Don’t Cry For Me is still in the hands as he shocks favourite backers by beating the 4/10 shot Winds Of Change over 1200m at the Vaal Classic track today (JC Photos)
Winds Of Change by What A Winter has been unfortunate to bump into two smart One World colts in his last two starts, although today’s defeat came as a bit of a shock as he was sent off a 4/10 favourite.
Today the ice cool Piere Strydom allowed Winds Of Change to overtake his mount, the Sean Tarry-trained One World colt Don’t Cry For Me, as he was travelling well and he knew he had something in the tank.
He duly cut back the deficit with ease late in the race to win easing up by half-a-length, although an indication of this pair’s class is that the rest of the field were beaten eight lengths and more.
At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Cape Town Met day, Winds Of Change made his debut in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m and was beaten 0,40 lengths at level weights by the previous winner Roman Agent (Vercingetorix).
Then on Splashout Cape Derby day he was runner up again, this time by 1,25 lengths to One World colt One Stripe in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m.
It was not surprising he went off at such short odds today.
However, circumstances conspired against him, because he had a good draw of seven until they changed venues to the Vaal Classic track, whch meant he was widely drawn around the turn in the 1200m maiden.
Winds Of Change did not break well, but Muzi Yeni managed to get cover for him as they came into the straight.
He went through the gears impressively to strike the front.
Meanwhile, Don’t Cry For Me had broken well from draw one and got a lead which enabled Strydom to move him over towards the favourable going near the outside in the straight.
He had stolen a couple of lengths early on the favourite.
The wily Strydom then kept some fuel in the tank as usual and was content to just gold his mount together in the front.
Winds Of Change accelerated past while still in the hands and then set sail for home.
However, it was soon clear he going to battle to keep Don’t Cry For Me at bay as the latter was still cruising. And so it proved.
Don’t Cry For Me was One World’s 8th individual winner.
He is six winners clear of Buffalo Bill Cody in the freshman sire standings.
Piere Strydom revealed yesterday that the ASSM Syndicate, to whom he is cntracted to for three months, have some decent babies and Don’t Cry For me looks to be one of them.
