Strike it rich with Strydom
DANGEROUS: LIGHTNING, MORE THAN RAIN, IS THE MAJOR REASON MEETINGS ARE LOST ON THE HIGHVELD Legal Eagle remains the horse to beat in Green Point Stakes.
This has been a tough week for all. We lost a couple of race meetings during the week and for those who think we just call them off for no reason, let me reiterate, that is not the case.
Lightning around a racetrack creates a dangerous situation. You can often ride in the rain, even when the tracks are not that good, but you never know where lightning will strike.
In fact, in Australia a track worker at Northam race course in Perth died after he was struck by lightning. He was on the track closing up divots when the lightning strike occurred. The scariest thing is when the stipes are under pressure to get us to race and we then feel we need to get the show on the road. It’s very risky.
On golf courses they have a siren that goes off and when it does you have to leave your ball where it is and walk off the course. When any threat of lightning has subsided, the siren will be sounded again and everybody can go back and continue their game.
With racing we watch the monitor which will show where we have the lightning strikes. That means lightning must first strike before we can say we’re in a dangerous situation. We are often out in the open on a horse but unlike the golfers and their balls, we can’t just jump off the horse and just leave him there.
What sometimes happens is that the monitor will show there is no lightning nearby and we are encouraged to race again. However, that could be a short-term break and suddenly the danger returns.
Remember, we only earn a living when we get riding fees and stake money, or when a trainer earns stake money and an owner earns stake money. No racing, no income so believe me, we want to race, but not at the risk of our lives!
I’m in Cape Town today to ride Edict Of Nantes in the Green Point Stakes. We would like to win the race but these are all prep runs for the Queen’s Plate and Sun Met. I’m sure the majority of horses in this field have the same targets.
I was very pleased with Edict Of Nantes’ victory last time as he was wide for most of the way but still managed to win.
He is a very good horse but we are meeting some other top horses and this is at weight for age. So a horse like Legal Eagle is 10 points (5kg) superior to us on rating which will make it difficult for us to win.
The fact Anton Marcus has the choice of rides and has stuck with Legal Eagle probably makes Legal Eagle a hard horse to beat. He is potentially a Place Accumulator and Pick 6 banker.
I don’t know Cape racing that well but I did ride a horse called Love Happens last time and he runs again in Race 3 today. He looks a very hard horse to beat.
I’m riding Tubular Bell in that race but as I’m at the meeting to ride for Brett Crawford, I’m committed to them. But without a doubt, I would like to have ridden Love Happens as he is still learning what racing is all about.
He can only get better from that last run and as he has the best form in the field he could quite easily be the best banker on the day.
Race 6 is the WSB Cape Merchants where I’m riding Attenborough. On form he does have a chance but unfortunately it looks like the outside draws are not the best, which is strange as there is a drought in the Western Cape and the going should be firm all over.
He’s had issues in the past when jumping slowly so does not look one to follow. It is a very open race with many having chances but my preferences are Silicone Valley, Black Cat Back and Heartland.
We also have the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas where I ride Rockin Russian. She looks like she needs to find a length or two on merit rating but she has the widest draw of all in a big field. I will be happy if she runs a place.
It will be extremely difficult to beat Snowdance as she has the best form and is able to be placed handily so should have an uncomplicated race.
We also have racing at Turffontein where in Race 1 my first selection is Tia with Saheera the main danger. You have to take note of many unraced horses, especially Ration My Passion.
In Race 2 Infamous Fox looks the right one and we can make him a BiPot banker.
Race 3 is the first leg of the Place Accumulator and we have another banker in Lobo’s Legend. He’s lightly raced, has the strongest form and looks hard to beat.
Race 4 is a fillies’ handicap but my first choice is Arte followed by Emerald Bay. For the Pick 6 you could consider Polar Secret but if you look past those three go with the field.
Race 5 is a tricky Maiden Plate where nothing really stands out. My selections are Bosphorus, The Bee Eff Gee and Outside Edge and those are my PA horses.
For the Pick 6 consider D’Arrivee and maybe Cyrus.
Race 6 is the Secretariat Stakes and my best bet on the card is Surcharge. Unfortunately I am not in Joburg to ride him. He is a young improving horse but as I said last time he is not a good starter and when he had a wide draw in the Ready To Run Cup it would not be easy for him to win. Over this course and distance with a good draw he has a lot in his favour. He is a banker in all bets.
Others to keep an eye on are Dhabyaan, but he has a wide draw and has just won a maiden, so I can’t see him beating Surcharge. A dark horse could be Keanan’s Rock who we possibly have not seen the best of and might be a danger.
In Race 7 we have another possible banker in Redberry Wood. She could improve from her only start and be a comfortable winner but the horse who has decent form and fitness behind her is Angelic who might be able to beat Redberry Wood.
Race 8 looks tricky as a horse like Green Top has beaten some good horses but has been disappointing of late. Mable Syrup has won her only start but the form has not been strong. Therefore the best option could be One Dimension. Two runs back she competed against older fillies and mares but last time she also took on older colts and geldings and was not beaten by far. So over this course and distance from a good draw, she is a possible PA banker but add the other two into the Pick 6.
Race 9 is a fillies’ handicap with the older horses taking on the young guns. I’m leaning towards the younger Braxton and Tundra Taita.
Unfortunately both are drawn badly so in the PA include either Flying Dream or Gold Medal Girl. Include all of them in the Pick 6 as well as Subtle Force.
Race 10 looks quite competitive but my first choice is Awaafy who is lightly raced and can improve more, especially as she has decent form.