While a number of his colleagues have been in the hot seat in the past, Gavin Lerena seems to have mastered the art of riding the top-class 4yo Main Defender and produced the son of Pathfork for his fifth graded stakes victory at Turffontein on Saturday, grabbing the honours in the R500 000 TAB Gr2 Hawaii Stakes.
Main Defender and Gavin Lerena are home as Richard Fourie and Cosmic Speed chip away (Pic – JC Photos)
Lerena has been aboard the Tony Peter-trained Main Defender’s at last four runs, producing three win cheques and a second.
And the duo put the blot of the non-runner drama in the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes last time, well behind him. He got his muzzle stuck in the gate that day, with Cosmic Speed emerging victorious.
On Saturday Main Defender set the record straight in no uncertain terms.
Main Defender (15-10) raced in midfield early on before launching his bid 400m from home. From there, he kept finding to hold off Cosmic Speed (33-20) and win by half a length in a time of 86,72 secs.
The rest were well beaten, with Texas Red (20-1) three lengths back in third, and Kobus Roux’s Fire ‘N Flames (100-1) capping the quartet.
This was Lerena’s fourth winner of a terrific afternoon, that included a Grade 1 success.
Main Defender has won 10 of 18 starts, with his win on Saturday the fifth graded victory of his career.
Bred by Jagessar Ltd, Main Defender is out of the Judpot mare, Alessia.
The gelding was a R140 000 purchase from the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale, and Saturday’s win pushed his earnings to R2 965 875.
His sire Pathfork is a son of the outstanding stallion Distorted Humor, who had a big day on Saturday.
Pathfork mare Virginia Key is the dam of Saturday’s Gr1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa winner Tappan Street, while another Distorted Humor mare, Distorted Music, is responsible for Saturday’s Gr1 Arkansas Derby winner Sandman.
