Connections crowd around the Algoa Cup winner Firealley, who was ridden by Craig Zackey (Pauline Herman Photography)
Jacque Strydom had a fairytale win of the R350,000 Betway Algoa Cup (Listed) with Firealley, ridden by Craig Zackey, as Strydom was the last local winner of Gqeberha’s biggest race 15 years ago in 2009 with Surfin’ USA.
This year’s Algoa Cup was a rare occasion as the race had to take place on the Polytrack and not Turf.
4Racing Senior Manager of Racing Operations (Eastern Cape), Gail Rieder explained the decision to move the meeting “We received 144mm of rain within 24-hours from Monday to Tuesday morning. Given that more rain was forecast, we consulted with our team and a decision was made to move the meeting to the Polytrack at 11h30 on Tuesday after taking a penetrometer reading”.
The first drama in the race happened when the Kelly Mitchley-trained Mount Anderson had to be scratched for an elevated TCO2 level.
Justin Snaith had already scratched his pair Rockpool and Call To Unite after the switch to poly.
The local hope Joy And Peace started favourite despite having to carry topweight and looking to have a tough task at some of the weight turnarounds.
Anatolian Silver, who was about 7kg out at the weights, was sent to the front from a wide draw and set the pace.
Cape raider Allez Moris, who started joint 4/1 favourite with Joy And Peace on the fixed odds market, had the box seat in second place on the rail and Steet Art was outside of him. Joy And Peace and Runaway Song were the next pair alongside each other and were followed by San Quintin and Firealley. Green Manadarin and Sequoia were next best and the fancided Blackberry Malt was behind them.
As the 13 horse field swung for home Allez Moris went inside of the pacemaker and hit the front but was soon joined by Joy And Peace who was sticking to the inside rail.
However, Firealley then began charging down the centre outside of Allez Moris and it was clear the former Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap winner was going better than Allez Moris, while Joy And Peace was clearly finding no extra.
Firealley kept on finding to win by 0,75 lengths from the Glen Kotzen-trained Blackberry Malt who ran on strongly from well off the pace. The Brett Crawford-trained Allez Moris was beaten a length into third and the Alan Greeff-trained Joy And Peace was beaten 2,25 lengths into fourth. The Greeff-trained Bournemouth crossed the line in fifth.
Having his eighth run for the Jacques Strydom yard since transferring from Candice Bass-Robinson at the beginning of this year, the Drakenstein-bred Firealley is now raced in a partnership consisting of Messrs Do Carmo, De Wet,McCrow, Puggia,Smart, Lorette Louw, the Money Talks Syndicate,SMB Insurance Brokers and the Strydom family.
A son of Flower Alley (Distorted Humor), Firealley is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare, Fire Spinner.
Originally a R275 000 purchase off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Firealley has won 6 races with 14 places from 44 starts for stakes of R869 600.
The R500 000 carryover Pick 6 injection fell well short of the originally projected R3 million, at R1,88 million and this might have been as a result of the switch to polytrack.
“I would like to thank Betway for their support of racing in all of our jurisdictions, but particularly here in the Eastern Cape. We are proud that this is the Betway Algoa Cup for 2024. It was an exciting day, and I am so happy for the winning connections of FireAlley. It was particularly special that Jacques Strydom trained this winner as prior to this he was the last local trainer to win the Algoa Cup back in 2009” said Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RACE AND THE WINNING INTERVIEWS
Friday at Fairview had two other supporting features on the card. Glen Kotzen trained On My Honour won The Racehorse Owners Association Stakes (Listed) with Denis Schwarz aboard. There were two scratching’s in the the Betway Wedgewood Handicap (NBT) taking the final field to four runners. With the change of surface to Polytrack, the distance was revised from 2400m to 2200m. Alan Greeff trained Official Secret posted a commanding 7.5 length victory under Richard Fourie.
In a joint initiative between the Racehorse Owners Association, the Thoroughbred Racing Trust and 4Racing, R123 000 worth of riding gear was handed over to the dedicated Work Rider’s of the Eastern Cape region.
Taking momentum from racing at Fairview, Saturday 26 October offers a day to celebrate the hardworking grooms of Fairview Racecourse. Prize money of R9 000 will be up for grabs in the Groom’s Soccer Tournament Final, which will be played on the Fairview Soccer Field. Shosholoza FC are looking to defend their 2023 Title from Young Stars FC.
