Lerena to close the gap at Turffontein

Jack Milner

Bettors have been starved of local racing over the past three days so everybody will be delighted to see racing return at Turffontein on Thursday.

If punters will be happy, so will trainers and jockeys as their income is based on race meeting taking place.

One person who will be particularly delighted is title-chasing Gavin Lerena who has lost some ground on his two rivals – Craig Zackey and Richard Fourie. Champion jockey Fourie moved into second place following three productive meeting last week, two in the Western Cape and one at Fairview, in which he won 12 races.

So, going into Thursday meeting on the Inside track, Zackey has ridden 167 winners, Fourie is on 159 and Lerena on 155.

However, with his two rivals not participating, Lerena could make up quite a lot of the deficit with some really good rides at Turffontein and has a massive chance of picking up the first three races on the card.

The two baby races are likely to go the way of Lerena, who rides Whispering Death (Race 1) and Emerald Forge (Race 2) for the powerful Mike and Mathew de Kock outfit.

Both De Kock runners finished second on debut and will be hard to beat with natural improvement expected.

Danon Platina colt Whispering Death got going late - once the penny had dropped - to fill the runner-up berth over 1400m on the Standside track last month. He would have come on appreciably with the benefit of that experience and need not improve much to go one better in the opener over 1450m.

Stablemate Emerald Forge was also a fast-finishing second on debut. She jumped odds-on favourite that day but blew her chances at the start before making eye-catching late headway over 1160m. On that evidence, the step up to 1450m will be more to her liking so she should reward followers with a victory at the second attempt.

Candice Dawson-trained Desert Cloud has filled the runner-up berth in each of her two appearances, both over 1000m with Lerena aboard. She returns from a two-month layoff in Race 3 and it will likely be a case of third time lucky for the well-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly with the step up to 1200m.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Whispering Death, 5 Mighty Eagle, 2 Golden Warrior, 4 Matroosberg

Race 2: 2 Emerald Forge, 9 Vipingo, 3 Ethical, 4 Midnight Miracle

Race 3: 10 Desert Cloud, 1 Espinoza, 9 Amanatto, 8 Ring A Ling

Race 4: 2 Tana Maree, 1 Gimme A Storm, 10 Winds Of Grace, 8 Heavyliesthecrown

Race 5: 3 Huehuetenango, 12 Instant Attraction, 6 Umhlanga, 1 Royal Miracle

Race 6: 1 Taxi To The Moon, 6 Rondebosch, 3 Yamadori, 4 Chieftain

Race 7: 4 Dark Silver, 5 High Queue, 1 Diesel's Shadow, 11 Solar Sail

Race 8: 9 Carnelo, 8 Whispers Of War, 7 After Hours, 3 Ombudsman

BEST BET

Race 1: 7 Whispering Death

VALUE BET

Race 8: 9 Carnelo

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2x9

BIPOT

R48

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 10

Leg 5: 1, 3, 6, 12

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 10

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 3, 6, 12

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 4, 5

Leg 7: 7, 8, 9

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 1, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 10

Leg 3: 1, 3, 6, 12

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 6: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 2, 10

Leg 2: 1, 3, 6, 12

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 8

JACKPOT 2

R400

Leg 1: 1, 3, 6, 12

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 8

Leg 4: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9