Piere Strydom gets Siren’s Call up in the final strides to beat Same Jurisdiction (JC Photos)
Sheer cucumber cool brilliance from the saddle and a gutsy never-say-die equine athlete with the heart of a lioness kept the 2015 Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara flame alive at Turffontein on Saturday. Siren’s Call produced the magic first Gr1 winner for her sire Elusive Fort and now looks ahead to a date with history at the end of April – and a R1 million bonus.
A thrilling finish to the second leg of the Triple Tiara saw Sean Tarry’s first leg winner Siren’s Call get up in the final two strides to nab the Mambo In Seattle filly Same Jurisdiction, who looked to have the race in the bag in the final stages.
That’s a Gr1 finish fought out by two ‘restricted sales race’ winners – that will give the ‘anti’ lobbyists something to stick in their pipes!
The ten strong field that lined up to contest the 1800m feature was of some quality and depth and the Siren’s Call fan club would have been thrilled to see the support coming for Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner Same Jurisdiction, who started a 2-1 favourite, with 5-2 available about the Tarry filly.
The contest developed into the expected match race as Anton Marcus sent KZN visitor Same Jurisdiction on what looked a match-winning dash for glory at the 300m, with Siren’s Call appearing to have nowhere to go and none of the legs required either/
But in a terrific display of heart and courage, Strydom calmy found the gaps and Siren’s Call made up lengths as she doggedly cut back Same Jurisdiction’s advantage to a quarter length at the line, to win in 111,36 secs.
Same Jurisdiction had every chance but was frankly beaten by the superior filly.
The winner’s game stablemate Trophy Wife ran on well into her customary ATM role in third, with Pine Princess a well-beaten fourth.
Cool ride – Piere Strydom
Jockey Piere Strydom said that it felt like they ‘were never going to get there’.
“She takes forever to get going. I think the rain also helped to make it more testing as Same Jurisdiction had gotten away and quickened up well. I think that she switches off so well, she will stay the 2450m. So that is one more leg and we are hoping!”
It was trainer Sean Tarry’s first winner in this race. He confirmed that he was not concerned about Siren’s Call getting the third leg trip.
“Im not worried about the trip. Today they didn’t go fast and the KZN horse looked to have made the right move at the right time. But she dug down and fetched her.It is an honour to train a top filly like this for Peter De Beyer.”
Siren’s Call scored her first Gr1 win here and her fifth win from 7 starts with 2 places. She took her earnings to R2 371 875 with the R1 million Triple Tiara bonus looking promising.
As history has recorded, Siren’s Call was knocked down to Cape trainer Glen Kotzen for just R60 000 at the CPYS Book 2 Sale.
She hails from the exciting young stallion Elusive Fort’s first crop. She is out of her owner-breeder Peter De Beyer’s rather modest twice winning West Man mare Siren’s Cove, who only won up to 1200m.
So now we look forward to the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Oaks which will be run over 2450m on the Turffontein Standside on Saturday 25 April.
Her top trainer and the top jockey say she will stay. The further they go, the weaker it usually gets too.
We are not certainly betting against her joining the illustrious ranks of Igugu and Cherry On The Top.
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Gr1 SA Fillies Classic (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, March 28, R1 million, 1800m, turf, soft, 1.51.36
1 – SIREN’S CALL (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Elusive Fort (SAF) – Siren’s Cove (SAF) by West Man (USA). Owner Mr P G de Beyer; Breeder PG de Beyer; trainer SG Tarry; jockey P Strydom
2 – Same Jurisdiction (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Mambo In Seattle (USA) – Diana De Carlo (SAF) by Captain Al (SAF)
3 – Trophy Wife (SAF), 58.0, b f 3, Tiger Ridge (USA) – My Squeeza (SAF) by Goldmark (SAF)
Margins: 0.25, 2.25, 0.75
