Lerena gives a masterclass
FOR a jockey, no matter a champion or a lesser light, the battle against the scale is often more intense that a close finish and for those riders at the top end, life can be a living hell.
So those with a disciplined mindset regarding their diet deserve the utmost admiration.
Brandon Lerena is a rider who fights a constant battle with the flashing digits registered by the Clerk of Scales but given the ride he gave the Mark Dixon-trained Diamante in the eighth at Greyville yesterday, the lack of a square meal would have been well worth it for both Lerena and Dixon.
The clique, ‘only fire when you see the whites of their eyes’ is appropriate here.
Lerena
In front early, Lerena let all challenge in the straight and for a brief second looked as if he was headed for the backdoor as all threatened to swamp him.
But it takes a talent with a steely nerve to know just how much is left under him. Lerena let them all challenge but then squeezed extra out of his mount to come back from a seemingly desperate position.
It was an exhibition of riding out of the top drawer, seldom appreciated by those that care only for the numbers in the frame.
Savuti is one of the most scenic and popular destinations in Botswana but that will have been far from the minds of those punters who took on the favourite Brighteyebushytail. Sean Veale turned up the wick on Brett Crawford’s charge passing behind the Drill Hall in the sixth, and on a course that was racing quick, he was always in control and going to the line unchallenged.
Having only his second local start, Savuti had obviously come on from this debut effort and won with authority.
The danger light flickered red from the jump for the favourite. Sluggish out of the gate, he was bustled for position but was never travelling well.
He raced like he had never seen a racecourse and only in the straight got going when the contest was over - although not soon enough for the majority of PA punters. But on the evidence of yesterday’s performance, you write him off at your peril. It was a good day for prolific owner Fred Crabbia who recorded a double.
Muzi Yeni, who now plies his trade on the Highveld, paid for his airfare as Hidden Thought built on her recent improvement to run out an easy winner of the opening leg of the Pick 6.
Yeni took the initiative early and Hidden Thought kept rolling to win comfortably.
Crabbia’s second win was in complete contrast.
Miss Milanna, jumping from a wide draw, was well handled by Anthony Delpech and looked to be headed for a fairly comfortable win in the seventh.
Sorceress
However, Sorceress, ridden with a lot of patience by Sherman Brown from a box one outside of Miss Milanna, finished like a rocket but the line came a jump too soon, going down a nostril.
Dean Kannemeyer’s local yard is in top form after a spell in the doldrums and his KZN satellite operation is in the capable hands of Barbara Badenhorst.
Sean Veale’s early forward move on Savuti may well have come as a result of Storm Ruler’s victory in the opening leg of the Jackpot.
Storm Ruler
Champion KZN apprentice for the past two years, Eric Ngwane, made an even earlier move on the Sean Tarry-trained Storm Ruler in the 1 800m event, taking over early and making most of the running.
In truth it was something of an armchair ride as Ngwane had little more to do in the dash for home other than punch out for the line as any challenges failed to materialise.