Jockey Gavin Lerena has picked up some good rides for the meeting on the Vaal Classic Track on Thursday 12 December and he should be followed.
His good rides start in the second race with Pioneer Square for trainer Candice Dawson.
This Querari-colt has had just the three starts so far and has been runner-up in two of them including last time out when narrowly beaten by One More Star over Turffontein 1600m.
Lerena does not ride that often for Dawson so it is worth noting that he has ridden this three-year-old colt in all three of his starts.
A wide draw is not ideal at this track but Pioneer Square is ready to win.
Hat’s queen, his ride in Race 4, a FM80 handicap over 2000m, has won two of her last four starts with both of those wins at this course.
This will be the first time Lerena sits aboard the filly but she is not a difficult ride and he gets the huge bonus of having drawn pole position.
Trainer Stuart Pettigrew is another trainer that over the years has not taken advantage in giving rides to Lerena and in Race 5, Key Worker has had Lerena on her in her first four starts.
The Gimmethegreenlight-filly improved with each start and won in her fourth start.
She only beat a moderate filly called Perform that day but that was by an easy 3.50 lengths.
Returning from a break signs were out that she was going to need the run and a 2.5kg claiming apprentice was given the right.
Key Worker finished a well-beaten fourth and many lengths behind the promising Greaterix.
The step up to 2000m could be the key to getting the best out of this filly this time.
Clive Robinson
