Top jocks Gavin Lerena and Piere Strydom will likely dominate the next midweek Highveld fixture at Turffontein on Thursday 23 January and head to Cape Town for the weekend’s big Met meeting brimming with confidence.
Lerena has hit the ground running this season, booting home winners with regularity across the country. At the time of writing, his haul of 111 winners this season is just five shy of the mark set by log-leading Craig Zackey, whose 116 wins have come from 221 more rides.
Veteran Strydom, who only recently returned to the saddle after a nasty New Year’s Day fall, has kept his powder dry but boasts impressive statistics too. Striker has ridden 44 winners from 154 rides this campaign (since 1 August) at a healthy rate of 29%, the highest among the Top 20 jockeys.
Strydom marked his comeback from the injury-enforced layoff with two wins and two narrowly beaten seconds from four rides at last Thursday’s Vaal meeting, and his good form should continue with a double on Turffontein’s Standside track.
Dylan’s Champ should find the target for Striker in Race 2 over 1600m and the Fabian Habib-trained three-year-old wouldn’t be doing so out of turn. This Rafeef gelding has finished second in four consecutive outings, once under Strydom over 1600m on the straight Vaal course three starts back. Chase Maujean and Muzi Yeni have ridden Dylan’s Champ in subsequent starts.
With Strydom back aboard, a wide 12 draw holds no fears for Dylan’s Champ who has sufficient gate speed to overcome his awkward starting berth and find the lead from where his veteran rider can dictate and showcase his mastery of race pace.
Strydom teams up with old ally Willow Express in Race 8 and their reunion should bring success in the Lucky Last for trainer Sean Tarry whose seven-year-old grey gelding has scored in both appearances with Striker aboard.
Lerena, who has been in the headlines recently for his back-to-back Grade 1-winning feats on rising star One Stripe, should head to Cape Town after taking a chunk out of Zackey’s lead atop the National Log standings.
He continues his partnership with improving last-start winner Twelve Oclock High in Race 3 over 1600m and with any improvement over the extended distance, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge should follow up his recent 1450m Vaal Classic victory with a third win from his last four starts – each with Lerena in the irons.
Lerena has picked up the ride on progressive Destiny Of Fire for Mike de Kock in Race 5 over 1600m and this Master Of My Fate filly is hard to oppose in what looks a very winnable contest. She is a lot better than rated and should give weight and a beating to her seven rivals.
Habib-trained Confederate is another plum ride for Lerena and this Fire Away gelding should be rewarded for his consistency with a third career victory in Race 6, also over 1600m.
Clive Robinson
