Isingamoya breezes home under Lerena
E’S one of the strongest jockeys around,” was Mark Dixon’s verdict on Brandon Lerena as Isingamoya got the better of bottom weight Scrabble in the Capital Security Handicap at Scottsville yesterday.
“I don’t know why more people don’t use him.”
This was Isingamoya’s sixth win and Lerena’s first since his return to the saddle after “knee chip” surgery. The mare was back over her favourite course, five of her six wins coming at Scottsville, but this time with the addition of blinkers.
“I think the blinkers made all the difference,” reckoned Dixon.
“She was just not going through with it so I think the blinds did the trick. I avoided the Group 1 (SA Fillies Sprint) because I think she is just below that class and went with this race instead.”
It proved an inspired move although Lerena had to call on all his skill to get her home.
Hewitson
“She just needed it,” was Lyle Hewitson’s verdict to Tony Rivalland on second placed Scrabble. “Otherwise she would have gone past.”
Favourite She’s A Dream didn’t go on with her effort.
“There’s something wrong with her,” confided Dixon.
“She was going all right but when the boy let her down there was nothing to come.”
Hot favourite Jardin got the meeting off to a winning start as Vaughan Marshall’s runner kept his clean sheet, making it two-from-two.
The luckless Good Buddy pushed him to the line but MJ Byleveld was never in any trouble and Jardin won comfortably.
“Looking in the paddock there were a couple of nice horses so I got a little bit nervous.
“But he brought his work to the track,” said Marshall.
Jardin’s win was a good pointer to the next as JJ’s Captain franked the form.
Second to Jardin last time out, Sean Veale had Dennis Drier’s charge handy throughout and kicked away smartly.
Second placed Pickawinner made a cracking debut for Duncan Howells, racing green under apprentice Luke Ferraris, and his turn will not be long in coming. Howells had a change of luck in the opening leg of the Pick 6 where favourite Silver Raisin finally got her act together and cruised home under Muzi Yeni.
Sitting just of the pace in the early exchanges, Silver Raisin extended effortlessly to win as she liked from Lowan Denysschen’s runner Such A Rush.
“Muzi rode a confident race,” commented Howells.
“She is a bit tricky and has a mind of her own so I decided to put on the blinkers.
“But when I told the jockey she would hang right, she hung left,” he shrugged.
Trippi’s Girl
Scottsville is a horses-for-courses type track as shown by Trippi’s Girl who has recorded all three of her wins on this track.
She cut through the field late under Craig Zackey to score in the fourth for staunch stable supporter Hugo Hattingh for Glen Kotzen.
It’s been a frustrating wait between winners for Gary Rich but Connect Me, brought back to a sprint and racing in blinkers for the first time, came out on top in a tight finish under apprentice Jason Gates.
“She’s not the easiest filly but if you go back in her form she finished three lengths of Fiorella so she has ability.
Jason rode a nice race on her even though she was shifting about.”