With Muzi Yeni enduring a rare frustrating win drought at the Vaal on Thursday, the newly energized lean and mean Gavin Lerena signalled his championship intentions with a terrific four-timer for four different yards to take his season tally to 18, as the sun set on the first month of the new term.
At the start of this season, leading bookmakers Hollywoodbets dangled a golden carrot of a R1 million cash incentive for the first South African rider to surpass the 25 year old record of 334 winners in a season, set by Anthony Delpech.
The 334 winner mark was established by the former multiple national champion when he shattered Piere Strydom’s record in the 1998/1999 season.
The 334 Delpech Jockey Challenge powered by Hollywoodbets culminates on 31 July 2024, and while it’s a tough target, the massive incentive has undoubtedly created unprecedented hype in the championship.
The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein-sponsored Gavin Lerena (18 wins at a 19,15% win strike-rate), is on joint second place on the national log alongside Winning Form rider Richard Fourie (17,14% win strike-rate).
Fourie, who took a ten day break at the beginning of the month, is quoted at 5-10 with Hollywoodbets to lift the national title, with Lerena at 5-1 and Muzi Yeni at 6-1.
Lerena recently declared his intention to chase the magical marker and confirmed that he would be prepared to travel to Durban, Cape Town and Gqerberha with the right support.
Lerena’s four-timer was made up of Daring Act (Robyn Klaasen), Opera Glass (Stephen Moffatt), Primrose Path (Fanie Bronkhorst) and Chocolate Bomb (Johan Janse van Vuuren).
“Support is support, but you need healthy support. You need to travel with chances. So I am hoping to try and form some relationships in the other centres,” he said, and will be pleased that his four-timer on Thursday will have a few trainers thinking that there may be life in the winner’s enclosure beyond the hard-knocking Yeni and Fourie.
Four on the board! Gavin Lerena salutes as Chocolate Bomb returns to the winner’s enclosure to cap a four-timer at the Vaal (Pic – JC Photos)
Lerena registered 108 wins around SA last season, at a strike rate of 16.85% for 6th place on the national log.
Leader Muzi Yeni rode three winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday to take his tally to 29 (21,32% win strike-rate) at the top of the log. If the Stone-Stamcor sponsored rider maintains his opening month winner rate, he could realistically beat the Delpech target with some room to spare. But it can only get tougher!
Fourie only had one ride for the powerful Snaith yard at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday, but found two good winners for the Noordhoek-based Mike Stewart.
A man worth watching is the relative junior in the national top quartet, Philasande Mxoli, who booted Eiffel Tower home for St John Gray to take his total to 12 winners. He boasts the highest win strike-rate of the top four at 21,40%. Hollywoodbets have him at 125-1 to lift the national title.
Yeni and Fourie are both in action at Fairview on Friday. Include them both in all bets!
