Madame Dubois (Piere Strydom) finishes best to beat Mella Maria (Sturgeon) and the obscured Joan Ranger (Pic: JC Photos)
Piere Strydom was riding at the top of his game again on Charity Mile day at Turffontein on Saturday and showed his real worth as the complete jockey when steering Robbie Sage’s consistent Madame Dubois to the peak win of her career in the R250 000 Gr3 Starling Stakes.
“She has got plenty of heart, but doesn’t have any luck with the draws,” said a relieved Strydom after the race as he urged his mount to a dramatic victory – with a head seperating the top three finishers.
While he had ridden her twice before , Strydom said that he had picked up the ride by chance while relaxing and sorting out his aches and pains on his honeymoon.
Madame Dubois was assisted by Striker in overcoming the obstacle of her barrier draw and while she took forever to get going, she came with a late rattle to land the spoils and win going away, leaving a number of highly regarded fillies in her wake.
She won by a short head in a time of 86,18 secs.
Mike Azzie’s Mella Maria was a desperately unlucky loser in second – although we have to concede that she had the 1 draw in her favour, while Lucky Houdalakis’ recent Vaal maiden winner Joan Ranger ran a cracker to grab third.
Mike De Kock’s 22-10 favourite Shaama failed to beat her draw and finished in midfield.
Madame Dubois, who ran third in last season’s G1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, clearly rates among the best of her generation.
Madame Dubois was bred by Messrs McNabb and Miliotis from the value Zafonic stallion Count Dubois, whose 14th graded winner she is. She is out of the three-time winning Jet Master mare, Miss Jet Set.
She was purchased for R220 000 on the National Yearling Sale and made it 2 wins and 4 places from 6 starts, with stakes of R352 375.
The winner looks likely to contest the Triple Tiara later this season.
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Gr3 Starling Stakes (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, October 31, R250k, 1400m, turf, good, 1.26.18
1 – MADAME DUBOIS (SAF), 60.0, ch f 3, Count Dubois (GB) – Miss Jet Set (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF). Owner Mr Colin Bird; Breeder AJ McNabb & E Miliotis; trainer RR Sage; jockey P Strydom
2 – Mella Maria (AUS), 60.0, b f 3, Star Witness (AUS) – Sayahailmary (AUS) by Keep The Faith (AUS)
3 – Joan Ranger (SAF), 60.0, b f 3, Horse Chestnut (SAF) – Fashion Edition (SAF) by Rambo Dancer (USA)
Margins: 0.05, 0.05, 3.65
