Veteran multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom was at his swashbuckling pace-perfect best at Kenilworth on Saturday as he went all the way on the rather unfancied Jackson colt Pure State to give Sean Tarry a third winner in the Chris van Niekerk silks in the past four renewals of the R2,5 million CTS Ready To Run Stakes.
Tarry saddled Cirillo in 2018 and Safe Harbour in 2016 for his major patron and on Saturday Cape Thoroughbred Sales CEO Wehann Smith was the fortunate part-owner who shared in the R1,25 million first stake cheque.
Pure Strydom in typical driving style as Pure State holds off Rio Querari in a thriller (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The race is restricted to eligible graduates of the 2018 CTS Ready To Run Sales and was postponed from the original slot of 23 November after an AHS outbreak restricted movement of away horses based at Randjesfontein.
The sporting move on the part of the Cape trainers to entertain an unprecedented rescheduling for their Northern rivals proved a touch bitter sweet, with Justin Snaith, who won it in 2017 with Miss Katalin, again playing second fiddle to Tarry. Snaith’s Sergeant Hardy was runner-up behind Safe Harbour in 2016 and on Saturday Richard Fourie could just not get Rio Querari to dismantle the perfectly judged ride of Strydom on Pure State.
Ridden much like 2018 victor Cirillo, Pure State (16-1) was in front from the break and kept at his task to hold off the fancied Rio Querari by a half length in a time of 86,15 secs.
The Vaal-based favourite Invidia(2-1) only picked it up late but was not disgraced in third a further 0,75 lengths adrift.
The Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes winner Rock The Globe stayed on for fourth and just ahead of stablemate, Invisible in fifth, in a memorable race for Tarry.
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s reserve runner Retail Therapy finished in tenth (5,95 lengths) to bank the final stake cheque of R30 000.
A winner’s smile! Piere Strydom showed nerves of steel and enjoys the after-action satisfaction (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Full of smiles, Piere Strydom – who more than adapted the riding instructions – confirmed Pure State was a big horse and was improving all the time.
“Sean said give him a chance – there was no pace and he jumped well. So I used my initiative. It workled out well and he fought them off well,” he added.
Trainer Sean Tarry confirmed the Strydom thoughts.
“I thought Piere went too early – but he judged it perfectly. That’s why he is Striker Strydom! I just want to say thanks to the Cape contingent for a change of date – sportsmanship prevailed and that’s what racing needs more of,” he added, in reference to the decision to postpone the feature.
Bred by Limpo Trading, Pure State was a R400 000 CTS Cape Ready To Run Sale graduate.
He is a son of red-hot Ridgemont Highlands sire Jackson (Dynasty) out of the Trippi mare, Trip To Eden.
The winner made it 2 wins with 2 places from 4 starts.
The Cape Pick 6 surpassed expectations with a R500 000 kickstart boosting it to a healthy R4 364 680.
.Stipes report – excerpt:
- a) Jockey J Bekker was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that he struck ETCHED IN BLUE more than 12 times in the entire race. Jockey Bekker signed an admission of guilt and was fined R 1500,00.
- b) Jockey J Bekker was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline C on the use of the crop) in that he struck ETCHED IN BLUE more than 3 times in consecutive strides in the concluding stages. Jockey J Bekker signed an admission of guilt and was fined R 750,00.
- c) Jockey A Marcus was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline C on the use of the crop) in that he struck INVIDIA more than 3 times in consecutive strides in the concluding stages.Jockey Marcus signed an admission of guilt and was fined R 1000,00.
- d) DUBLIN QUAYS (C Murray) raced wide on the bend without cover.
- e) PURE STATE, the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer SG Tarry was advised. (SC)
- f) RIO QUERARI, the second placed horse, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer SJ Snaith was advised. (BM)
