RIDE like the wind, in the wind. That was the situation last Friday at the Fairview Polytrack in Greenbushes.
The jockeys were the heroes at this race meeting because their skills were tested to the limit in eight races in gale-force winds.
The Polytrack is a fast track and taking the tight turn before going into the short straight is no easy task.
It was challenging in the windy conditions but the riders did a great job.
Those spectators that braved the strong winds were thoroughly entertained. The jockeys would probably not have to face winds like that again this month but proved that the last five meetings of the year will be full of excitement.
The meetings will all be on the Polytrack, while the turf is still getting the annual treatment to get it in peak condition for the first Fairview meeting of 2022.
A stable that has set the tongues wagging recently is that of former Kimberley trainer, Zietsman Oosthuizen. The big stables of Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith have performed well all season but the Oosthuizen stable has been in tremendous form lately.
Oosthuizen did not have a bad past season at all, ending fifth on the Fairview trainers’ list.
With a third of the current season behind us, Oosthuizen is clear in third place. With Greeff and Smith fighting it out for the trainers’ title for decades now, the third position on the log has become somewhat of a medal winning position in itself.
There is still a long way to go before the season is over but there can be no doubt that Oosthuizen means business this time around.
When the big man relocated from Kimberley, he quickly impressed all and sundry with his work ethic. He wants to train winners and to do that Ziets makes sure his horses are fit when they face the starter.
Sharon Kotzen finished third last season but this season Oosthuizen and Juan Nel are strong challengers. The Jacques Strydom stable can also have a say.
These battles for log positions make for interesting and competitive racing and that is what the spectators want to see at Fairview.
More spectators are expected at the Fairview meetings as we are getting closer to the holidays and you can be sure the jockeys will deliver – it takes more than a gale-force wind to stop them around that tight turn on the Polytrack.
