Piere Strydom said there would have to be a concern about Janoobi staying the 1800m trip of the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday.
He said, “He has some speed and the two dangers, Heavenly Blue and Al Sahem, will both enjoy the step up in trip.” He added the wide draw of eight in the nine horse field was also a worry, “particularly for the type of horse he is.”
Piere Strydom
Strydom took Janoobi to the front from draw six in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas and the gallant bay ran on well in the straight before holding on in a thriller to beat Al Sahem by 0,2 lengths. Heavenly Blue stayed on strongly for a 1,5 length third. At first sight the pedigree of Janoobi, Silvano out of a Rakeen mare, suggests he will easily get the 1800m trip. However, there is a lot of speed in the female line, with one of the chief influences being his second dam Scented Royal, who won the Strelitzia Stakes and was second in the SA Fillies Sprint.
Strydom has no worries about his Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic mount Babbling Brooke staying the 1800m trip. She was staying on in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas for fourth from a draw of eight. Furthermore, she now has a plum draw of three. However, Strydom reckoned it would be hard to reverse form with the impressive Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Smiling Blue Eyes.
Strydom said his probable best ride on the day would be Kings Archer, who is topweight in the 12th and last race, a MR 93 handicap over 1600m. Strydom rated this horse with a good chance if he ran to his recent form. He is drawn well in three.
Strydom rides the talented filly Polyphonic in the Gr 3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m. He said it wouldn’t be easy with topweight, but she had run an improved race last time to finish fourth in the Gr 3 Acacia handicap over 1600m. That was the first time he had ridden her and he had her settled and covered in a handy position on the rail. In some of her races before that she had apparently been reported by riders to be a bit headstrong, so a draw of eleven on Saturday cold be a concern.
Strydom rides Whorly Whorly in the Gr 3 Protea Stakes over 1100m and simply said two-year-old events are unpredictable.
He rides Spring Breeze in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m, also a two-year-old event, and said although she had only won a weak maiden juvenile plate, her work at home had reportedly been good.
He rides Iridium Silver in the eleventh race and said, “She wouldn’t have been my first choice.”
By David Thiselton
