Jockey Piere Strydom is in his twilight years as a jockey but he has recently had a good time of it and pulled off a four-timer earlier this month
His best ride for the meeting at the Vaal on Thursday 21 November looks to be Bacchus in Race 8, a MR80 Handicap over 1600m.
This Master Of My Fate-gelding is going about things nicely so far.
The three-year-old showed signs of ability when third on debut but there was decent improvement when scoring second time out.
That was at Turffontein over 1400m when a well-backed and an easy winner in June.
He had a break and missed his intended reappearance but did run at the end of October at Turffontein when runner-up and only half a length behind Heather’s Boy at Turffontein over 1600m.
That winner is a decent type and Bacchus will strip fitter this time and can go one better.
Earlier on this difficult card there are two others that may be worth a bet.
The Sean Tarry-trained Bourbon Reserve is improving and tried hard when narrowly beaten last time out.
He will be fitter this time and should give jockey Calvin Habib a winner in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1000m.
A couple of decent runners turn up in Race 5, a Graduation Plate over 1400m, but bettors should expect a decent run from Fire Attack.
He showed decent juvenile form winning twice, and may just have needed his only run as a three-year-old.
Habib retains the ride and.
Clive Robinson
