Lerena lines up top Cup day
FORMER CHAMPION JOCKEY HAS 10 RIDES AND FANCIES ALL OF THEM
Brazuca is ‘in the zone’, but the big race is very open.
There is barely a race on the Summer Cup Day programme at Turffontein on Saturday where jockey Gavin Lerena does not have an outstanding chance of taking top honours.
He does not have rides in two of the 12 races on the card and is very happy with every one of his mounts.
His ride in the big race of the day, the R2-million Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup (Grade 1) over 2000m, is Brazuca for trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and he is bullish about his chances in a race that promises to provide one of the most exciting finishes of the season. The race is that open.
Australian-bred Brazuca is a six-time winner and he trounced one of the ante-post favourites for the big race, Abashiri, in a 1600m race on the Inside track last time out.
“This is a great field,” said Lerena. “It’s a very open race. But Brazuca is doing very well at home. This horse is in the zone and I’m very impressed.”
He does admit that Brazuca is not the easiest of individuals to read. “He’s the type of horse that everything has to go smoothly for him. I’m looking to give him a very smooth, confident ride. “Unfortunately, I pulled No 14 draw and will have my work cut out, but I’ll have to just ride him as the race pans out.
“They could end up going very slowly, but he’ll be wherever he wants to be and I’ll play it by ear from there.”
Known to be a fair tipster, when asked his selections, he responded: “Obviously I’d like Brazuca to win, so I’m going for him as my first tip. Then Banner Hill, Pagoda and Master Switch.
“If I could have made the weight, I would also have liked to ride Banner Hill. The way he’s improved on the Highveld has impressed me. He’ll enjoy the distance, judging on the way he ran the ‘mile’ on the Inside track behind Brazuca last time. He had everything against him and ran a very good third.
“Pagoda’s second to Al Sahem at level weights in the SA Derby must bring him into contention, especially with just 52.5kg now. He’s won over this course and distance and if he’s well on the day he’s a big runner.
“Master Switch is very well weighted and French Navy ran a great race in the Charity Mile. He looked very big that day and will strip a fitter horse. He’s also got to have a chance.”
Possibly Lerena’s most exciting ride is Pietro Mascagni in the main supporting feature, the R500,000 Investec Dingaans (Grade 2) over 1600m.
Pietro Mascagni is one of five horses from the powerful stable of Mike de Kock, which lodged a merit rating appeal to ensure the Silvano colt got into the race, with assistant Mathew de Kock saying: “There is only one Dingaans.”
Pietro Mascagni won his debut in good style over 1160m at Turffontein last month with Anthony Delpech in the saddle and will be racing over further here, but Lerena has ridden him in work.
“He’s a beautiful, big, strong horse,” he said. “He’s obviously got to mature a lot still, but his maiden win was very impressive. He had no right to win that race because he was left at the start, raced greenly and with 300m to go had no chance. But he got his head down when it mattered. He’ll definitely stay and I’m really hoping I’m on the right one.”
De Kock has the day’s banker in the R400,000 Ipi Tombe Challenge (Grade 2) over 1600m in the form of Nother Russia, the mount of Craig Zackey, with Lerena on She’s A Giver for Janse van Vuuren.
“I think we’ll all battle to beat Nother Russia and Bella Sonata is also a top-class mare who fluffed her lines last time but must be the unluckiest filly in the world because she never gets a draw.
“She’s A Giver has been plagued by problems but is a top filly – look at her second to Bela-Bela in the Garden Province Stakes and you can’t doubt that. She hated the soft conditions last time – she was done by the 600m. She seems to be doing better at home, so is definitely one for the places.”
The R275,000 Hi-Fi Corporation Fillies Mile (Grade 3) is the fillies’ equivalent of the Dingaans and Lerena’s mount Folk Dance is likely to be right up at the top of bookmakers’ boards.
The Paul Peter-trained Tiger Ridge filly has three wins and two places from wide draws to show from her five career starts and she will be ultra-competitive in this race. Lerena gives her a chance, but is wary of the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained San Fermin, who won her debut by an impressive seven lengths.
“She won at an absolute canter and could be anything,” he said.
He also has a big winning chance on Grant Maroun-trained Wrecking Ball in the EFC Worldwide Magnolia Handicap (Grade 3) over 1160m, but warns: “She’s got a big weight to shoulder and may be a better 1000m horse. That said, she’s a very honest filly and always gives her best and she is carrying top weight for a reason!”
He rides Janse van Vuuren’s highly regarded Doosra, who beat Kings Archer over 1400m last time out, and believes stable companion Irish Pride is also a huge runner in Race 10.
Many experts have doubts about Doosra’s ability to get the tough 1600m, but Lerena said: “I think Kings Archer dug his toes in over the last 100m of their last race, which made Doosra’s run look a little bit better. But I think he’s definitely going to get the ‘mile’ now and I’ve got the draw. Obviously top weight is a concern.
“Irish Pride beat Rafeef early this year and my impression is Doosra wouldn’t beat that one. But he’s got the rating and maybe the handicappers have it right.”
He also has winning chances on Ensemble (Race 1) for Candice Dawson, Schippers (Race 2) for Geoff Woodruff and Janse van Vuuren-trained Empress Valley (Race 12).