A heartening story of a plan come together, a relieved jockey who watched a replay 1000 times, and happy owners meeting for the first time, characterized a thrilling climax at a wet Fairview on Friday to the 2023 Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge won by the Jacques Strydom trained Gallic Tribe.
The all-weather series was run over 1200m, 1400m and a mile, and it was a case of the consistent and game Gallic Tribe running over his prime trip for the first time.
Jason Gates rode a well-judged race to get the 6yo home, and recalled being jocked off after the first leg in favour of champion Piere Strydom.
Jason Gates gets his redemption as Gallic Tribe finishes too strongly for his opposition (Pic – Pauline Herman)
“Thanks to everybody who helped me get back on. Oom Jacques was a little upset, despite the fact that the 1200m is on the short side and I won on him previously. But I learnt from my mistakes and then watched the replay a 1000 times. And I also watched Piere Strydom’s ride in the second leg – probably another 1000 times. Then I phoned and begged for the ride,” said the bemused Jason Gates, who, when quizzed about the pressure, responded that ‘pressure forms diamonds’.
Under an animated ride, Gallic Tribe (5-1) stuck gamely to his task to hold off Port Louis (7-2) by a length in a time of 94,53 secs.
The overall series winner, the Kelly Mitchley-trained Prince Of Fire (33-10), was 0,75 lengths back in third, to make it a 1-2-3 in the all-weather triple crown and bank the R50 000 bonus for leading owner Laurence Wernars and partners.
Formerly based with Brett Crawford, Gallic Tribe is now a winner of 5 races with 12 places from 26 starts for stakes of R442 090.
Enjoy the replay:
A R300 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, he is a Klawervlei Stud-bred son of Vercingetorix (Silvano), out of the two-time winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Jamboree.
The first leg of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge was contested over 1200m and won by Prince Of Fire.
The second leg over 1400m was a shock result when Narcos won at any price, beating Prince Of Fire.
A consolation bonus of R50 000 was paid to Prince Of Fire as the highest points earner to run in all 3 legs, and the winner of at least 1.
