Lucky Houdalakis’ William Longsword gelding Sabre Strike stepped up from a very decent recent post-maiden run to win the first leg of the inaugural Highveld Winter Series at Turffontein on Sunday, in a victory the Vaal trainer dedicated to his legendary father-in-law, Trevor Lange, who passed away recently.
“Sabre Strike’s a difficult customer. You can work him for two weeks. Then you can’t for two weeks. He is just made that way,” added the former jockey, who has done a sterling job with Peter van Schoor’s gelding, who won well on debut in December 2023, and then followed up in the R200 000 Listed Secretariat Stakes on Sunday.
Raymond Danielson has Sabre Strike in charge as Wes Marwing tries hard on Warhawk Bomber (Pic – JC Photos)
Given a peach of a ride by Winning Form-sponsored jockey Raymond Danielson, Sabre Strike (4-1) pressured the long-time leader Longsword before asserting himself in the fashion of a decent sort to hold off the late attentions of Warhawk Bomber (8-1) to win by 0,60 lengths in a time of 87,06 secs.
Two Miles West (20-1) stayed on best of the rest for third, a further 0,40 length back.
The winner’s stablemate Master Christmas (20-1) was not disgraced in fifth, after being run off his feet on the Turffontein circuit.
The tote favourite Longsword had every chance, but petered out to run downfield and some 5 lengths off the winner.
Sabre Strike was bred by owner Peter van Schoor and is a son of Klawervlei’s Captain Al sire William Longsword out of the unraced Jet Master mare, The Jet Girl, who has produced her share of winners.
A winner of 2 races with a place from 3 starts, he has banked R231 375 in stakes.
Sabre Strike is in line for the R500 000 series bonus, with the next leg being the non black-type Egoli Mile to be run over a mile at Turffontein on Sunday 9 June.
The third leg is the Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes run over 1800m at Turffontein on Sunday 7 July.
