Syster on song with advice from 'Striker'

Danie Toerien

Jockey Jeffrey Syster is a man on a mission, and a man with a dream.

He believes dreams come true through hard work and that's the reason the 29-year-old has been working like a man possessed this season, trying to prove himself and to make it in the big time.

Saturday at Turffontein on Guineas Day, the young man rode Scarlet O'Hara to victory in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1800m.
Trained by Stuart Pettigrew, this three-year-old daughter of  Red Ray was considered a no-hoper by most, drifting from 15-2 to 25-1 in the betting.

But Syster believed, and pulled off an incredible ride to beat the odds-on favourite Vixeninthevineyard (15-10) by a length.

It was a ride very reminiscent of the legendary Piere Strydom, and that's where this story actually starts.

 "I've been talking a lot to Mr (Grant) Maroun and he always liked using Piere as a jockey for his runners," said Syster.

"He suggested I must get some advice from him (Strydom) and that's where it started.

"I phoned up Piere, we had lunch, and he paid for it, and we have continued talking from there. Whenever I need advice on a specific horse, or how I need to go about a race, he is always willing to talk to me.

"He (Strydom) is a very busy man, so when we are not racing, I might call him. We don't talk every day, but I do call him on a regular basis."

According to Syster it is very difficult for him to get rides at the moment.

"The game is hard. There are many top jocks around, so all I can do is work hard."

Syster added that, apart from retired jockey "Striker" Strydom, trainers like Pettigrew, Heinrich van der Westhuizen and "Mr Maroun himself" are playing a major role in his career with their advice.

Although carded for only two rides on Saturday, Syster also picked up a ride aboard Yippee Kiyay for trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock in the headline event, the TAB Gauteng Guineas, after Ryan Munger was stood down.

In typical Strydom fashion, Syster took his mount to the front when the pace seemed slow, and despite perhaps slightly overplaying his hand on the gelded son of Buffalo Bill Cody, Syster did manage to keep Yippee Kiyay competitve, finishing just 2.15-lengths behind winner stable companion Splittheeights ridden by Raymond Danielson.

Mike de Kock, after the race, admitted that the decision to put Syster on Yippee Kiyay was made just minutes before the runners entered the parade ring.

"No, he wasn't the only option," said De Kock, "but he has been doing a lot of work and he got the split-second decision."
De Kock added that the only instruction given to Syster at such short notice was "just ride the horse".

And ride it he did.