Lerena looks the Cats Pajamas at Greyville

Gavin Lerena has sent a clear message that he is looking for a second champion jockeys’ title and at the time of writing he leads the field with 92 wins, four clear of Craig Zack11 ahead of current champion Richard Fourie.

Lerena has chances to increase his lead at Friday’s meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville and his two best opportunities looks to be Cats Pajamas and World Of Our Own.

Cats Pajamas impressed the last two times he raced at Greyville, most notably how he beat Luhamba Phambili with a powerful surge in his penultimate. The latter went on to beat one of the Cape’s top speedsters, Lion Rampart, not long ago, and certainly Frank Robinson’s Rafeef-gelding looks headed for the top himself.

The highly regarded runner was taken to the Highveld to contest the Grade 3 Merchants recently but not only did conditions not suit horses coming off the pace in sprints, he also suffered a minor injury.

He is certainly better than his merit rating of 110 and back at his favourite course jaunt from gate two he should impress again.

Chocolate Soldier, himself a decent individual in the making, looks a lively threat in Race 5, a MR 108 Handicap over 1000m. He has the better draw in gate No 1 but while he has been holding form, he hasn’t been as impressive as Cats Pajamas.

He is, however, 3kg better off with the latter for a 3.25-length beating at Greyville and rates the main threat.

If World Of Our Own had drawn as well as Cats Pajamas in Race 4, he would have been selected as Lerena’s best of the day. But he has drawn in gate No 7 in this Maiden Plate over 1600m and while that doesn’t look an insurmountable challenge, he is a horse that has a tendency to hang inwards.

Lerena, though, is not a past South African champion for nothing and he can be expected to give the bay gelding the handling that he needs.

In all three of his starts, World Of Our Own has been unlucky. Granted he may not have won first time out as he lost ground and came from far back, but the Alyson Wright charge could have won either of his next two with fast finishes had he run straight.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Jeanne Darc, 3 Jumpthegreenlight, 5 Princess Goldie, 1 Bao La

Race 2: 4 Santiago's Pride, 1 I Am Classy, 6 Fire Force, 8 Star Man

Race 3: 7 Lady My Lady, 1 Bel Giocatore, 5 Gale Force Nine, 4 The Mightiest

Race 4: 7 World Of Our Own, 4 Uzwano, 8 Green Mile, 9 The Wolf

Race 5: 2 Cats Pajamas, 1 Chocolate Soldier, 4 No Filter, 3 Lunarcam

Race 6: 7 Rhythm, 2 Kimball O'Hara, 3 Heaven's Will, 1 Whispers Of War

Race 7: 2 African Skyline, 1 Perilla, 4 Queue Wing, 7 Mr Master Starter

Race 8: 2 Aspoestertjie, 6 Purple Flower, 9 Hot Lava, 4 The Queen Bee

BEST BET

Race 2 No 4 Santiago's Pride

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 2 African Skyline

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 4x7

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 3, 5, 7

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 5, 7

Leg 4: 4, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 7

Leg 3: 4, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4

Leg 7: 2, 4, 6, 8

PICK 6

R1920

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5, 7

Leg 2: 4, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9

JACKPOT 1

R96

Leg 1: 4, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 6, 9