Gavin Lerena and Craig Zackey finished third and fourth respectively on last season’s national jockeys’ championship log and both have hit the ground running this season. Lerena currently occupies the second spot in the standings with 33 wins, one ahead of Zackey’s haul of 32 in their pursuit of pace-setting Muzi Yeni (49) who is likely to see his lead whittled down on Thursday 10 October.
Yeni has four rides at the Vaal meeting, whereas rivals Lerena and Zackey have strong winning chances throughout the eight-race card, so their followers could find themselves smiling all the way to the bank as the good form of both riders looks set to continue.
Tony Peter-trained Cars As Big As Bars caught the eye on debut when staying on to finish second in a 1000m Work Riders maiden a fortnight ago. On that evidence, the step up to 1200m in Race 2 will stand the Pathfork-filly in good stead. She would’ve come on appreciably from that encouraging introduction so should strike and get the ball rolling for Lerena.
Trident King, another of Pathfork’s progeny, capitalised on a drop in the ratings to finish an improved third over 1450m last month on Turffontein’s Inside track. David Nieuwenhuizen’s inmate lines up in Race 4 over 1400m off an unchanged mark and needs only to produce a similar performance with Lerena in the irons to recapture the winning thread.
Bettors should take advantage of Zackey’s rides from Races 5 to 7.
Last-start maiden winner Red Legend has benefitted from the fitting of headgear and improved for the step up in distance to 1600m. He opened his account over 1600m on the Classic track under Zackey and Lucky Houdalakis’ runner is expected to continue his momentum stretching out to 2000m on his handicap debut in Race 5.
Promising Gimmethegreenlight-filly Lovegrass in Race 6 is another of Zackey’s mounts likely to improve over an extended trip. She goes 1200m for the first time and on pedigree should appreciate the step up from 1000m.
Brett Crawford-trained Pomodoro’s Jet maintained a good level of form and consistency in the Western Cape before finishing fifth in consecutive Grade 3 races late last season. He acquitted himself well in the 1800m Jubilee Handicap on Turffontein’s Standside track in June and followed that up with another creditable performance in the Durban July Consolation race over 2200m on 6 July.
He returns to the Highveld for his seasonal pipe-opener in Race 7 over 1400m and is reunited with Zackey, who has ridden the lightly raced Pomodoro-gelding to three victories in their five associations.
erena should have the last laugh and share riding spoils on the day with Zackey by steering the Houdalakis-trained filly Francilien to victory over 1200m as she returns to the scene of her last-start maiden success under the same rider for her handicap debut in Race 8.
This exciting daughter of What A Winter confirmed the promise of her debut second over the track and trip by beating re-opposing Palace Dancer (1kg better off) by a length on 21 August, and the latter has since franked that form by winning subsequently – also over the course and distance.
Clive Robinson
