The connections of the Paul Lafferty-trained Equus champion colt have sweated for a long time on his travel plan for the big race.vHowever, the Bidvest Group have come to their rescue and the Australian-bred three-year-old colt by Haradasun is booked on an unscheduled BidAir Cargo 737 flight from Durban to Cape Town on the day before the race. Harry’s Son is one of the most laid back horses in training and took both of his recent return journeys by road to Johannesburg in his stride, so should enjoy the flight.

Strydom will consequently relinquish the ride on the likely favourite for the race, the Joey Ramsden-trained Act Of War. He was forthright and said, “Harry’s Son will be up against. It will be his first time around a left hand turn, while Act Of War has experience of the course. But I have been with him for so much of his career that I feel it is right to stay with.”

Strydom said Harry’s Son had moved up so well in the early part of the straight in last weekend’s Investec Dingaans that he thought he might hit the front too soon. However, the classy colt suddenly became one-paced at the 300m mark and could only plug on gamely for a well beaten second. Strydom was not sure whether this was due to the horse not staying the tough Turffontein mile or due to the sticky conditions.

Strydom replaced the sidelined Anton Marcus on Act Of War for last weekend’s Gr 2 Selangor Cup and the latter is likely to be back aboard as soon as he returns from his thumb injury.

However, the brilliant Dynasty colt will always loom large whenever Strydom’s illustrious career is discussed as his victory in the Selangor gave the great jockey his 5000th career winner. The milestone accomplishment has been accompanied by much fanfare from the racing media, the wider media and the public.

Gold Circle honoured the achievement on Friday night by flying Strydom down for a lavish function at Greyville. It co-incided with a well attended night racemeeting and “Striker” was able to meet and greet his many Durban fans and sign autographs for them.

The six-times champion jockey said, “The 5000th winner was by far the greatest moment of my career, better than winning the July, the Met and the Gr 1 in Hong Kong.”

Picture: Piere Strydom with the Gold Circle Publishing crew. (Left to Right) Warren Lenferna, David Thiselton, Strydom, Andrew Harrison (Nkosi Hlophe)