Gavin Lerena had a great partnership with “the people’s horse” Kommetdieding recently … will Sandringham Summit become SA’s next equine hero? (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse)
Turf Talk
David Nieuwenhuizen said Gavin Lerena was very excited to be back aboard Sandringham Summit, whom he rode on debut.
The crack colt has been priced up as 6/10 favourite by Betway for the Gr 2 level weights Jonsson Workwear Dingaans.
He said, “Gavin was originally supposed to ride the horse after the first start, but he got sick and had to stand down and the replacement was S’Manga and then eventually Calvin (Habib). Calvin was willing to take on all of the rides for my clients in Durban last Champions Season and that was the condition.”
Calvin is now the first choice rider to Tony Peter, so it made sense to put a new jockey on Sandringham Summit.
Calvin will in fact be riding the Tony Peter-trained House Of Romanov in the Dingaans.
David said about the Gimmethegreenlight colt Sandringham Summit, “Gavin’s very happy with the work. He is excited to be back on him again. The horse is well in himself. We are on for a big run in the Dingaans. He is the horse to beat. As the other horses progress and develop they will also come into the picture. I will never look at it as if there is no opposition, there is plenty of opposition. Like Purple Pitcher, he has developed into a really nice stayer type of a horse. And then Mike de Kock’s horse Gimmeanotherchance can never be ruled out, because I think he is a serious racehorse and is still improving and the mile will probably suit him as well. And then there is Guy Gibson as well. So there is certainly opposition.”
David said about the draw of 9 out of 12, “We’re probably going to have to look at just sitting on him a little bit in the race and give him a chance. Just let him find himself and track the horses in front. So the tactics will be slightly different than in his last race.”
David was conscious of giving the tactics away, but added that everybody knew Sandringham Summit “seems to run when given a bit of a chance.”
David runs the fast filly No Filter in the Gr 3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes. David believes she has a “hard task” in the Carry On Alice, but was looking foward to seeing how she went in today’s (Friday) twilight meeting at Turffontein over the same trip. The fast Standside 1000m suits the Canford Cliffs filly and a line can be drawn through her last start because she stumbled coming out of the stalls.
David’s Silvano mare Flying First Class runs in the ROA Stakes over 3200m on Betway Summer Cup day and she should run her usual honest race, although she has a hard task being 6kg under sufferance with the best weighted Nebraas on official merit ratings.
