Jockey Gavin Lerena has become a firm favourite with the betting public having well and truly established himself among the top 10 riders in the country for several seasons over the last decade.
His current season haul of winners is bettered only by record-chasing log-leader Richard Fourie, who has ridden almost twice the number of runners, and Muzi Yeni whose total number of rides this campaign is more than 500 of that of Lerena’s.
Yet only Fourie (22.7%) has a better Win strike-rate than Lerena who boasts a respectable 19.6% winners-to-rides ratio.
On the Highveld Lerena is peerless – he is the only rider in the jurisdiction to have ridden more than 100 winners and at a healthy 22.3% strike-rate. And that trend will likely continue with the eight-race card on the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday 7 May, as Lerena’s book of rides includes four mounts with strong winning claims.
Roy Magner-trained Querari three-year-old Theres A Light is the first of that quartet in Race 2 over 1200m. Lerena rode this gelding over 1400m two starts back and was only touched off in the finish on Turffontein’s Standside track. Theres A Light failed to build on that performance when only fourth over 1450m on the Inside track under Fourie last time but Magner’s charge is unlikely to make any mistake with Lerena reunited from stall No 6.
Trainer Fanie Bronkhorst and Lerena team up in Race 4 with four-year-old gelding Viva De Janeiro and a trip to the winners’ enclosure beckons for this son of Oratorio. Both of his career wins have been achieved under Lerena who keeps faith with Viva De Janeiro, despite a lacklustre performance over 1600m last time.
The step up to 1800m for the first time is an unknown but – on pedigree, anyway – shouldn’t hold any fears.
Last-start maiden winner Enchanting Lady has to concede weight to her opposition in Race 7 over 1200m but, in a moderate field that lacks genuine depth or the presence of an unexposed rival, this three-year-old daughter of William Longsword looks to have been found an ideal opportunity to double her tally.
Lerena booted home Enchanting Lady to her 1000m maiden victory just a fortnight ago and the extra 200m should be well within her reach on the evidence of that recent success. A favourable No 3 barrier is a bonus.
As is the case with Viva De Janeiro earlier, Bridget Stidolph-trained veteran mare Samoa runs her best races with Lerena on her back. This tough-as-teak nine-year-old daughter of Global One has registered four of her seven career wins with Lerena at the helm, which bodes well for her chances when the pair reunite in Race 8 over 1000m.
Samoa has maintained her form at a higher level recently and should be rewarded for her consistency, given that this represents a drop in class on which Stidolph’s stable stalwart ought to capitalise.
Clive Robinson
