Strike it rich with Strydom
OPPORTUNITY: STRYDOM OFFERED THE RIDE ON SURCHARGE FOR DAILY NEWS BUT HAD TO DECLINE
Getting fit now foremost on Striker’s agenda.
Iwas lucky enough to have the owner and trainer of Surcharge contacting me to ride their horse next Saturday in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000. As I am recuperating after a fall at the Vaal and am only due to get back to riding in mid-June, I decided to get a second opinion. The second opinion was no different from the first, unfortunately. Even though the injury is not considered to be all that serious, I was told the risks are quite huge and therefore I will have to wait it out and pass on the ride.
In fact, the scans showed amazingly that there are numerous old fractures around, some of which I was not even aware.
So I will have to sit it out. In the meantime I am focusing on keeping fit so when I come back to ride I will be prepared for the major races ahead.
I suppose I have to look at the positive side. Mentally I will be fresh and some of the old niggles will have got the time to heal so I hope to come back firing.
Today is the Grade 1 sprint day at Scottsville and it will go on without me. I’ve had a lot of success at this meeting so it’s disappointing not to be there.
The first of the Grade 1s is the Allan Robertson Championship for two-year-old fillies. The main contenders are Ghaalla, Dagmar, Celtic Sea and Ronnie’s Candy but as these are juveniles anything is possible.
The Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion for the two-year-old colts could go to the local boys as Cue The Music is unbeaten and won a little feature last time out. The fact he has won at Scottsville has to be in his favour. His dangers must be Cirillo, William The Silent, Traces and Twist Of Fate.
The South African Fillies Sprint is not a handicap so it should suit your better handicapped runners. The main contenders on merit ratings are Live Life, The Secret Is Out, Magical Wonderland but Green Plains must be in with a shout as she won easily last time out.
Consider Green Pepper as well. Last time, when I rode her, I thought she had a good winning chance but she never raised a gallop. She is better than that run and is capable of winning.
The Tsogo Sun Sprint is the main race and is a handicap so there are many horses with chances.
The horse who has come down quite a bit in handicapping is Trip To Heaven. Dangers could be Attenborough, Bold Respect and Kasimir. This has always been a lucky race for me and for those who are interested I was meant to ride Romi’s Boy.
Racing tomorrow is on the Standside track at Turffontein and we start with a Juvenile Plate. There are unraced horses you might need to take into account but the best form lies with Bien Venue and Mojito Magic.
Race 2 contains probably the best bet on the card and that is Firdoas. He looks a definite BiPot banker.
In Race 3 you can banker Big Myth in the Place Accumulator. She had a great debut run and can only improve on that.
I rode Stormborne Thunder last time and she finished very well but was too far behind due to greenness and a slow start. I’m expecting big improvement but she has a shocking draw.
Race 4 is a Maiden Plate and I would include a number of horses in both exotics as none of these horses stands out on form.
My preferences are for Mantracker, Horace, Mr Cuddles and Rockstar Child. Pick at least three for the Place Accumulator but for the Pick 6 put all of them in and add Power Of Place Royal Pursuit, Prince Of Damage and Empress Valley.
Condor Gulch could be a possibility but from that draw it could be hard to see him winning this race.
Race 5 is a Pinnacle Stakes which favours your best handicapped runners. They would be Champagne Haze, Captain’s Causeway, Amazing Strike and Graduation Day. For the PA include as many of those mentioned as you can afford and for the Pick 6 perhaps add in Punta Cana as he is a young horse who could make improvement.
Race 6 is a handicap and your horses who could improve the most are Yakeen and Star Of Joburg. Those are the two for the Place Accumulator. For the Pick 6, if you want to go wider, consider Secret Captain, Puget Sound and Shukamisa .
Race 7 is the Listed Syringa Handicap which looks a quite competitive fillies’ race. My main selections are Redberry Lane, Alileo and Insignis. They should be good enough for the PA. For the Pick 6 the main danger might be Kilauea, who could erupt into action.
There are other runners with decent form who could feature but they have awful draws.
Race 8 is another fillies’ handicap with the main contenders being Sunshine Silk, Spring Poetry, Redberry Wood and Pretty Ballerina who has the benefit of a 4kg claimer and is drawn No 1. Pick three for the PA but for the Pick 6 this could be a field race.
Race 9 is another fillies’ handicap with my main selections being Itsmydarlin, Glamorous Scandal, AP Channel and Rose Water. Consider any three for the PA and put all of them in the Pick 6.
If you want more runners then you need to consider the field.
Race 10 is another fillies’ handicap with my main selections being Peg O’ My Heart, Exclusivity and My Cherry.