Lerena’s back and he means business!
Ryan Munger to keep booting home winners
Former champion jockey Gavin Lerena was forced to sit on the sidelines after a nasty fall from Hakeem in the Derby Trial left him with a broken right shoulder blade and collar bone earlier in the year. The good news for his legions of fans – myself included – is that he is expected to make a triumphant return to competitive race riding today, courtesy of two mounts with winning chances, newcomer Ultra Boost (Race 1) and Lady Jackson (Race 3), both for his long-time collaborator trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren. The former could be absolutely anything, so be wary. It is advised you go the TAB Eachway route in that event. Lady Jackson, on the other hand, appears very hard to beat when she lines up in the third, a three-year-old fillies’ Maiden Plate over 1000m on the Classic track. Not only does she top the best-weighted column, but she easily has the best form in this 10-horse field having competed five times for a fifth, a fourth and three consecutive third place finishes against tough crowds. Interestingly, each of those form lines boast winners, which only strengthens her case. Today’s Pick 6 looks catchable so build a bit of float for that permutation by indulging in an opening double that features Big Blue Marble (Race 1) and Sail For Joy (Race 2). The jockey-trainer combination of Aldo Domeyer and stepmother Ashley Fortune team up for the first time this season, but history clearly proves that you make money backing them. They had a 23.26% win strike rate last season, bagging 10 winners and 14 places from 41 runs, and should resume winning ways. Big Blue Marble was backed into 1810 favourite on debut. But the R850 000 Var gelding fell victim to greenness and was restless in running. In the end, he was only beaten a narrow 0.20 lengths by Prince Jordan over this minimum trip – a run full of merit considering he gave the winner 3kg. Jockey Ryan Munger was recently appointed stable jockey to the top-tier Glen Kotzen yard and will now be based in Cape Town. He should prove his worth by riding his 16th winner of the season when Fabian Habib-trained Sail For Joy lines up in Race 2, a MR 90 Handicap over the minimum trip. This horse is as honest as the day is long and was extremely unlucky in his latest when denied the opportunity to register a hat-trick, beaten a tight 0.20 lengths into second by African Ruler. In Sail For Joy’s defence, he was returning from a layoff and was drawn wide, so the fact that he got close to the winner is testament to class. For the Trifecta, box Habib’s charge with Torre Del Oro, sixth in a tough Pinnacle Stakes last time out, and Alpine Glacier, who was in desperate need of a run following a two-month break last time but still finished just 2.50 lengths behind the former. S’manga “Bling” Khumalo should score aboard Sean Tarry-trained Saints Alive in Race 4, an FM Assessment Plate over 1600m, despite the fact this daughter of Elusive Fort may be ring-rusty following a 61-day layoff.