SA Classic hopeful Harry’s Son is led in after his Super Saturday win
A freak accident playing table tennis has frustrated multiple champion Piere Strydom’s glorious charge at the top of the national jockey log. With just five days to go to Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday, South Africa’s greatest ever jockey is in a race against time in pursuit of a dream Gr1 double.
In an exclusive interview with the Sporting Post, Strydom lifted the lid on his injury niggles that have cost him the pacemaker role on the SA jockey title chase.
He was originally hit in the chest by a horse and that injury had set him back for far longer than he originally anticipated.
“It has been a tough few weeks. Every time I thought I was ready to come back riding, I would find that the injury would be aggravated and the advent of pain would force me to step down from my riding engagements.”
SA’s greatest jockey
He then twisted his foot playing table tennis.
“Can you believe it! These things happen.But it is a good way to keep fit and keep the reflexes sharp,” he laughed.
On his urgency to get back into the saddle, he said that there was a fine line that a professional jockey walked.
“I don’t think people understand the importance for a jockey of maintaining the balance between, general fitness, race-riding fitness and keeping the eye in. But it is also proven that it is no good coming back to riding too early,” he said.
“I have tried to adjust and be flexible. With my foot injury I was sliding my boot in all the way into the stirrup. But that affected my balance and all it would take is for the horse to duck or shift and the pain would be excruciating. So I then decided to take a short break. It is working and between rest and anti-inflammatories, things are looking up and much better every day.”
He said that he had just four rides at the Vaal on Tuesday 24 March and would definitely be fulfilling his engagements.
Striker explained that besides his personal frustrations, his professional ethics dictated that he could not continue doing a potential injustice to owners and trainers that had engaged him in good faith.
“It is just not fair to owners, trainers and the punters. If I am down to ride I want to ride. And I know too that on Saturday I have my big horses running,” he said in a reference to Gr1 prospects Siren’s Call and Harry’s Son.
Siren’s Call – has Same Jurisdiction to beat says Striker
We asked if he could ride a Gr1 double?
“Yes, of course I can. But it won’t be easy. They both have good chances. But it is not cut and dried. These are Gr1’s ! I would just like to issue a word of caution about Same Jurisdiction being a danger. She is a Gr1 winning 2yo and had no luck in the Guineas where she was drawn wide and was at work the whole way. From a 2 draw on Saturday, Anton will slot her in and she will be a different proposition.”
Striker said that Harry’s Son had a huge task on his hands in the SA Classic.
“We have it all to do. He has had it all his own way thus far. But now we have to overcome a 17 draw, and some of the quality opposition will enjoy the extra 200m. Particularly French Navy will be a better proposition over this trip. Then Ertijaal is an unbeaten Gr1 winner and has no stamina issues. Mljet is another. He jumps against the paint as opposed to his wide draw last time. It makes a difference. Believe me,” he said.
Striker is currently available at 7 to 2 with Hollwoodbets.net to lift the SA jockey title.
