Lafferty Strikes With Gr1 Win

Piere Strydom (orange cap) sneaks into the pic on Harry’s Son. That’s third placed dead heater Mljet in the darker blue with Anjaal closer to rail

A brilliant display of big race riding sealed a memorable second Gr1 winner for trainer Paul Lafferty when the Australian-bred Harry’s Son streaked clear to grab the honours in the R600 000 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville on Super Saturday. Jockey Piere Strydom has no equals in the saddle in this country and he rode a finely judged finish on the Magic Millions graduate.

Lafferty has been preaching the merits of Harry’s Son for some months and after running on in three consecutive feature race thirds, the 2yo colt by Coolmore stallion Haradasun looked to be emigrating to Excuseville.

But on Saturday he came out firing on all cylinders and superbly ridden by the brilliant Strydom put the cynics to sleep with a crushing performance to set himself up as possibly the best 2yo colt in the country.

The high quality field included the unbeaten Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner Afirkaburn who went off an 18 to 10 favourite with Vaughan Marshall’s Mljet fancied at 7 to 2.

Paul Lafferty aks ‘Laff’ aka ‘Mister Paul, trained the Gr1 winner

Harry’s Son was easy to back at 6 to 1, despite the rave reviews given by Gauteng trainer Louis Goosen in a post-race interview at the Vaal last Tuesday

Strydom had just ridden Societi to win the eighth race for Goosen and was a little bit circumspect about Harry’s Son’s prospects. But Goosen suggested punters climb in, and he was to prove spot on.

There was drama on the way to the start when Harry’s Son spread a shoe. But he was sorted and settled and showed no side effects.

Harry’s Son was settled on the rail in midfield in the slipstream of Afrikaburn as Fire Horse led Rock Me Var and Captain Clipper into the straight.

Afrikaburn made a forward move but did not go through with it as Strydom switched Harry’s Son off the rail for his run.

With many running on strongly, Strydom had timed his effort to perfection but the same could not be said for the likes of Mljet (used up valuable lengths) and Anjaal.

The overjoyed connections – or when Harry met Sally and Phil and…

In the Harry’s Son won by a comfortable head in a time of 95,17 secs.

The maiden Jayyed ran a cracker to fly late for second and came from stone last into the straight. He will be unbackable in maiden company next time!

Mljet and Anjaal dead-heated for third, a quarter length off the winner.

Glen Kotzen’s Light The Lights was prominent late and was not disgraced in fifth.

The fancied Afrikaburn and Mljet will go down as the disappointments of the race.

Afrikaburn never kicked and finished a 5,05 length eighth.

Mljet was settled in a good position but found that it is difficult getting away with high jinx at Gr1 level.

Piere Strydom said that he had better luck that when carried out on July day.

“He pulled a shoe today the same as he did on July day and he didn’t jump that well either. He then overraced and eventually dropped the bit. In other words, there was lots of stop and go. But he proved himself amongst the best 2yo’s in the country. I am also very glad to have ridden Paul Lafferty’s first Gr1 winner.”

Paul Lafferty, who sent out Love Struck to win the 2013 Gr1 SA Classic, said that Justice had been served.

“James Bester bought this horse and he has been an unlucky fellow. But I think he has proven himself the best 2yo in the country,” he said triumphantly.

He races in the silks of well known KZN owner Roy Moodley and a host of owners, including the travel supremo, Phil Georgiou.

Harry’s son was bred in Australia by Cranton Bloodstock and is by Haradasun out of the Anabaa mare, Dash On Ruby.

Haradasun was a triple Gr1 winner and champion 3yo in Australia

He was signed for by Phil Georgiou for A$ 60 000 off the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale

Harry’s Son has won 2 races with 4 places from 6 starts and R527 750 in stakes.

Well done Laff. Well done Piere.