The former SA Champion Apprentice Kyle Strydom continues to climb the ladder and he enjoyed another milestone at Fairview on Friday when booting home the 100th winner of his professional career with a polished ride to win the last race of the afternoon on Sanctity for trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen and owner Suzette Viljoen.
Kyle Strydom is congratulated by champion Uncle Piere after his century of winners (Pic – Pauline Herman)
It was a thrilling moment for the Durban-based Kyle, who doesn’t travel back to his old hometown too often these days in view of the exorbitant cost of air travel.
He turned 21 on Sunday 31 July – just a few days prior to his milestone moment.
What added to the occasion was that Kyle had his legendary champion jockey Uncle Piere Strydom on course, as well as Dad Jacques, Aunt Tania Koen and his sister Johanne.
For Piere Strydom, en route to a holiday in Cape St Francis, it was a rewarding afternoon too as he managed to cut his chase to his personal 5500 winner milestone to just 6 winners required, after he won the fourth race on the 6yo maiden entire Absolu Noir for Emmanuel Kaknis.
The Strydoms are relocating to the Cape where they will run an Airbnb, while Piere’s wife Krisna will continue to practice law.
Following a semi-detached retina injury, Piere recently told the Sporting Post that at the age of 56 he was not going to ‘go forever’, but would ride during the Cape summer with the goal of cracking the 5500 winner milestone.
