Strydom looked pissed after race 6 yesterday

Hope Stryker will add some comments in his Saturday Citizen post.

Of course I don't agree and I have said my say with him. At the end of the day his issues at work are not my fights to fight. I am very fond of Karl and Piere's feelings toward him at that point in time do not alter my views about Karl. My issue is with the personal and nasty attacks toward a man that is a fantastic partner and an amazing father. None of us are perfect, but the malicious posts are uncalled for and extremely hurtful. You guys need to understand that as much as you dislike him, he still is a very important part of my life. I respect that he might not be everyones cup of tea and you are entitled to your opinions, but can we not express our feelings in a mature and sensible manner?

SpookE Wrote:

---

> Of course I don't agree and I have said my say
> with him. At the end of the day his issues at work
> are not my fights to fight. I am very fond of Karl
> and Piere's feelings toward him at that point in
> time do not alter my views about Karl. My issue is
> with the personal and nasty attacks toward a man
> that is a fantastic partner and an amazing father.
> None of us are perfect, but the malicious posts
> are uncalled for and extremely hurtful. You guys
> need to understand that as much as you dislike
> him, he still is a very important part of my life.
> I respect that he might not be everyones cup of
> tea and you are entitled to your opinions, but can
> we not express our feelings in a mature and
> sensible manner?

Thank you for your very mature and grown up post, I really appreciate it.
I don't think any of us were malicious or hurtful with our comments. I have been in this game a very long time and have known many jocks and administrators. I knew Pierre and Beaty many years ago. My problem is with him of late he has gotten more and more belligerent and mean towards his fellow riders such as with his fighting with Gavin Lerena. Like it or not, Pierre is in the public eye therefore he needs to be doing it cleaner, better and more straight than any other jock because he is so respected. I have just had enough of the childish antics. For me they have to stop.

Again, thanks for your measured and well written response. You have every right to protect Pierre as he is your mate and your baby's father!

My comments are purely based on his professional performance of late. I don't care if he wins on every ride he takes or if he runs tailed off on every ride he takes, all I want from him is to act with decency and respect, that's all.

SpookE Wrote:

---

> Of course I don't agree and I have said my say
> with him. At the end of the day his issues at work
> are not my fights to fight. I am very fond of Karl
> and Piere's feelings toward him at that point in
> time do not alter my views about Karl. My issue is
> with the personal and nasty attacks toward a man
> that is a fantastic partner and an amazing father.
> None of us are perfect, but the malicious posts
> are uncalled for and extremely hurtful. You guys
> need to understand that as much as you dislike
> him, he still is a very important part of my life.
> I respect that he might not be everyones cup of
> tea and you are entitled to your opinions, but can
> we not express our feelings in a mature and
> sensible manner?

I think that you can be sure that those who dislike Striker are in the minority, and as he is undoubtedly one of the very best at his trade ,enjoys a lot of respect from this forum and the racing public!

Amen to Rob's comment !! Striker a true champion and one of our greats.

The Madji Wrote:

---

> Amen to Rob's comment !! Striker a true champion
> and one of our greats.


(tu)

I think everyone seems to be missing the point. Nobody is talking about Strikers riding ability, I'm specifically talking about his behaviour on Saturday and in the last few months especially in relation to his feud with Lerena.

Surely you guys (Madji and Rob) with all the racing experience in the world should be able to tell the difference?

I will state again to SpookE, thanks very much for your honest and heartfelt reply earlier, it really is much appreciated

Thanks for being a gentleman and understanding. I appreciate that you were willing to see my side. I will definitely pass on your concerns and sentiments.

The whole point is being missed here ...by not allowing the horse to stride it not only cost Striker the race but it also cost Zechner any chance he had of winning ...the horse was allowed to stride today, raced 5 lengths clear of the 3rd horse in running and duly won so that opinion has been vindicated... imo Striker has a winning mentality and so being beaten by a false pace must surely be infuriating,...There have been many posts here ( myself included) criticising the so called Cape crawl and I cant see any difference between our frustration and Piere's :S

Stryker is an absolute gentleman, and humble to boot.

I had the opportunity of meeting him once, and shook his hand at what was then JHB international.

I had just returned from an assignment in Namibia. My younger brother and some friends were there to pick me up, so we popped into one of the pubs to have a few pints.

A couple of minutes later, Stryker and Francious Herholdt, walked pass, and I pointed out that's Stryker. One of the guys shouted his name out.

He heard his name been called, looked in our direction, and promptly walked up to us.

And that is how I got to shake the hand of a champion, and I am sure many others have too.

A mate of mine, Sam has a photo, taken many, many years ago, him and another buddy with Stryker.

So, I hope, and I am quite sure there must have been some reason, that we non jocks may not be aware of, that resulted in Stryker reacting the way he did.

Hopefully, he will shed some light in this coming Saturdays Citizen.

Tommy_Hotspur Wrote:

---

> I think everyone seems to be missing the point.
> Nobody is talking about Strikers riding ability,
> I'm specifically talking about his behaviour on
> Saturday and in the last few months especially in
> relation to his feud with Lerena.
>
> Surely you guys (Madji and Rob) with all the
> racing experience in the world should be able to
> tell the difference?
>
> I will state again to SpookE, thanks very much for
> your honest and heartfelt reply earlier, it really
> is much appreciated

Tommy, can you state with certainty ,what the cause of Striker's irritation was about?
In the first line of your post you express doubt, and then follow up within seconds as if it is verbatim...............What if the guesses aren't in fact the whole story?

Titch Wrote:

---

> The whole point is being missed here ...by not
> allowing the horse to stride it not only cost
> Striker the race but it also cost Zechner any
> chance he had of winning ...the horse was allowed
> to stride today, raced 5 lengths clear of the 3rd
> horse in running and duly won so that opinion has
> been vindicated... imo Striker has a winning
> mentality and so being beaten by a false pace must
> surely be infuriating,...There have been many
> posts here ( myself included) criticising the so
> called Cape crawl and I cant see any difference
> between our frustration and Piere's :S


not sure about the cape crawl,but love it when you do the titch crawl ()

ps great ride there on Captains Delight