The stable of Nelson Mandela Bay trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen is enjoying a golden period but that does not mean the pressure is now less on the big man.
“It is lovely to have winners but the pressure is still on. There is always pressure to perform,” Oosthuizen explained.
Zietsman Oosthuzien is on a roll (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
“Looking at the amount of winners recently, yes, this must be the best period ever for the stable.
“It is good to see there is reward for the effort we put in. We stick to what works for us and the team is working very hard at the stable.”
Henk Steenkamp writes that with 22 winners behind his name for the season, Oosthuizen is third on the trainers’ log in the Eastern Cape, and 13th nationally.
“I am very happy with that. I have 43 horses at the moment and all the stables above me on the log have more horses.
“My aim for the season is 62 winners. If I achieve that, it will also mean I get to 100 career wins in my second full season. I am looking at about five winners a month from here.
“I must make sure I keep this wave going because the difficult times will no doubt come around again.
“This is tough times for everyone but you can’t sit and sulk about it. You have to keep on moving forward.”
Testimony of what Oosthuizen is capable of, is the performance of the five-year-old gelding Undisclosed.
Undisclosed, also owned by Oosthuizen, is currently the top earner for the season in the Eastern Cape. He will be running on 17 December again
“At the end of September I bought him for R20 000.00. He has since won three of his six starts, with a second and fourth place (for total stake money of R138 125).”
Oosthuizen had success with various jockeys during the season but has struck up a good partnership with Muzi Yeni lately.
“The only reason why he is not riding for me at Fairview this Friday, is because he has commitments at the Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting,” Ziets said.
“With a jockey, loyalty and honesty are very important to me. If a jockey messes up in a race he must be man enough to acknowledge that he made a mistake.
Everyone can make a mistake but you have to man up.
“When that happens, there is no tension between anybody. We must work as a team.”
Kabelo Matsunyane is one of the jockeys doing duty for Oosthuizen today. He is not a regular Fairview visitor and the locals are looking forward to seeing him in action.
“He rode three winners and two seconds at the Vaal on Tuesday. He has struck red-hot form at the right time,” Oosthuizen said of Kabelo.
Oosthuizen will be saddling 12 runners today and believes his good form will continue.
“I expect a good day. We have some decent chances to run into the money.”
The Polytrack meeting starts at 12h25.
