Indian Ocean passes the line comfortably clear at the Vaal Classic track today (Tuesday) after a vintage ride from the masterful Piere Strydom (JC Photos)
Races are occasionally priced up in a way that is difficult to understand, but punters will never complain about that and a case in point was seen today (Tuesday) at the Vaal Classic track when bookmakers elected to have the Lorenzo Karriem-trained Mano Pandaram-owned The United States mare Indian Ocean as the biggest outsider in a six horse field.
She started at odds of 8/1, which was the joint longest price, although on the Tote she was paying R6.20, which was only the third longest.
This was hard to understand because she had been kept to stakes races from March through to the end of the season and the big long-strider had caught the eye on numerous occasions.
She was a 2,75 length fourth in the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and she finished just three lengths back in the Gr 3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m.
Then in her first start back in an ordinary handicap she came from last over 1800m to win under Piere Strydom.
That day the big filly used her big stride to lope past the small field of six to hit the front at about the 200m mark.
However, what was eyecatching about the win was that when the field was coming back at her Strydom asked for more and she gave it readily. She clearly past the line with a bit in hand.
Today, she was four points higher in the merit ratings, but she was now stepping up to a more suitable trip of 2000m, judging from her way of racing and her decent run in the Lonsdale and a couple of other staying races. She was carrying a welter 64,5kg but is a big horse and with Strydom riding quite heavy these days there was not going to be a lot of deadweight.
The favourite Avoontoast has always been rated but was overall disappointing until winning her last two in good style. Her last win over 2000m by 3,75 lengths suggested she was starting to fulfil her potential and receiving 9,5kg from Indian Ocean it was perhaps not surprising the bookmakers preferred her. However, she had never before faced as good opposition as Indian Ocean had.
In fact Indian Ocean was a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry.
There have been many over-optimistic July entries in the past, but they invariably fall by the way side soon after first nominations.
This year there were two 90-something rated horses who stood their ground in the July right up until the final field announcement. One was trained by now twice July-winning trainer Brett Crawford and the other was Indian Ocean.
That should have told a story.
However, what even the supporters of Indian Ocean did not expect were the tactics employed by the legendary Strydom today (Tuesday).
On course spectators and television viewers were treated to a Strydom master class.
Having sat at the back in her last start and now carrying 64,5kg against a field of the exact same size, everybody expected the big mare to be dropped out to last again.
Instead Strydom did the complete opposite and took her to the front.
With her ears pricked she ran one wide outside of I Am Regal down the back straight and edged ahead of the latter as they reached the turn.
Strydom increased his lead around the turn and was judging it to perfection as the fractions were not fast.
In fact the big mare was relishing every minute of it as she strode down the straight.
By the time the other jockeys realised how well she was still travelling it was too late and their mounts resembled greyhounds in comparsion to the big Indian Ocean as they scrambled to make up the deficit.
She went to the line 2,5 lengths clear with commentator Nico Kritsiotis lauding the ride as “vintage Strydom.”
It was a race that proved the contention that weight is relative and also that class tells.
It also showed what a difference a top tactical jockey can make to a horse’s chances.
To be a top jockey also requires getting the right rides and the like of Strydom are able to spot a good horse.
In his previous win on Indian Ocean, he drove to the Vaal that day for just the one ride.
That should also have been a signal to bookmakers and punters.
