Ferrie Out To Score A Gr 1 Double
Striker The Legend Part 1
“Striker” was also known as “The Blonde Bomber” and this picture taken in 1994 gives an indication of how he acquired that nickname
Turf Talk will be running some articles about the legendary Piere “Striker” Strydom this week as it was announced he had not renewed his license for the forthcoming season, so he is just days away from official retirement.
The first article is about his reasons for retirement and his early years as a rider.
Part 1
Piere “Striker” Strydom is generally regarded as one of the two best jockeys in South African history together with Michael “Muis” Roberts and it was a sad moment when racing fans heard this week that he had not renewed his license for the forthcoming season, especially considering his two wins on Saturday at Turffontein Standside were vintage Piere Strydom.
“My last ride on Gold Cup day is Royal Victory and if he wins, I will call it a day then,” he chuckled.
It would be perfect to go out with a Gr 1 winner (HKJC Champions Cup), but otherwise his last meeting will be at the Vaal on July 31, which is his favourite South African course as will be discussed in one of the other articles this week.
There are a number of reasons Striker decided to hang up his boots.
He said, “I just came to the point where I didn’t feel like getting on a horse to ride. It’s always nice to ride these winners, it still gives you a thrill, and knowing that you’re doing the job right and to see other people happy. I’ve always been a competitive person, but how do I compete when I don’t want to ride. I still do the job I need to do, but when you start thinking about the possibility of getting injured again and stuff like that you know it is time to call it.”
Piere’s weight was also a problem. Sometimes he was not able to ride the top horses he was associated with because he could not make the weight. For example when three-year-old Fatal Flaw, whom he rode to Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas glory, ran next in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes she was set to carry 55kg so he was unable to ride her.
He has also recently lost a trio of top rides with Quid Pro Quo departing overseas, Dyce injured and he was fired from See It Again.
Piere was looking forward to having a go at equalling the Hollywoodbets Durban July record of five wins in the big race, but after losing the See It Again ride his weight scuppered his chances of another July ride as all of the topweights were already booked.
His age also made insurance and medical aid costs so expensive that it was hardly worthwhile riding.
When he had a meeting with his insurance company recently the deal he got in the event he stopped race-riding was much improved and made his decision to retire a “no brainer.”
Piere felt he had come back too soon from his fall at the Vaal on New Year’s Eve in order to make it for the WSB Met and said that had also affected him.
He added, “I felt I was way better when coming back from my two-and-a-half week holiday in the USA. I could move my neck and all that, so that break does help you. Working through something is not always good.”
Striker revealed he was never supposed to be a jockey.
He recalled, “From the age of about 12 I went to the track in the school holidays and my Dad would put me on his horses and they would bolt and I would think ‘who in their right mind would want to do this? This is crazy.’ My cousins and friends would come and couldn’t wait to ride horses in the morning and those horses would bolt. I would think ‘these guys are stupid’. I used to hide away in the toilets, because I didn’t know how to ride horses. My Dad used to call me Bangbroek (scaredy pants)!”
He added, “I later went on a holiday with my Granny to Jo’Burg and the next minute I was told ‘you are going to Greyville in Durban to apply for the Academy’. I wasn’t even sure they were going to accept me as the criteria was more hectic then and there were about 32 people who applied.”
He continued, “Today there are only about ten that apply and that was why the jockey ranks were so strong in those earlier days, because the intake was a lot and then you fall by the wayside as they start in the first couple of weeks. Some guys even left because they felt they were being bullied and there was a lot of bullying going on in those days, it was actually sad.”
Piere wasn’t happy to be going to SAJA, which he joined at the age of 14 turning 15, “I didn’t know what to expect going to the Academy and I was scared to ride horses and I was on my own.”
He continued, “I overcame my fear because they put you on really quiet old horses. As you start managing these quiet horses, they put you on something a bit stronger and a bit more feisty, so you progress. You learn to ride a horse properly and then you go to track, which is another story and that’s when you trusted the trainer to put you on a horse that’s quiet.”
Striker was to become one of the great horseman jockeys and became particularly good at handling difficult horses due to the instinct he developed about what horses like and don’t like and how they like to be handled.
He had impressed the riding masters from day one and recalled, “When I started in the Academy they put up lists to show who had been making the most progress and I was high up on the lists most of the time.”
Piere’s first winner was the Johnny Nicholson-trained Saadabad at Scottsville in September 1982.
He felt his breakthrough towards becoming a great jockey happened when he went to the East Cape in his fourth year at the Academy and became East Cape champion apprentice and the following year he became the South African champion apprentice while still in the Eastern Cape. In his first year out of the Academy he became East Cape champion jockey usurping Gavin Venter, which was a fine achievement as the latter rode for the powerful Stanley Greeff yard.
The tough love of his father Hekkie Strydom paid off in getting Piere into the Academy and Hekkie then honed Piere’s race-riding skills.
“My Dad used to say to me you don’t win a race at the 200m mark, you win it at the winning post and he would make me sit on horses for as long as possible. The conditions suited this style as the pace in the East Cape was always too fast.”
This was all a learning curve as Piere soon recognised you could not win on all horses in that way as some could not quicken well enough, but as the style suited the conditions and the wins were actually often late flying ones, the local journalist know as “Rob Roy” nicknamed him “Striker”.
Piere said, “PE gave me a huge boost. It was a smaller centre and still is, but by riding winners it taught me how to ride a race. It doesn’t matter whether it’s PE or Bloom or wherever, that is where I learned my trade.”
“Then I moved to Joburg in 1988. Louis Goosen helped me to to make the move. I was going out with his sister at the time.”
“In Jo’Burg it was basically doing the same thing. It was just getting to learn the different tracks and riding against different jockeys and riding different horses”.
“It was an unknown. The word was out that I had a lot of potential, but I’d never ridden in Jo’Burg, so you’re still not sure you’re going to make it. Basically Louis and myself gave us three months in Jo’Burg, if we didn’t make it, we were going to go back to PE. Louis had been living in Jo’Burg. He helped me as an agent. He was able to phone for rides and ask the trainers for rides . I was this young, shy little guy that didn’t know anyone. So Louis got me going.”
He continued, “Brett Warren had a strong yard in thoe days so I got some good rides from him and picked up some other rides and these horses started arriving at big prices, so people realised I had some ability.”
He admitted, “What helped me, although it is not a nice thing to have to say, is that I basically came to Jo’Burg because of the Henneman disaster. Six months after that disaster they were still a bit short of jockeys, so there was a gap. So I took the gap and the winners stated flowing, so I decided Jo’Burg’s the place to stay and I ended up finishing second on the Highveld that season with just nine months of race riding.”
Striker was champion jockey the following season.
Only those who witnessed it would be able to truly appreciate just how much of a sensation Striker was on the Highveld and he became the idol of the adoring fans, who crammed onto the grandstands every weekend.
An indication of how popular he was that when he rode the Pick 6 on July 14, 1990, the only jockey to ever achieve this feat, it was likely the smallest Pick 6 payout in history, well below R100.
Incidentally, he did not have six winners in a row that day as a match race was staged in between the Pick 6 legs and he was on the losing horse Brainteaser, easily beaten by Divine Act.
However, Striker was well on his way to becoming a living legend.
Herman Brown Wins With First Comeback Runner
Herman Brown and Grant van NIekerk after combining to win with The Night Ferry (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Graeme Hawkins (Race Coast)
Herman Brown (Jnr) has returned to the training ranks after a 12-year leave of absence and his first runner back, The Night Ferry, gave him the perfect welcome by taking out the fourth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Tuesday), an Open Maiden over 1600m run on a heavy track. Formerly trained by Justin Snaith, The Night Ferry (17/2) went from pillar-to-post under Grant van Niekerk and had enough in reserve to hold off the fast finishing Superhero by less than half-a-length, with the short-priced favourite Gold Giboski a further length away in third spot.
Brown said in the winners’ interviews, “It’s a great start. I haven’t had a runner in 12 years — I was nervous. I must have had 25,000 runners in my career by now, but this one felt different. Grant rode a lovely race. He’s not an easy horse to ride, but he outstayed them. It’s great to win any race, really. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but hopefully we can pick up a few more.”
Later, The US Of A stormed to victory in the R135 000 Turf Talk Syndicate B Stakes over 1000m, giving Richard Fourie his fourth winner over the first six races on the card. As expected, the race mapped out perfectly for The US Of A with Fourie able to settle some way off the brisk gallop set by the well supported Elusive Winter. Approaching the final 200m Elusive Winter was still going great guns under Gavin Lerena, but The US Of A made up the leeway with a minimum of fuss and the Paddy Kruyer-trained 4yo son of The United States drew clear of his market rival to win going away by a widening margin.
Following The US Of A’s victory, Fourie was still 12 winners in arrears of Lerena and with just nine days of the current racing season remaining, it would take a monumental effort by Fourie to deny Lerena his second Champion Jockey title. Elusive Winter stayed on well to finish a clear second with Roman Agent and Flying Finley completing the Quartet.
Fourie’s first winner came in the second race, a D Stakes over 1800m, when partnering the warm-order favourite Baton Rouge (1/1) to a hard-fought victory State Capitol. Baton Rouge was always handy but had to dig deep to hold off a determined and sustained challenge from State Capitol. Fourie followed up in the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600m, going all the way on the Justin Snaith-trained Zena’s Act (7/2) to score comfortably by two lengths over Mighty Mary (3/1).
Fourie never had a ride in the fourth race but completed his early hat-trick aboard the Adam Marcus-trained See A Penny (28/10) who smashed her seven rivals in the fifth race, a C Stakes over 1950m. Wood World made an early dash for home under Gavin Lerena but the 3yo son of One World was soon under pressure in the home stretch and See A Penny quickened smartly from midfield to score by more than three lengths in dominant fashion. Heliotrope ran on steadily to snatch second spot, a nose ahead of Professor Snape with Wood World a one-paced fourth.
Punters suffered an early setback with the first race, a Maiden Plate over 1200m, going the way of 66/1 chance Note To Self on debut. With Gareth Wright doing duty for the Snaith team, the 2yo son of Futura accelerated impressively from some way off the early speed and came home strongly to win going away by close on two lengths from a much-improved World Warrior. Note To Self is an eye-catching individual who is bred to prefer a lot further, but he showed a touch of class yesterday and could be worth following.
The most impressive winner of the day was Late December who raced away to win the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m, by a country mile. Trained by Greg Ennion for Gary Player, Late December has now won both his starts in 2025 following a lengthy spell on the sidelines and the clearly talented 3yo son of Rafeef should work his way through the divisions.
Rachel, Savanna And A Kiwi Whisper
Savanna Valjalo after winning on the Tony Peter-trained Blizzard Snow. (JC Photos).
By Mike Moon (The Citizen)
Things are looking up on the jockey gender front.
When former champion jockey Warren Kennedy was back in Durban recently he got a few phone calls from local trainers asking about the possibility of recruiting a female jockey or two from New Zealand, where he is now No 1.
The interest in women is because of the 1.5kg allowance that all female riders get in this country – a measure introduced a while ago to encourage more girls into the game.
South Africa’s sole female fully fledged jockey Rachel Venniker has been among the top 10 riders in the country in the past two years, is very good at her job and certainly doesn’t need that 1.5kg to compete with men.
But she is happy to take it – just one of the reasons her services are in heavy demand and why Kiwi ladies might fancy a stint here.
In New Zealand, more than 40% of licensed jockeys are female. In Australia it’s over 30%. There are no weight allowances for any senior “hoops” down there.
South Africa has had a couple of dozen women jockeys over the decades, some of whom have achieved a lot – such as Lisa Prestwood, Genevieve Michel and Nadine Rapson – but many have struggled to find bookings once the apprentice allowance has gone.
Venniker showed yet again what a huge asset she is to local racing at the weekend, returning from injury to land a winner at Scottsville.
After three months out of action with a tibia fracture, the fitness-mad jock was all professionalism in guiding home three-year-old filly Miss Kansas for her boss and mentor, trainer Michael Roberts, and her sponsor, owner Nick Jonsson.
While she’s been on the sidelines, Rachel has acquired winning company in the lady jockey room – apprentice Savanna Valjalo has notched up two winners from 22 rides.
Like Rachel, Savanna was admitted to the SA Jockey Academy as a “mature student”, having already completed schooling, been a work rider and competed successfully in amateur races.
In her 11th race under rules, Savanna got her first winner, on Gareth van Zyl-trained KMV Retrofit, at Greyville in late June.
She is the twin sister of South African Olympic skateboarder Brandon Valjalo and has had a lifelong passion for horses and, more recently, a fierce determination to make it in racing.
Anyone who has had anything to do with Savanna says she is destined to make it in the hardest of games – even without the 4kg apprentice allowance and maybe the 1.5kg too.
Her motto is “Work until your idols become your rivals”.
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Mike De Kock To Be Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame
Mike de Kock has done more than any other trainer to put South African racing on the map and enjoyed tremendous success on the world stage, especially with jockey Kevin Shea (pictured together above)
The South African Hall Of Fame
Durban – The South African Hall of Fame is proud to announce the induction of world-renowned horse racing trainer Mike de Kock at the World Pool Gold Cup Raceday, taking place on Sunday, 27 July 2025 at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse.
With a career that spans over 30 years, five continents, and victories in 10 countries, Mike de Kock stands as one of the most accomplished and respected horse racing trainers in the world.
This induction is more than an accolade; it’s a celebration of a legacy that has transformed South African horse racing on the global stage.
“Mike de Kock is a true icon of South African horse racing, a pioneer whose legacy has elevated the sport and South Africa’s sporting reputation both locally and internationally,” says Johnny Burger, Chairman of the South African Hall of Fame.
A Record of Excellence
As of 15 July 2025, Mike de Kock’s racing résumé includes:
· 3,803 career wins
· 141 Grade/Group 1 victories
· 8-time South African National Champion Trainer
· Second-most successful trainer in Dubai Racing Carnival history
From Horse Chestnut to Victory Moon, Ipi Tombe, Iridescence and Vercingetorix, and more recently with the likes of Rafeef, Hawwaam and Soqrat alongside his son Mathew de Kock.
Mike has produced champions across continents, including standout performances at the Belmont Stakes, Dubai World Cup, and Hong Kong International Races.
From Alberton to the World Stage
Mike, born on 14 February 1964 in Alberton, discovered his passion for racing at a young age.
Consuming every racing publication he could find, and learning hands-on in the army’s equestrian unit, Mike quickly established himself as a driven and gifted horseman.
In 1987, after taking over Ricky Howard-Ginsberg’s stable, he trained his first winner, Evening Mist, who would also become his first Grade 1 victor.
With his wife Diane Cawcutt by his side and now training in partnership with his son Mathew, the De Kock family continues to write new chapters in racing history.
Don’t Be Fooled By Prankster
Prankster has been tipped to win the sixth race (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
Punters face a competitive card at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday, but they can hopefully fill their wallets for a tilt at the big races on the World Pool Gold Cup card this Sunday.
There is a racing adage that warns that you can go bankrupt backing two-year-olds so punters should tread cautiously in the card opener with many first timers in the field.
However, of those that have run, Tulip Fields caught the eye on debut for Dean Kannemeyer when running on stoutly on the poly. She is down in trip but should run well and hopefully save a few Bi-pot tickets. Belligerent improved nicely second time out and should be primed for this while Love The USA has not been far back in two starts and gets a 4kg claimer aboard.
There are also first timers in the opening leg of the PA where debutantes Cowboy Country and Exocet both got favourable comments from their trainer’s and could be worth following. Of those that have run, Mfethu made a smart debut on this course and Gavin Lerena picks up the ride from a suspended Sean Veale. Boardwalk Breeze has been knocking at the door and must have a strong chance on his best effort.
Director improved nicely at second time of asking and with a handy draw he should put in a good shift in the first leg of the Pick 6. Good Omen has drawn wide but was much improved last run behind Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes entry Ziyan’s Pride. Thirteen Fourteen found some market support on debut and although a well-beaten fourth he should come on with the experience. The regally bred Gallic Victor comes from a strong stable and is one to watch in the betting.
Bo Ngcobo got the best out of Ralph The Rascal to win over course and distance last time out and although drawn wide the eight-year-old can follow up in the fourth. Although he steps up in class he still has leading apprentice Brevan Plaatjies aboard with his 1.5kg claim. Kimbal O’Hara has the best of the draw but is 3kg worse off at the weights with Ralph The Rascal for a half-length beating and seems unlikely to turn the tables. Dark horse could be Dancing On A Cloud. He has been disappointing since his maiden win but gets first time blinkers which could bring out the best. Rooster Bradshaw came from a long way back to win his latest on the poly and this longer straight will suit.
The fifth is an open handicap. Uzwano has won his last two on the poly with blinkers but he has won on the turf and looks progressive. Bristol Hercules is seldom out of the money and goes well over course and distance and is a must in all exotics. The Brief has his first outing for Nathan Kotzen but comes with useful Highveld form and is one to watch in the betting. Go Grayson Go has a tricky draw to overcome but gets the benefit of Rachel Venniker’s 1.5kg allowance over what looks to be his optimum trip.
In the sixth, Gareth van Zyl’s runner Prankster could be one of the better bets on the card as he was a comfortable winner of his last start on this course and could be difficult to beat in this line-up. Tony Rivalland sends out Teriyaki who seldom runs a poor race. His last two have been on the poly starting at long odds but he looks better suited to this trip. Of the others, Now I Got You has a handy 4kg claimer aboard and is holding form while Jane’s Vision can be dangerous.
Good Traveller is long overdue but the handicappers have been reluctant to drop his rating given his consistency for Michael Roberts. That could change in the seventh. Khethiwe’s Destiny is relatively lightly raced but has some useful from in good company. Mathew de Kock has declared first time blinkers and a tongue-tie and she should be competitive in this line-up. Maphaka has not been out since January at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth so his fitness must be taken on trust. However, Cape form is generally a lot stronger than local and he shed his maiden over course and distance. Gorgeous Guy has consistent form and won his last comfortably but is up in class.
Terry Fripp has been looking after Candice Bass-Robinson’s runners during Champions Season and he could lead in another winner in Masterofthedesert to round off the card. The gelding has shown up nicely in his two local starts but has been dropped two-points in the handicap which could be enough to see him home. Mar Del Plata seldom runs a bad race and loves this course. In The Bag may just have needed his first run for his new stable while Moya Wa Linga has been consistent and gets a 4kg claimer up which will help his chances of a sixth win.
Derek Thompson Signs Off At Wolverhampton
At The Races
‘It has been absolutely incredible, I’m nearly shedding a tear’ – Derek Thompson.
Even though there was a clear winner, a trademark shout of “photo!” from Derek Thompson was an appropriate way of bringing the curtain down on his 60-year commentary career at Wolverhampton.
Thompson announced late last year he would retire from commentating in 2025 and subsequently identified Tuesday night’s six-race fixture at Dunstall Park as his last ahead of his upcoming 75th birthday.
With well wishers aplenty on track, ‘Tommo’ called home the first three winners on the card, his final race being the appropriately named It’s A Photo – Big Fella EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.
The Marco Botti-trained Space Bear (100-30) was a decisive two-length winner in the hands of Luke Morris, but that did not stop Thompson having some fun inside the final furlong, as he said: “Space Bear now takes it up, from Jowalla, coming from a long way back is Lyra Lea, but it’s Space Bear whose going to win the It’s A Photo – Big Fella European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes!”
Ian Bartlett commentated on the final three races, but Thompson remained in the thick of the action and was on hand to present the connections of Ballsgrove Boy with their winner’s prize following his success in the concluding Thanks For Everything Tommo – Happy Retirement Handicap.
Thompson told Sky Sports Racing: “It has been absolutely incredible, I’m nearly shedding a tear. It’s a ridiculous as I’m a tough cookie, but this is marvellous tonight.
“I’ve enjoyed it and people have come from all over to be here tonight. Normally after the last race people are rushing off to their cars but we’d had thousands here, it’s superb.”
On his final call, he added: “I’ll never ever forget it. I’m quite moved and it’s difficult to concentrate as I’m not working any more – I’m talking into the microphone, but I’m not holding it.”
Thompson remains one of the most recognisable figures in the racing industry having spent time commentating on-course and for BBC radio, while also presenting for ITV, Channel 4, At The Races and Sky Sports Racing during a nearly 60-year broadcasting career.
He was even part of a three-strong party alongside Lord Oaksey and The Sun’s Peter Campling that attempted to negotiate the release of Shergar after the 1981 Derby winner was kidnapped.
And while his long spell commentating in Britain has come to an end, Thompson has no intention of hanging up his microphone entirely, with several racecourses continuing to use him as a raceday presenter, while he will also continue his association with racing in Jersey.
He said: “I’ve got Ascot at lunchtime on Friday and then York on Friday evening, Ascot on Saturday and then go to Jersey on Saturday night/Sunday.
“I am going to settle down a bit and enjoy. I am going to miss the commentary because the commentary box is the best view and the best seat in the house.”
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing presenter Simon Mapletoft, Thompson signed off perfectly with: “I’ve had a great career. Thanks big fella and by the way, it’s a photo!”
Today's Question
What was unusual about the result of the Clairwood Winter Handicap (today known as the HKJC Champions Cup) in the years 1953 and 1954.
Picture: The picture gives a clue to the answer
FIELDS, Wednesday, 23 July
Hollywoodbets Scottsville
Today’s Question Answer
Picture: Kings Pact
In both 1953 and 1954 the Clairwood Winter Handicap was won by a two-year-old, the great filly Kings Pact taking it in 1953 and Sea Lord winning it in 1954.
