Gavin Lerena has been in devastating form this month at the time of writing had already banked 11 winners.
Interestingly, log leader Richard Fourie has ridden 18 winners while Muzi Yeni also has 11 wins.
However, while Fourie’s 18 successes have comes off 87 rides and Yeni’s 11 triumphs have taken 79 rides, Lerena has taken just 31 rides to reach 11 wins.
That is a percentage of 35.48 against 20.69 for Fourie and 13.92 for Yeni.
Lerena’s hot run can continue at the Vaal on Tuesday when he has picked up six rides on the eight-race card.
He can get straight out of the blocks in the opening event where he rides Far Reaching for trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m for fillies on the Classic track.
This daughter of Vercingetorix was well supported on debut to go off favourite at 5-4 but found one too good in Pinatubo.
That has turned out to be a pretty strong form line in that two winners from two runs have already come out of it.
She does face some decent opposition, in particular Kindred Heart, who has two seconds and two thirds in her four runs, Far Reaching should come of strongly from her debut performance and looks the runner to beat.
While Enchanting Lady has been costly to follow, Lerena could finally end a frustrating run of places in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1000m, aboard Fanie Bronkhorst’s runner.
The daughter of William Longsword has raced 11 times for two seconds and four thirds, but she is not taking on the strongest of fields and is expected to contest the finish.
However, Lerena’s best ride on the day probably comes up on Race 8, a MR 70 Handicap over 1600m, where he rides Viva De Janeiro, once again for Bronkhorst.
This four-year-old Oratorio gelding runs particularly well for Lerena who has ridden him four times for two win and a second. That is particularly relevant as the Viva De Janeiro has only win twice but of them with Lerena aboard.
Lerena had not been aboard for quite a while when he again picked up the ride to runs back when he ran out a very comfortable 4.75-length winner.
A work rider rode his last time when perhaps a slightly unlucky second behind Volte Face after losing ground at the start. But with Lerena back in the irons again Viva De Janeiro looks hot on the trail of his third career win.
Clive Robinson
