Harry’s Son charges clear to win the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas under a polished ride by Piere Strydom (Pic- JC Photos)
Piere Strydom’s old-fashioned loyalty may have cost him at times, but Saturday was not to be one of those days. The outstanding multiple champion jockey dominated the Turffontein Guineas – Joburg Prawn Festival proceedings with a glorious Guineas double that demonstrated both his genius in the saddle and his astute judgement of good racehorses.
Largely through circumstances and fate, Strydom had secured the ride on Joey Ramsden’s smart Act Of War which ended up being a milestone 5000th career winner for him when scoring a runaway victory in the Gr2 Selangor Cup at Kenilworth way back in November.
Strydom’s subsequent decision to then turn down that choice ride in the Cape Guineas in favour of his loyalties towards Paul Lafferty and the Harry’s Son connections paid big dividends on Saturday, when the Australian-bred son of Haradasun came out firing to clinch the honours in the R1 million Betting World Gr2 Gauteng Guineas.
Watch this short pre Cape Guineas video courtesy of Andrew Bon:
On Saturday Harry’s Son found himself racing much closer to the action than he usually does, and was a few lengths off Mljet as the Cape challenger brought his field for home in the R1 million Betting World Gr2 Gaueng Guineas.
Piere Strydom
Inside the 300m Strydom could wait no more and he produced the former Equus champion 2yo with a match winning run that left his opposition flat-footed and showed that his Dingaans ‘mud run’ was all wrong.
The 18 to 10 favourite strode out beautifully as he was geared down at the line to hold a flying French Navy to a half length in a time of 98,15 secs.
Forest Fox ran on strongly to grab third, a length ahead of Dingaans winner Unparalleled, who battled from his wide draw.
Strydom was lavish in his praise:
“He has been learning how to race in the past. Today he was just so professional. I must say a job well done to Paul Lafferty. Every single other trainer says he cant fancy his horse because he has travelled from Durban.Lafferty obviously knows how!” he laughed.
Paul Lafferty – big win for the Natalian
Trainer Paul Lafferty, who has been adamant from day one that Harry’s Son is the best horse he has trained, was also full of accolades for his charge.
“He is a wonderful traveller and a wonderful horse. It has always been on the cards to come back for the classic and I think we could well do that. He was 7,5kgs heavier today than he was in Cape Town.So we have plenty to work on,” he enthused.
Harry’s Son, who is said to be at the forefront of ambitious plans to spearhead a ‘Laff- Attack’ on Dubai, has won 4 races with 6 places from 10 starts for earnings of R1 669 000.
Bred by Cranton Bloodstock in Australia, the bay colt is by Haradasun, a triple Gr1 winner and champion 3yo in Australia and is out of the Anabaa mare, Dash On Ruby.
He was signed for by Phil Georgiou for A$ 60 000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Clyde Basel – racing the real winner says the Phumelela Exec
While the weather held out well and only arrived in mid afternoon, little could dampen the spiriits of the crowd at the 4rd annual Jo’burg Prawn Festival where over a ton of prawns were sold.
“The combination of top South African racing as well as the Joburg Prawn Festival is the real winner” commented Phumelela Marketing Executive, Clyde Basel, “It was fantastic to see such a diverse crowd on the lawns at Turffontein today and the success of this event can be attributed to providing a family centric day out with great value and an entertainment packed line up!”
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Gr2 Gauteng Guineas (SAf-Gr2)
Turffontein, South Africa, February 28, R1 million, 1600m, turf, good, 1.38.15
1 – HARRY’S SON (AUS), 58.0, b c 3, Haradasun (AUS) – Dash On Ruby (AUS) by Anabaa (USA). Owner Messrs Roy Moodley, P Georgiou, Mr & Mrs D J Steyn & Mrs M M Bilro & Miss A Bilro; Breeder bred in Australia; trainer PV Lafferty; jockey P Strydom
2 – French Navy (SAF), 58.0, b g 3, Count Dubois (GB) – Redoubtable (SAF) by Elliodor (FR)
3 – Forest Fox (SAF), 58.0, b g 3, Dupont (GB) – Forest Vixen (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
Margins: 0.50, 1.25, 1.00
