Jack Milner
Gavin Lerena edged ahead in the race for this season's National Jockeys' Championship at Turffontein on Thursday with a treble and that gave him a one-win lead over current champion jockey Richard Fourie.
Fourie pulled ahead again with a double at Fairview on Friday but the momentum could well return Lerena’s way at Turffontein on Saturday when he has some good rides while Fourie will be having a day of rest.
Racing is on the Standside track and Lerena is carded to ride in eight of the nine-races on the card.
Roy Magner-trained Stone Of Scone should set the tone for the afternoon under Lerena in Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1160m.
This Master Of My Fate filly improved with an introductory outing under her belt to finish second in open company and against male opposition over the same track and trip earlier this month.
She finished just 1.40 lengths behind a short-priced two-year-old colt Palace Prince and needs only to repeat that performance to go one better in the opener.
Season's Greetings is another who could add to the Lerena tally when she lines up in Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1160m. This daughter of Potala Palace won't need to improve much on her last-start course-and-distance third under the same rider to open her account.
Clinton Binda's inmate raced prominently throughout last time before being outrun late, finishing 1.50 lengths off the winner. It is worth noting that the form of that race was given a significant boost by the subsequent success of the runner-up, Mamlambo.
Those two are likely to go off at short prices but there could be better value on a Lerena ride when he climbs aboard Ensuing in Race 9, a MR 70 Handicap over 1160m. Other than his superb jockeyship, another knack Lerena, or his agent, has is to pick the right horse at the right time and this could well be the case with Ensuing.
The son of William Longsword has had his merit as high as 95 and he raced against the likes of Gladatorian, Royal Victory and Selukwe, all of whom will be lining up next Saturday in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
However, his merit rating has fallen significantly and last time, racing off a rating of 78, he put in a decent enough effort to finish a 2.65-length seventh behind Falcon Strike over 1200m at the Vaal.
Although it was an improved performance, it was enough to see the handicappers reduce his merit rating another two points.
Lerena took the ride last time and he saw enough to choose to ride the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner again.
The average merit rating in this event is a lowly 64, six points less than in his last race.
Jack Milner's selections
Race 1: 9 Stone Of Scone, 3 Chantilly Dream, 8 Sistership, 12 Winter Belle
Race 2: 8 Detailed Forecast, 4 Jabari Thimba, 3 Gavius Maximus, 7 The Last Duke,
Race 3: 10 Fiery Rose, 9 Titan Of The Turf, 3 Green Cherry, 4 Nepal Cashmere
Race 4: 10 Season's Greetings, 13 Wise Counsel, 7 Master's Lady, 11 Surreal Song
Race 5: 3 Troppo Veloce, 4 Rodeo Drive, 1 Cosmic Star, 6 Chieftain
Race 6: 8 Rafa Bay, 4 John Wick, 2 Bourbon Reserve, 7 Hemisphere
Race 7: 4 Miss Hannigan, 8 Glamorous Lady, 1 Francine, 2 Ceuta
Race 8: 1 Boom Boom, 2 Princess Ilaria, 7 Quantum, 8 Cape Saffron
Race 9: 1 Ensuing, 7 Phala Millions, 2 Tokyo Medaglia, 11 Bregardt
BEST BET
Race 3: 10 Fiery Rose
VALUE BET
Race 5: 3 Troppo Veloce
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 9x10
BIPOT
R96
Leg 1: 3, 4, 8
Leg 2: 10
Leg 3: 10, 13
Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6
Leg 5: 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R162
Leg 1: 10
Leg 2: 10, 13
Leg 3: 1, 3, 4
Leg 4: 8
Leg 5: 1, 4, 8
Leg 6: 1, 2, 7
Leg 7: 1, 2, 7
PICK 6
R2250
Leg 1: 7, 10, 13
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 4, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 5: 1, 2, 7
Leg 6: 1, 2, 6, 7, 11
JACKPOT 1
R150
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 4: 1, 2, 7
JACKPOT 2
R150
Leg 1: 4, 8
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 7, 11