The Equator winning his second start in SA under Gavin Lerena (JC Photos)
Reigning SA Champion Jockey Gavin Lerena has a policy of never looking at the betting before races, but he did agree a win in a Pinnacle Stakes event and in a Graduation Plate would not normally justify a horse being the favourite for Johannesburg’s biggest race, which is what is currently the case with The Equator.
However, he is bullish about the imported five-year-old Galileo entire’s chances.
He said about the Tony Peter-trained horse, “I think he’s got a great chance. From the winter he has just kept on improving. He has a nice galloping weight (55kg) and I think he’s better than his rating. He has a big action and he’s a grinder, so I think the Turffontein Standside 2000m will be ideal for him. He will enjoy the soft too.”
Gavin felt the Irish-bred had brought his ever improving homework to the races in his last two starts and believes he can do so again.
He added, “I am happy with the draw (three). There does not look to be a lot of pace in the race, so I am very pleased with the draw.”
Asked on who he felt the dangers were, he replied, “Definitely Atticus Finch and On My Honour and I think King Pelles is a big runner – he stays well and he has a good turn of foot.”
He added, “If Spumante Dolce came back to her best form she would be a runner, but not on her last two starts.”
Gavin has won the Summer Cup three times before , on the St. John Gray-trained mare Dancewiththedevil in 2011 and twice on the Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Sabina in 2015 and 2016.
He also has a fine chance in Saturday’s main supporting feature, the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans over 1600m on the Sean Tarry-trained Tin Pan Alley, who will be out to exact revenge on Jan Van Goyen, who beat him in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last weekend of last season.
Jan Van Goyen has not run since then, while Tin Pan Alley has beaten older horses in the Gr 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and won the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.
Gavin said, “Obviously Jan van Goyen is comming off a break, but he’s a very good horse. But Tin Pan Alley has done nothing wrong. It’s his third run now after a rest. I think it was a great win last time as he had to give the field 2kg and it was just after a downpour. Being drawn 12 on the Turffontein Standside 1400m course is very difficult, but he did it from that draw. Since his gelding (after last season) he has done so well.”
He said about some of his other rides, “I think Rachel Wall is up against it, it’s not going to be easy for her, but she’s also a filly who is improving. I’m hoping Barbaresco comes back to form, he did actually give Quantum Theory 8kg and a beating back in January over this 1160m trip and he is now only giving him 3,5kg. He came from stone last that day, so if he recaptures that sort of form he has a chance.”
He revealed, “I did ask for the other one (Pretty Persuasive) in Merryweather’s race.”
However, Muzi Yeni was aboard Pretty Persuasive last time and they have stuck with him.
Gavin must have a good chance on Magic Carpet Ride in the second race.
He is not riding in any of the last three races and quipped, “I’ll be celebrating.”
If he does pull off the Summer Cup it will be a second Summer Cup win for the Peter yard with Tony’s father Paul having won it with Summer Pudding in 2020.
The owners of The Equator, Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley, will have a lot to celebrate because they purchased him due to his stallion potential. His pedigree has improved since the purchase through his three-parts sister, the Frankel filly Lake Victoria, who has won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Irish 1000 Guineas. A Summer Cup win for The Equator will be a further boost.
