthur and Solid Speed who never threatened at any stage.
It was The Conglomerate’s sixth win to date and the first Vodacom Durban July win for owners Marcus and Ingrid Jooste.
It was also a first Vodacom Durban July win for trainer Joey Ramsden.
The other Grade 1 at Greyville was Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1 600m and that went the way of the Mike Basstrained and Grant van Niekerk-ridden Inara.
This four-year-old Trippi filly won her fourth career Grade 1 race by fighting off the challenges of Olma, Bichette and Intergalactic for a comfortable win.
Highly regarded stable companion Silver Mountain proved a disappointment when finishing unplaced.
Probably the training performance of the day went the way of the Mike de Kock yard who managed a first four past the post finish in the Grade 2 SABC Gold Vase with Enaad beating Smart Mart, Kingston Mines and Kinaan.
One juvenile who really caught the eye for the future was the Justin Snaith-trained Zodiac Ruler who followed up his debut win with an impressive performance by winning the Durban Golden Horseshoe (Grade 2) over 1 400m.