Garrix wins the Gr 3 Variety Club Mile easily and impressively (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Piet Steyn-trained Garrix was one of the best three-year-olds last season and has been enjoying a deserved rest on the farm, where he has also been given his African Horse Sickness vaccinations.
Piet said, “He is having his last injection tomorrrow (Friday) and we plan to bring him back (to Milnerton) in the middle of this month.”
He spoke about the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes (Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on December 13) being one of Garrix’s probable races and added, “He has run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville once before, but I wouldn’t like to run him there because he is much more suited to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. I think he will be a much better horse now after the rest, and he has obviously been gelded, and his main aim will be the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.”
Garrix was gelded after his third place finish in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and he followed that by only just failing to do the Winter Series Triple Crown, winning the Gr 3 Variety Club Mile by a comfortable 1,50 lengths, winning the Gr 3 Legal Eagle Stakes by a head from the five-year-old Otto Luyken whom he faced on terms 1kg worse than weight for age, and then losing to Otto Luyken by a shorthead in the Listed Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m on terms 2,5kg worse than weight for age.
Piet has won the Winter Series Triple Crown before with Katak doing it in 2020. The Potala Palace colt was unbeaten in five starts with him before being sold to race in Singapore. In 2022 Piet won two legs of the Winter Series with Gem King (Master Of My Fate).
There were some who lamented Garrix not having a tilt at the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but Piet said, “As a three-year-old that distance wouldn’t have suited him, it’s a little bit far for him. Rather, wait until next year when he’s stronger and then go for the July.”
Piet has actually gone close in the July before, running second in 1988 with Gitano, who gave Piere Strydom his first ride in the big race.
Piet started out with Peter Kannemeyer and recalled Sunshine Man winning the Met for the yard in 1980 with Felix Coetzee up.
Piet took out his own license in 1981.
His first win in Durban was with Queen’s Elect, who won the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes in 1982, beating Phantom Earl and Caboteur, under Garth Puller.
Later that same season he won the Gr 1 Garden Province Stakes with Petronia, beating Just McKenna and Tecla Bluff, and Puller was also the rider there.
The following year in Natal he won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint with Home Streaker, whom he bought for just R200 after she could not be sold. Garh Puller was once again the rider.
Piet also trained the like of Justerini, Double Vodka and Jungle Warrior.
Garrix will certainly be in good hands for what looks to be an exciting season ahead.
