Gavin Lerena shattered Muzi Yeni’s dream of a winning comeback and became only the second South African jockey to reach the 100 winner mark this season when he booted Gregarious home in the opener at the Vaal on Thursday.
Gavin Lerena drives Gregarious home to beat a determined Muzi Yeni on Dylan’s Champ (Pic – JC Photos)
Craig Zackey achieved the century mark just under a week earlier at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, and it was Lerena’s turn at the meeting switched from Turffontein.
Riding Tony Peter’s only runner of the afternoon, former SA Champion jockey Lerena rode a beautifully balanced race on the Vercingetorix filly, who got the better of the more experienced gelding Dylan’s Champ, who enjoyed a determined driving from Muzi Yeni.
Yeni has been off for two months since breaking his clavicle when coming off Back In Business in the Allied Steelrode Onamission Gr2 Charity Mile.
Declaring the Vaal track to be in ‘top-class’ condition, Lerena is now just 3 winners behind log-leader Craig Zackey, and has a top-class win strike-rate of close on 26% – second only to Piere Strydom’s 28,6%.
Lerena, who has over 2500 career winners to his name, made it winner 101 when Call Me Master won the second race for Robbie Sage, and registered a quick hat-trick with Two OClock High winning the third for trainer Stuart Pettigrew.
