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.
