ANOTHER THREE WINNERS FOR LERENA

Former champion jockey has a very good week

Jockey Gavin Lerena continued his run of his good form on Saturday, with three winners at Turffontein adding to the seven he’d ridden earlier in the week.

In the process, he won the main event, Race 7, The R135 000 Allez France Stakes (NonBlack Type), aboard Patchit Up Baby.

This win did not come without controversy as the five-year-old mare caused interference to a couple of other runners.

The well-weighted Patchit Up Baby was in good form coming into the race and with part-owner Anton Proctor making his way upcountry from Kwa-Zulu Natal all the indications were that she would run a big race.

Lerena surprisingly had the mare at the back of the field in the early running and her supporters must have been biting their tongues.

Shortly after turning into the home straight, Lerena made his move and she quickly made up the seven-length deficit. But, at the same time, she hung in and caused trouble to a few runners, particularly second favourite Cidada. The hanging in also seemed to intimidate second-placed Silver Stripe but, in the end, Patchit Up Baby was an easy winner and no objection hooter sounded.

If this race had followed rules in place in France she may well have been disqualified.

Earlier on the card, Lerena was successful on Brazuca in Race 2 and Street Gaze in Race 5.

Brazuca was a shortpriced favourite to win but there was also big betting support for wellweighted Judpot filly Polyphonic.

The Mike Azzie trained Arctica cut out the early running with Brazuca fighting for his head early in second place and Polyphonic at the back of the field. Brazuca was quick to challenge in the short straight but was tackled by Racethe greenlight, who looked dangerous and was not far back at the line.

Brazuca did enough to win and the addition of blinkers might be what the Australian import needs to pick up some graded race success.

Australian filly Street Gaze had shown promise on her debut and was heavily supported to win Race 5, which she did most comfortably.

Lerena rode her out at the 200m mark to secure victory and then eased up at the finish as she was well clear of her opposition.