Double Up! Halve The Deficit is driven out by Strydom to win the Wolf Power 1600 (JC Photos)
Piere Strydom got the best out of the Right Approach gelding Halve The Deficit as the pair won the R150 000 Listed Wolf Power Stakes run over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. Trainer Sean Tarry watched the race from his Dubai base.
Cape trainer Joey Ramsden left last week to supervise Variety Club at the De Kock Dubai HQ and Tarry also has the likes of 2013 July winner Heavy Metal in Dubai for the World Cup Carnival.
But the show goes on at home and Tarry’s team had the smart Chris Van Niekerk and Drakenstein Stud owned gelding turned out in fine fettle.
The withdrawal of the smart Killua Castle opened the door for Halve The Deficit to be installed a well supported 18 to 10 favourite and the field of ten jumped on terms except for Glorious Jet, who did his usual thing by losing a few lengths.
The pacy Pyrotechnics led Captain Lars and American Storm, with Territorial Waters and Flag Of France just ahead of Seal and Isobar.
Halve The Deficit was loping along in second last position in the early stages.
At the 400m marker Delpech sent Captain Lars down the inside with what looked like a deal clinching move. But Strydom was well on top of things and he sent Halve The Deficit at the same moment .
Inside the 200m marker it developed into a race in three as Glorios Jet also powered home strongly.
But Halve The Deficit asserted his authority and he came forward under a balanced Strydom drive.
Halve The Deficit, who went off at 18 to 10 favourite, got the better of a determined Captain Lars and won by a short head in a time of 98,38 secs, with the slow starting Glorious Jet improving again to run a meritorious third.
Winning jockey Piere Strydom said afterwards that he hadn’t wanted to be as far back as he had found himself.
“He was awkward in the stalls and there was a lot of bunching and scrimmaging . But he showed good character and overcame that. I’m pretty happy that he won this. It really seems he runs better when fresh,” said Strydom.
A R600 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Halve The Deficit was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is by Right Approach out of the three time winning Fort Wood mare, National Banker.
He has now won 5 races with 4 places from 14 starts for stakes of R356 550.
