Lerena handed a Snaith half-dozen

Jack Milner

It might be the start of a new season and one would not be surprised to see some of the leading trainers and jockeys taking some time off after a strenuous winter season in KwaZulu-Natal. But it remains business as usual for champion trainer Justin Snaith who has nine runners in action on the eight-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.

What is unusual is that Gavin Lerena will be riding six of them with JP van der Merwe on the other three.

Lerena officially handed over the mantle of champion jockey to Craig Zackey last Saturday and with newly crowned champ and 2023/24 record holding Richard Fourie out of action until 10 August and 15 August respectively, Lerena has an ideal opportunity to fly out of the starting box and establish an early lead.

He certainly looks to have the ideal opportunity at this Cape meeting as he has picked up some really decent mounts in Races 2, 3, and 4, all for the Snaith yard.

In Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, he rides first-timer Over My Shoulder, a three-year-old filly by Vercingetorix out of Sempre Libre, which makes her a half-sister to Eight On Eighteen and four-time winner Future Free.

Snaith’s comment in the Computaform is: “Guineas type filly, will go well on debut despite trip.”

That tells a story and as this is not the strongest of fields, if she does have a modicum of the ability predicted by her trainer, she could prove a cut above her opposition.

One often does not know how a first-timer will react in its first official race, Lerena’s ride in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, has experience and looks very hard to oppose. African Wild Dog has finished runner-up in his last two starts and is this moderate field and jumping from No 2 draw, stands out as the best bet on the card.

The only likely threat looks to be Vaughan Marshall-trained It’sgood It’snice who disappointed at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time but his three previous performances at Kenilworth were decent. However, he has to jump from No 8 draw.

In Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, Lerena is aboard Odds And Evens who also finished second in her last two starts. Once again this is not a strong field and from No 2 draw, this daughter of Master Of My Fate can give Lerena his treble.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Wreath Of Snow, 1 El Cohete, 6 Rust Never Sleeps, 9 Workingclasshero

Race 2: 1 Over My Shoulder, 2 Sabre Wing, 3 Mind Over You, 6 Rock The Road

Race 3: 2 African Wild Dog, 8 It’sgood It’snice, 3 Zanfan Moris, 7 Big Deal

Race 4: 2 Odds And Evens, 11 Macro Gravity, 8 Ntibindi, 4 Remuneration

Race 5: 11 Dream Searcher, 5 Hampstead Heath, 4 Amayah, 10 Una The Unicorn

Race 6: 3 Master Coiner, 1 Etoilefillante, 2 Midway, 13 Gold Index

Race 7: 3 Cantona, 6 Avignon, 4 Vercicat, 2 Commanding

Race 8: 3 Like Dynamite, 1 Cork Bay, 4 Lyrical Gangster, 6 Ferryman

 

BEST BET

Race 3: 2 African Wild Dog

VALUE BET

Race 5: 11 Dream Searcher

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1×2

 

BIPOT

R128

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 2, 11

Leg 5: 4, 5, 10, 11

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 13

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 2, 11

Leg 4: 4, 5, 11

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 7: 1, 3, 4

 

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 2, 11

Leg 3: 2, 4, 8, 10, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 10, 13

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 6

 

JACKPOT 1

R300

Leg 1: 2, 11

Leg 2: 2, 4, 8, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 10, 13

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 

JACKPOT 2

R600

Leg 1: 2, 4, 8, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 10, 13

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 6