Education only teaches you to spell ‘experience’!
A pearl of wisdom from veteran master trainer Joey Soma after fellow stalwart Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom rode a peach of a race to win the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas on free-striding longshot Lady Of Power.
Strydom’s retirement date has become a bigger point of uncertainty in recent months than the debate on the outcome of the EU audit on our export protocols. Who knows which one comes first?
And just a week after riding in his last WSB Cape Town Met, the 56 year old showed his genius in the saddle with a terrific front-running ride on the Master Of My Fate filly, who has now thrown him a curved ball.
The majestic Piere Strydom steers Lady Of Power to a terrific win (Pic – JC Photos)
“She should be more suited to the 1800m, so I may have to seriously reconsider that pension date! One doesn’t get a bite at the SA Triple Tiara every day,” he laughed after Pick 6 and Jackpot punters ran for cover in another knockout blow after in the well-patronised exotics.
Lady Of Power was doing it so easy early, that Strydom thought it might be a false start. One could argue that he rode them to sleep!
But it was all so simple in the end as the good-looking Lady Of Power (25-1) kept rolling to beat the late-finishing Feather Boa (4-1) by a quarter length in a time of 100,02 secs to give the experienced Joey Soma his first victory in the fillies classic.
The fancied Gimme A Shot was given every chance and took off late to be beaten out of the quartets into fifth.
Strydom said that with Lady Of Power’s gate speed she does it so easy.
“She was doing it at her speed. There was no pressure on me. Well done to Joey and thanks to the owners. I appreciate the support,” added the humble hero.
With a treble in the bag on the day, Joey Soma said that Lady Of Power’s victory was a 6 month plan in the making.
“She has shown us superstar potential from day one. She had a throat issue and was out of action for five months. Thanks to the owners who came to the party when we were stuck. Gary , Dylan and Neville – thanks all different class,” he added, saying that he had run out of tears.
Soma closed by saying that racing and breeding owes the like of Mary so much. “For all the blood they have introduced and for all they have done to aid racing. Where does one start?” he said.
The winner is raced by Kisten Pillay Racing Syndicate (Nom: Trevelen Pillay), MGAS Bloodstock(Nom: GA Soma),PowerOf 5 Syndicate(Nom:YaganNair) & Messrs D Chinsammy, RGCoppin & E Naicker.
A R175 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Lady Of Power took her career earnings to R579 625 with her 3rd win and 2 places from 6 starts.
Bred by James Armitage, she is a daughter of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the Fort Wood mare, Duchess Delight.
The Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies is the richest series of races for fillies in Africa and comprises Saturday’s feature, and then the R1,25 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 4 March.
The third leg is the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 1 April.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the connections of the filly that wins all three legs of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.
Watch the replay here:
