Lerena to make a winning return at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Gavin Lerena will be back in the country after his much-hailed second place finish on One Stripe in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida, USA, last Saturday, and he will be looking to get back into the No 1 box as soon as possible.

His first ride at the Vaal on Thursday comes up in Race 3 where he is aboard Catfish for trainer Fanie Bronkhorst in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m on the Classic track.

This son of Danon Platina has run twice and Lerena has been aboard on both occasions, finishing second to two seemingly useful two-year-olds.

He has had valid excuses in both events but with the Bronkhorst stable showing some decent form of late, this could be his day.

The grey colt will be fitted with a compression hood and hopefully that will aid his winning chances.

The main threat is likely to come from Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Time Is Precious, who made a decent debut when third in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 800m at Turffontein on 7 December.

He didn’t jump all that well but was always up with the pace and finished a 1.30-length third behind Status Symbol. The Querari gelding would have come on quite substantially from that run and with Keagan de Melo in the irons, needs to be respected.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 6 El Zani, 3 Power Of Tiger, 1 Varachino's Champ, 5 Empress Wu

Race 2: 6 Secretary Bird, 7 Staggerwing, 3 No Drama, 9 Versatility

Race 3: 2 Catfish, 4 Time Is Precious, 7Perfect Sky, 1 Buffalo King Cody

Race 4: 3 Rock Music, 7 King Redoute, 9 Treasure State, 1 Scorpio

Race 5: 4 Karate Kid, 10 Miami Mountain, 6 African Pride, 5 Gimmethegoodlife

Race 6: 9 Storm Ahead, 10 Repetition, 1 Gimmeachoice, 2 The Playboy Bomber

Race 7: 5 Heavenly Good, 6 Carnelo, 3 Agoge, 4 Peace Treaty

Race 8: 5 African Prince, 8 Antonio Gaudi, 6 Cian The Conqueror, 9 Drivelikeamaster

BEST BET

Race 2: 6 Secretary Bird

VALUE BET

Race 5: 4 Karate Kid

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 2x4

BIPOT 

R192

Leg 1: 1, 3, 6

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 5: 4, 5, 6, 10

Leg 6: 9, 10

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R324

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 2, 4

Leg 3: 3, 7, 9

Leg 4: 4, 6, 10

Leg 5: 9, 10

Leg 6: 3, 5, 6

Leg 7: 5, 6, 8

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 10, 11

Leg 4: 1, 9, 10

Leg 5: 3, 5, 6

Leg 6: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9

JACKPOT 1

R180

Leg 1: 1, 3, 7, 9

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1, 9, 10

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R225

Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 9, 10

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 8, 9