Flashback to Act Of War – Kenilworth 22 November – The 5000 milestone
South Africa’s greatest jockey of all time reached yet another milestone in the incredible journey of his illustrious career in the saddle when he piloted the Lucky Houdalakis trained Allegorical to victory in the first race at the Vaal today, Thursday 14 May.
Strydom has entertained South African horseracing fans for over three decades in the saddle and the jockey we love and know as ‘Striker’ has few peers in his chosen profession.
He had ridden his 5000th career winner on Joey Ramsden’s Act Of War at Kenilworth in the Selangor Cup on 22 November 2014 and immediately set out to reach the 5000 winner mark on SA soil – as 72 of his career total had been achieved off-shore.
Piere Strydom -a true legend of the saddle
It was appropriate that this glorious second milestone was achieved in front of his adopted home crowd – even though Strydom was born in the Eastern Cape.
Strydom won his sixth Championship in the 2012/2013 season, his first since the 2000/2001 season. He had 942 rides for 211 wins; a strike rate of 22, 4% and his win/place strike rate was 59, 34%.
Talking of another possible championship this year, he is on record as saying:
“It is very hard to go for it every year, as we are not robots and to maintain the travel is very tough, although fortunately I always seem to be in a position in the latter part of the season to have a go.”
