Gavin Lerena, seen afer winning at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday on the Yogas Govender-trained Soho Star (What A Winter) has inched ahead in the intriguing race for the national jockeys title and has a fine book of rides on Hollywoodbets Durban July day too. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Gavin Lerena and Richard Fourie, who are two of the three protagonists in the thrilling chase for the national jockeys title, cut contrasting figures towards the end of Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting as the former spoke confidently about his Hollywoodbets Durban July rides, while the latter confirmed he was “feeling terrible” after being booked off his last few mounts.
Lerena’s one winner on Sunday followed a five-timer on Saturday and with Fourie and Zackey also each having one winner on Sunday the situation is now Lerena on 243 wins achieved at a strike rate of 25.26%, Fourie on 239 at 25.16% and Zackey on 236 at 17.57%.
Lerena said about the championship race and whether he would travel to all centres, including the East Cape, from now onward, “It’s not easy to get rides. Durban hasn’t been very kind to me the last couple of weeks either, but we’ll ride wherever we can. There’s still a long month to go, but I’m just enjoying the racing and enjoying the competitiveness of it and may the best man win.”
Lerena has some fine feature race rides on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
In the big one he rides the Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley.
Gavin said, “His gallop was very good. He’s sound, he feels very well and he’s very fit, so I am looking forward to riding him with 54kg.”
The Clifton Stud-bred Mambo In Seattle gelding has some good formlines as his Betway Summer Cup run puts him ahead of Royal Victory, See It Again and Atticus Finch at the weights in the July.
However, Gavin was asked whether he felt the Hollywoodbets Greyville 2200m was too tight for the rangy Madison Valley and whether the straight was too short and he replied, “Not really, I mean he’s won most of his races at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He’s got the stamina, he ran very well in the Gold Cup last year and obviously he’s coming off a win in the Cup Trial (1800m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville. It’s always nice to be coming off a win.”
In the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m, his mount Rascova meets her arch rival Double Grand Slam with the tally currently at Double Grand Slam seven and Rascova five.
Gavin first of all revealed that, despite Rascova having only had the one run since joining the Sean Tarry yard after her win in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes on WSB Met day, she had never been out of work. She will therefore be fit enough.
He said, “It was a good run last time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m). It got a bit tight that last 100m, so she didn’t really round her race off. But she’s doing nicely. It’s a competitive field. It’s always her and Double Grand Slam and now you’ve got the three-year-olds coming through. So, it’s going to be an exciting race.
In the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper, he rides the Tarry-trained Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery and Gr 3 TAB Protea Stakes winner Green Diamond, albeit from a tricky draw of ten in the 1400m contest.
He said, “Not the greatest of draws, but a very good filly. She’s an exciting ride for the day. I think she will enjoy the step up in trip, it’s all about getting her in a good rhythm and she’s got a great finish on her.”
In the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m he rides the Gr 2 Corne Spies-trained filly Elegantrix, who was runner up in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m last time to the unbeaten Direct Hit, and he said, “She’s well drawn and beat the boys in her penultimate start (in the Gr 3 TAB Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m). It was a great run last time just in behind Direct Hit. The boys are getting bigger and stronger, but she’s very game and I think she’ll enjoy the 1400m.”
In the Gr 3 Post Merchants over 1200m, Gavin rides the Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody from draw nine and he said, “He’s jumping from an awkward gate. His last two wins were down the straight, but I think he’s a much better horse around the turn, so I think he’s going to be a big runner.”
In the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase he rides the crack Frank Robinson-trained stayer Shoot The Rapids, who has to carry joint topweight of 60kg from draw five.
He said, “It’s never easy to carry 60kg over those types of trips, but he’s always stayed well and obviously he was up alongside Madison Valley in the Gallops, so I’m hoping it all goes well.”
In the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 Gavin was due to ride the Tarry-trained Litigation, but the latter has now been included in the Hollywoodbets Durban July after the scratching of See It Again.
In the Listed Premier Gateway International Handicap over 1600m, Gavin rides the Justin Snaith-trained Underworld from pole position and he said, “I think he is a big runner over the mile, he’s probably better suited to the mile. The only thing is it’s a handicap and he’s got to give away quite a bit of weight.”
