A good week for Jess and Boris.

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A good week for Jess and Boris.

16 years 3 months ago

#52569

Owners of the week.

A good week for Jess and Boris

THE KYRIACOU brothers had their “best week” in racing to date when registering three winners in the space of six days.

It began last Tuesday with the Lucky Houdalakis-trained DA VINCI’S LEGACY landing a 1400m handicap down the newly divided Vaal turf straight. Jess and Boris Kyriacou own the gelding in partnership with George Chrisochos.

Pictured with Da Vinci’s Legacy are: from left, Jess Kyriacou, jockey Piere Strydom and Boris Kyriacou.

Two days later, again on the new course, Jess’s solely owned sprinter FUZZY CUZZY, from Roy Magner’s yard, got up in the final stride to pip the favourite in a 1200m MR92 contest.

Then MEMORY – co-owned by the Kyriacous and Alan Worms – won at Sunday’s Turffontein work riders’ meeting.

Elated Jess Kyriacou said this week: “Three in a week is indescribable. To describe my feelings might embarrass sensitive viewers.”

The victories cap a good run of form for the brothers and their various partners. Jess hasn’t kept a tally of recent winners but admits to “a nice strike rate” from the 15 horses he has in training.

Choosing his horses involves Jess in a careful study of pedigrees – “my passion” – before a trainer does a confirmation check. “Finally I go and look horses in the eye, to see if there’s warmth and soul. Horses are like human beings; if they’re shifty eyed, I’m not interested.”

Over the years, Kyriacou has been particularly successful with Australian-bred runners. As in SA, where he avoids sires outside his price bracket, in Australia he steers clear of sires like Redoubte’s Choice that are popular for producing two-year-old winners – a major driver in the Aussie market.

“It’s so pleasing to find value horses.”

Fasliyev, proven elsewhere in the world but not a sire of juvenile winners, is a favourite when he’s scouting for talent and bargains Downunder.

And Fasliyev’s son Fuzzy Cuzzy holds a special place in his owner’s heart. The four-year-old has now won six from 28 starts, and nearly R500 000 in prize money. His next target is the Tommy Hotspur feature at Turffontein later this month.

Said Jess: “Mercifully he’s very sound. In racing the two most important things are a horse that’s sound of leg and a trainer that’s sound of mind.”

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