THE van Heerden DOUBLE

No wonder trainer Jurgen van Heerden could not stop smiling at the Fairview race meeting this past Friday, writes Henk Steenkamp.

It was a special day for Van Heerden and not only because he had a winner on the day.

Van Heerden hasn’t visited the winners’ enclosure for a while and was very happy to see the Querari gelding Africa’s Rock getting it right with Dennis Schwarz in the saddle.

Africa’s Rock overcame a wide draw to win race five, a MR 66 Handicap over 1600m, on the Fairview Turf.

Africa’s Rock is owned by The Carefree Syndicate of which Van Heerden is the nominee.

But wait there’s more.

At the same time as Van Heerden was leading Africa’s Rock into the winners’ enclosure at Fairview, his son Joshua was acknowledging the applause in Pietermaritzburg where he scored a brilliant century in a first-class cricket match playing for the Titans against the Tuskers.

Joshua might have another chance at a hundred on Friday in the 4-day match between the Titans and Lions which starts on Wednesday but the Van Heerden double won’t be possible this time as Jurgen will not be saddling any runners at the coming Fairview meeting.

Friday’s meeting of eight races starts at 12:25 and feature two Listed events, the Ibhayi Stakes and the Lady’s Pendant.