Multiple champion jockey Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom reached another milestone in his illustrious career when he booted home his 5450th winner at Turffontein on Saturday.
The evergreen champion was seen at his brilliant best when dictating the running into the headwind to register a second career success aboard the Captain Of All gelding South East.
Piere Strydom steers South East to an easy win (Pic -JC Photos)
Strydom became the first South African jockey to ride a total of 5000 career winners in November 2014.
On Saturday, his mount South East skated from gun to tap in the 1000m contest to beat the favourite Captain Morisco by 2,25 lengths in a time 58,18.
Riding his second winner from 26 mounts in what is quite a slow season start by his impeccable standards, Strydom played his opposition on the break off an easy lead and trainer Paul Peter astutely stressed the point for the handicapper’s ears in the post-race interview.
“Good jockeys can make horses look better than they are,” he mused.
Racing in the brightly decorated silks of trainer Paul Peter’s son Joshua, South East is a La Berg Stud-bred son of Klawervlei Stud’s triple Gr1 winning stallion Captain Of All, South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2018-2019, who also enjoyed a smart double at the Vaal last Thursday.
The winner is out of the Windrush mare Whistleinthewind and looks full value for his R40 000 2019 BSA Cape Yearling Sale price tag as he took his career earnings over the R140 000 mark at his 8th start.
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15 comments on “5450 Up For Striker!”
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Kmconstantine
Still the top dog
Well done Stryker hope you reach 5500 soon
Striker still and always be the best this country as ever had top top jockey.
As much as we have talented top jockeys striker will always stand up a cut above the rest and still is best Jo key this country has ever had. Well done striker. You are a champion
Strike it like its hot
Unbelievable achievement, it’s been a pleasure getting to know this legend. He wants one more July
Always count on striker when the chips are down he can bring home the bacon
The best we have ever had !
Sqeeza plse include name and surname
brillant at his best and abjectly poor when he feels like …
Plse include your surname, Gavin
Well said, Gavin. Some of his recent rides were not up to the standard Striker is capable. He had been blowing more cold than hot. It is therefore not surprising that he has a problem getting rides from some of the top stables.
at the current rate, it will take him some time to ride another 50 winners.
However, it is an achievement (5450 winners).
I concur with Gavin. He was at his brilliant best on 27 June 2020, when “everything he touched turned to gold”. he won 4 races and was placed on all his other rides. Whilst he has not had another “hot day”, he has consistently been off the board or riding winners. Suppose that is why the big trainers are not supporting him, the inconsistency. At the current rate, it’s going to take some time before he reaches 5500.
As Smiley used to say …here comes the Blonde Bomber!!!
Micky garavarian
Striker. If you look at the way he rides. I think he does not like to us the crop on a horse. To much. That is why the horses run for him.