Lerena to take the lead from Yeni

Danie Toerien

Thursday is most probably the day that Gavin Lerena will overtake Muzi Yeni in the race to become champion jockey this season.

Yeni has been very vocal about his ambition to finally be crowned champion jockey, and he started off the season like a man possessed, riding 68 winners in the first three months of the campaign.

A serious fall, however, has resulted in the amicable jockey, who leads the title race, being sidelined since the beginning of the month.

In that time, Lerena has gradually nibbled away at Yeni’s lead and he goes into today’s eight-race meeting at Turffontein just a solitary win behind Yeni.

Lerena has two excellent opportunities today to first draw level with Yeni, and then to take the lead. And in the world of racing, a soft lead is not relinquished easily.

Lerena’s best rides come up in races 3 and 6, where he rides Vibe SA and Dimako’s Jet respectively.

Vibe SA lines up in a Maiden Plate over 1200m on the Inside track. Having finished runner-up in six of his eight career outings, it would be a cliché to say this gelding trained by Tony Peter is overdue.

On all six those occasions, he was beaten less than a length. His luck is bound to change, and that change should come on Thursday as the majority of the field he faces are either newcomers or runners with very little experience. He has also been heavily backed, so owe his followers a return on their investment.

In Race 6, a MR 74 Handicap over 1800m, the Weichong Marwing-trained Dimako’s Jet looks set to score a second career win.

This filly has placed in three of four her four runs over the distance, so a win will be a well-deserved reward for her consistency.

Selections:

Race 1: 9 Mist In Ireland, 4, Khichdi, 5, Devilishlygorgeous, 10Prairie Spring

Race 2: 1 Safe Space, 2 Potberrie, 4 Play With Fire, 5 Whispers Of War

Race 3: 1 Vibe SA, 7 Lloyd Wright, 4 Casus Belli, 6 Letona

Race 4: 2 Montana Lights, 5 Intro, 4 Milo's Millionaire, 1 Kalikaa

Race 5: 2 Clear The Path, 7 Splashlanding, 3 The Merciful, 6 Plum Blossom

Race 6: 4 Dimako's Jet, 5 The Octagon, 2 Leao Alado, 1 Mount Etna

Race 7: 1 Valieva, 4 Saigon Suzie, 2 Ride On, 5 Lady Of Memphis

Race 8: 6 Commander Of All, 1 His Lordship, 3 Kotinos, 4 Lava Fire