Winning comeback for Lerena

Jack Milner

Champion jockey Gavin Lerena makes his return to racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday after a much-debated suspension and he can get out of the blocks with a bang when he gets aboard aptly named Meet The King.

This Justin Snaith-trained son of Master Of My Fate lines up in a Maiden Plate over 1400m and now having his third run after jumping from No 4 draw, looks ideally placed to notch up his first win.

He has been easy to back in both of his outing, going off at 66-1 on debut and at 25-1 in his second outing. However, his generous price last time, over 1250m at this course, belied his performance as he ran on well enough to finish a 2.05-length third behind Gold Giboski.

The winner looks to be reasonably decent so in what looks to be a weak field, and going over a little further his time, the three-year-old gelding looks the runner to beat.

Interestingly, a winner has come out of that Gold Giboski race and that was second placed Fox On The Run, who finished just a short head in front of Meet The King.

James Crawford’s charge came out over the same course and distance on 15 October to beat Fast Trained by 1.75 lengths.

Three-year-old colt, a son of Canford Cliffs, will make his third racecourse appearance in Race 8, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m.

The sire has been responsible for some of the fastest horses seen locally including Direct Hit and Tenango, but he looks capable of fathering a miler.

Fox On The Run has been relaxing off the pace over 1250m and even though he quickened impressively to win in a fast time second time out, he gave the impression he could easily go 1400m and further in time to come.

However, he will have to get the better of a Snaith runner once again in Pomp It Up, this time ridden by JP van der Merwe, as this colt was just as impressive when winning his second start over 1200m at HWB Kenilworth on 13 August.

Two winners have come from that form line and this three-year-old colt, who is by Danon Platina out of a Silvano mare and is related to Snaith-trained Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power, should love the extra distance.

Pomp It Up and Fox On The Run appear head and shoulders above the opposition and while Fox On The Run, with Richard Fourie up, jumps from a much better No 4 gate, Pomp It Up is drawn No 10. He is coming back from a break and is an unknown factor at this track but both these runners could have a race the Grade 1 Cape Guineas on their agendas.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Meet The King, 7 Eugenius, 6 Ignite The Fire, 1 Supposeyou'Veheard

Race 2: 1 Joueur De Flute, 7 Miami Summer, 8 Cedar Point, 5 Peace On You

Race 3: 4 Black Eagle, 2 Oliver, 1 Wing Walker, 6 Powerandtheglory

Race 4: 1 Calanque, 10 Miss William, 6 Clair De Lune, 7 Call Of The Karoo

Race 5: 3 Caribbean Gold, 4 Siriano, 2 Angel's Oasis, 5 Pushing Limits

Race 6: 3 Oncidium, 5 Beach Verse, 6 Apricity, 8 Act Of Grace

Race 7: 2 Red Beryl, 5 Diamond Bomber, 1 Eisteddfod, 9 Catch A Penny

Race 8: 10 Pomp It Up, 4 Fox On The Run, 1 Boogiefied, 5 Carriacou

BEST BET

Race 1: 4 Meet The King

VALUE BET

Race 6: 3 Oncidium

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1x7

BIPOT                          

R108

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 6, 10

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 3, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 10

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 3, 5

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5

Leg 7: 1, 4, 10

PICK 6

R1728

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 10

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 3, 5, 6

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 9

Leg 6: 1, 4, 10

JACKPOT 1

R192

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 10

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 9

JACKPOT 2

R144

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 3, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 10