Multiple champion trainer Mike de Kock saddled a double at Turffontein on Saturday and conceded that he can’t ride a bicycle at the age of 60. That said, the master conditioner was full of praise for Piere Strydom’s performance to win on Wolf Mountain.
“This was a great ride from Piere Strydom, who is still riding horses at 58. I can’t ride a bicycle at 60! It was a ride apprentices should be watching over and over. Also nice to train a winner by Buffalo Bill Cody, a good sire!” enthused De Kock, who shared the training honours on the day with Sean Tarry, who sadly lost his dear Mother earlier in the week.
Piere Strydom has Wolf Mountain in control as Trent Mayhew chases on Theres A Light (Pic- JC Photos)
The Strydom winner that caught De Kock’s eye was Wolf Mountain, who won the sixth in the silks of the ASSM Racing Syndicate, who are enjoying a great season.
Strydom said that the inside draw is ‘deadly’ on the inside track.
“It’s worth two to three lengths. We were there for nothing. Thanks for the good recent rides to ASSM. I was ready to retire before they came along.”
Strydom has ridden 15 winners this term, with a win strike-rate of 28,85%. This was his second consecutive Saturday treble!
Between them Striker and Gavin Lerena have won the SA Jockey Championship title eight times and the duo dominated matters on Saturday, riding seven of the nine winners – the hard working Marco van Rensburg and log-leading Muzi Yeni the only other jockeys to earn a winner commission.
Gavin Lerena shows his delight with a high four! (Pic – JC Photos)
Lerena, who is a relative spring chicken at 39 years old, took his tally to 33 winners (25,6%) for the season, and is in second place behind Yeni. Lerena capped a genuine hat-trick when he won the third on the Fire Away filly Fireburst, the first of the De Kock double.
“She got a bump on the bend last time and lost her momentum. This was a good win, she is still weak and will make improvement.” A delighted De Kock said that the form of her last race worked out. “She is beautifully bred. Always lovely to train winners for friends.”
The Highveld Spring Season kicks into top gear this coming Saturday with the Gr2 double feature of the Betway Joburg Spring Challenge and the Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge.
JOBURG SPRING CHALLENGE (Grade 2)
| 22 | Atticus Finch | Alec Laird | 112 | |
| 2 | Back In Business | Joe Soma | 106 | |
| 3 | Barbaresco | J A Janse van Vuuren | 120 | |
| 4 | Celtic Rumours | Sean Tarry | 106 | |
| 19 | Cousin Casey | Sean Tarry | 125 | |
| 18 | Dantonfromsandton | Sean Tarry | 108 | |
| 17 | Fire ‘N Flames | Kobus Roux | 96 | |
| 16 | Gimmeanotherchance | Mike de Kock | 119 | |
| 8 | Gladatorian | Stuart Ferrie | 120 | |
| 14 | Grand Crescendo | Candice Dawson | 114 | |
| 9 | Joker Man | J A Janse van Vuuren | 106 | |
| 21 | Let’s Go Now | Sean Tarry | 114 | |
| 5 | Litigation | Sean Tarry | 115 | |
| 10 | Main Defender | Tony Peter | 131 | |
| 11 | Melech | Roy Magner | 118 | |
| 13 | My Soul Mate | Candice Dawson | 111 | |
| 15 | Presley | J A Janse van Vuuren | 98 | |
| 6 | Purple Pitcher | Robyn Klaasen | 123 | |
| 20 | Truth | Candice Dawson | 110 | |
| 23 | Unzen | Robbie Sage | 116 | |
| 1 | Wild At War | Candice Dawson | 100 | |
| 12 | William Robertson | Corne Spies | 125 | |
| 7 | Zinovi | Mike de Kock | 114 | |
| (23) | ||||
If local star and defending champion Main Defender commences his campaign in this race, which he won by 6,50 lengths last year, he will have to do so without new pilot Muzi Yeni, who along with fellow SA jockeys Lyle Hewitson and Aldo Domeyer, will apparently be participating in the closing racemeeting of the Kranji racecourse in Singapore on the same day.
JOBURG SPRING F & M CHALLENGE (Grade 2)
| 18 | Betula | Stuart Pettigrew | 95 | |
| 2 | Blue Horizon | Weiho Marwing | 89 | |
| 14 | Cape Lights | Robbie Sage | 93 | |
| 3 | Captain Peg | Stuart Pettigrew | 104 | |
| 7 | Celtic Rumours | Sean Tarry | 106 | |
| 17 | Exchange Student | Candice Dawson | 106 | |
| 12 | Fiery Pegasus | Joe Soma | 104 | |
| 9 | Frozen Fantasy | Robyn Klaasen | 102 | |
| 8 | Gimme A Shot | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | 110 | |
| 11 | Key Element | Paul Matchett | 101 | |
| 15 | Let’s Go Now | Sean Tarry | 114 | |
| 13 | Little Ballerina | Candice Dawson | 104 | |
| 1 | Miss Hannigan | Fabian Habib | 97 | |
| 4 | My Soul Mate | Candice Dawson | 111 | |
| 10 | None Other | Lucky Houdalakis | 111 | |
| 6 | Sea Anemone | Mike de Kock | 89 | |
| 16 | Soldier’s Eye | Weiho Marwing | 97 | |
| 19 | Vj’s Angel | Tony Peter | 111 | |
| 5 | White Pearl | Mike de Kock | 109 | |
| (19) | ||||
- Declarations for both features are due by 11h00 on Tuesday 1 October.
