Jan Van Goyen (far side) loses nothing in defeat on Sunday at Turffontein Standside, his first run as a gelding (Via Youtube)
Jan Van Goyen made a fine comeback in his first run as a gelding when running a possibly unlucky second in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Sunday.
The dual Gr 1-winning three-year-old’s progress had seemed to have come to a standstill after two below par runs, but as in the popular Afrikaans ditty ‘Jan Pierewiet staan stil’, his latest run proves ‘hy staan nie stil nie” (he is not standing still).
The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained son of Master Of My Fate had looked to be on the way to big things when winning the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas full of running by an easy 2,75 lengths.
He duly started 15/10 favourite for the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate but was beaten 9,10 lengths, although he did admittedly go too fast behind the very fast pace being set by stablemate Dave The King.
However, a further blow to the status he once had as the best three-year-old male in the land was when running a 4,25 length fifth on the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein Standside.
The decision was then made to geld him and he made his comeback on Sunday.
The David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Pressonregardless is an admirable long-striding sort and this Lancaster Bomber gelding was Jan Van Goyen’s market rival in the 1800m Pinnacle on Sunday.
They both carried 60kg, meaning the 118-rated Jan Van Goyen was 2,5kg worse off than weight for age with the 113-rated five-year-old gelding Pressonregardless, but they were actually facing each other on identical terms as they would have in a handicap.
Callan Murray, after jumping from draw six in the six horse field, let Jan Van Goyen stride down the back straight but tucked him in at the back of the field before reaching the first turn.
Jan van Goyen looked ominous at the top of the straight as he was still under a double handful and began moving up strongly.
However, champion jockey elect Craig Zackey showed what a deserved champion he would be by riding a brilliant tactical race in which he led from start to finish, an unusual style for Pressonregardless who usually comes from off the pace.
Zackey said afterwards, “Being a small field and knowing Jan Van Goyen’s going to need it, I said I’m doing everything different today. I’m going to go and I’m going to pick it up at the top of the straight and go out, so the whole field hits that wind together, no one’s going to hide and creep up behind me!”
Zackey took Pressonregardless all the way to the outside rail meaning anyone who was going to pass him was going to have to be exposed to the strong wind on the day.
The tactics worked well because Jan Van Goyen could not find a clear run until eventually having to switch to the inside, where he faced the brunt of the wind.
Callan Murray might have erred late by changing whip hands to his left hand as this caused Jan Van Goyen to hang rightward away from Pressonregardless, although it probably just meant the margin was less as Jan Van Goyen, who likely needed it, looked to have had enough by then.
Nevertheless, he only lost by 0,80 lengths with a few factors against him, so this smart son of Master Of My Fate looks to be back on track after two disappointing runs in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes respectively.
The race served as a good stepping stone race for the Hollywoodbets Durban July for Jan Van Goyen, although he will likely have another run before then.
Pressonregardless is not a July entry, but last-placed Wild Intent is and can have a line drawn through his run. The former SA Derby runner up was tried in blinker but was caught one out and one back without cover and and over-raced.
