He is rapidly catching log-leader Khumalo

In fact, S’manga Khumalo, who has already ridden twice as many winners as any other jockey on the national log so far this season, is already looking over his shoulder at the ruling champion jockey. Strydom returned from a couple of weeks off on Tuesday last week and has already booted home eight winners. He had four at the Vaal last Thursday and scored another three on Saturday at Turffontein.

Khumalo did not go home empty-handed, although he was the villain of the piece in the topliner, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m. Ormond Ferraris-trained Snowdon was all the rage, being the best-weighted runner by three lengths, but Khumalo timed his run on Here Comes Billy to perfection and Weiho Marwing’s charge ran the 5-10 favourite out of it in the closing stages to win by 2.25 lengths.

Strydom’s three winners were much more acceptable for punters. His three-timer kicked off in Race 3 over 1000m aboard Malachite. The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained four-year-old had been knocking at the door since April and was not winning out of turn, although first-timer The Pieman, from the Paul Peter yard, was backed down to 16-10 favourite. Malachite had his supporters at 28-10.

Strydom lived up to his nickname, Striker, by playing a waiting game. He pounced inside the final 100m and Malachite beat The Pieman going away by 1.25 lengths to give the jockey the 2800^th win of his career.

The Pieman looked all over the winner 200m from home and should not be long in opening his account.

Strydom wasted no time in getting another winner on the board and struck again 35 min later aboard Brian Wiid-trained First Sugar. The gelding was making his 18^th attempt at winning a Maiden Plate but had placed in both his starts in blinkers and went through the stalls at 6-1. First-timer Fulcrum was well backed to start favourite at 5-2, but could only manage third after getting too far back. He should recoup losses in a similar field next time.

Strydom sneaked through on the rail to beat Fighting Force, who stayed on well, by 0.50 lengths.

The champ made no secret of the fact that he was concerned about the 62kg Shimmering Gem would have to carry over 2450m in Race 5 and that his mount had been to Durban and back for his previous race. Neither factor bothered punters, who backed Dominic Zaki’s runner to 18-10 favourite, and he did not let them down. Strydom kept him covered until 400m from the line and his mount accelerated smartly as soon as he was let loose. He led 150m from the wire and won going away by 1.25 lengths.

Shimmering Gem gave Zaki his second win of the afternoon and he took training honours. He won Race 1 with first-timer Times Remembered, ridden by Siyabonga Duma.

Another first-timer was successful at the meeting – Mike de Kock-trained Siddharth in Race 8 over 1400m – and punters have much to look forward to in future, with such promising youngsters being stepped out so early in the season.