VERY HOT stable on a VERY COLD day
Turffontein Racecourse, like most parts of South Africa experienced a very cold weekend – in some parts heavy snow which is rare in September.
Another rare occurrence is VETERAN jockeys riding trebles, not only was the racing and stable on fire, Piere “Striker” Strydom was RED HOT and delivered a treble that kept everyone on their feet. After S’manga Khumalo was stood down after race 3, Striker stepped in and took charge. Thankfully, S’manga is recovering well, with knee injuries reported. Hopefully we will see him back in the sanddle soon.
Let’s look back at an incredible day of racing,
CHASING HAPPINESS (Rafeef (AUS) – Kalami) kicked off the day’s treble with a fantastic win in the BETWAY FM 94 HANDICAP over 1200m. This marks her 4th win from only 10 starts, she has earned 9 cheques – proving what a consistent and decent filly she is! Under Striker’s expert hands, she delivered a strong performance to win. Congratulations to her proud owners the Wernars family, and a special mention to the breeder, Ridgemont SA. She’s shaping up to be quite the deal!
CHASING HAPPINESS winners circle – JC PHOTOS
NETTLETON (What A Winter – Clifton Road) followed up with a commanding performance in race 7 the BETWAY FM 80 HANDICAP over 1200m. After being hit with a 3-point penalty following her second-place finish in her last run, we had doubts about how the handicapper handled this, but she proved the handicapper’s right as they most often are, she powered through the race, securing a well-deserved win and showing she’s got plenty more to give. Congratulations to the Wernars family once again for this fantastic result.
NETTLETON winners circle – JC PHOTOS
BARBARESCO (Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Negroamaro) saved the best for last, winning the 1600m BETWAY PROGRESS PLATE in impressive style. Coming off a layoff after running in the Grade 1 THE HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP at Greyville, Barbaresco returned with ease, showing he’s the class of the field. Notably, he’s the first horse from that prestigious race to have a run this season, and his win sets him up perfectly for the Charity Mile in five weeks, one more grass gallop in between to keep him in top form. Big congratulations to owners R M Sewgoolam, J F & L M F Wernars.
BARBARESCO winners circle – JC PHOTOS
It was a day of teamwork, and great achievements, with Striker’s treble being the highlight. This brings our tally to 10 wins for the season, with a 50% place strike rate out of 46 runs, and we’re still just under two months in – a fantastic start! A special mention to Mr. Wernars for breeding two of the day’s winners, adding extra sweetness to the treble. The weather may have been cold, but these wins warmed us all up. Stay safe and warm during these chilly days, and let’s look forward to next Saturday when the Springboks face the Pumas on home ground to decide the Championship! Well done team.