ANDREW HARRISON

FEEDBACK; feedback; feedback. That’s the oft repeated cry from trainers when asking their jockeys and work riders, whether it be morning work or after a race. Few trainers have the luxury of riding their own work so they rely on info from those aboard their charges.

Frustrated ex-jockeys who have out-grown their breeches can be the most demanding.

There was a mighty plunge on Euphoric in the first apprentice race at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as Kyle Strydom rode the perfect race to land the gamble.

Any price at the start of the day, the money came in spades. In a post-race interview, trainer Alyson Wright, whose assistant and husband is former Zimbabwean champion jockey Kevin, pointed out that Stuart Randolph had advised that the blinkers should be put back on.

Strydom, nephew of Piere Strydom who is one of the best jockeys ever to grace a dock in this country and possibly the world, has plenty of experience to call on and earned dormitory boasting rights as he completed the apprentice double with State Of Mind getting home for Gavin van Zyl in the seventh.

Strydom rode perfectly to instruction and came home lonely.

Highveld trainers are arriving thick and fast of late in search of easy pickings and Candice Dawson struck with Luke Ferraris earning his keep aboard Herstel in the second, edging out Candy Galore and Freedom Seeker.

It is well documented that Shane Humby takes his time with his charges, but when he does decide that they are ready they generally run a forward race. Good Girl looked dead-and-buried at the two-furlong marker as Ryan Munger hunted a gap, but once in the clear, Good Girl responded like her name suggests to nail Uncomplicated two jumps from home.

Lyle Hewitson replaced an ill-disposed Donovan Dillon – broken hand – on the well supported Peter Muscutt-trained Mr Pigalle and it nearly all ended in tears as original favourite Sergei almost nailed him on the line.

Hewitson kicked clear a long way out and looked to have the race under control, but Mr Pigalle was one-paced over the final 100m and Anton Marcus, who never gave up, almost snaffled a win but Sergei just not able to get there in time.

Hewitson made his trip to KZN worth while as he booted home Burning Wings in a tight finish to the sixth denying arch rivals Warren Kennedy and Marcus.