Lerena to come hot on his return

Jack Milner

Gavin Lerena will be back in action at Turffontein on Saturday and he can get off to a perfect start in Race 2 where he rides Gone Cold for trainer Alec Laird.

Lerena has been out of action since 31 March after the horse he was riding at the Vaal in Race 7 broke down, and he was injured in the process.

He will be welcomed back by his host of supporters and could make a flying start with a win in his first ride back

Two-year-old colt Gone Cold brings the strongest juvenile form on offer into this Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1160m. Laird’s charge has run well in defeat in both starts against significantly deeper opposition than most of his rivals have encountered and crucially, he has already shown the pace and professionalism needed over track and trip.

His last-start second over the course and distance was boosted by subsequent Sales Race success of the winner Turn It Up.

In a field lacking depth, this looks a genuine chance for the penny to drop. On exposed form, he sets the standard and anything close to his last start should be enough to see him finally break through.

Lerena could make it a double when he rides Ziyasha for trainer Clinton Binda in Race 8, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m.

This Rafeef gelding has a decent record over this track and trip over which he was a winner three runs back.

But it was probably his last start that points to success this time as it came in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes in which he finished sixth, 3.45 lengths behind Jerusalema Rain, to whom he was conceding 8kg.

Second in that race was Buffalo Storm Cody and Ziyasha just needs to perform to a similar level to win this race.

Serino Moodley’s trip from KwaZulu-Natal also looks significant and it would be no surprise if he made it worthwhile aboard Sean Tarry-trained Tintin in Race 5.

The Rafeef gelding can safely be forgiven his disappointing effort in a lucrative sales race at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Back on the Highveld among more suitable opposition, and stepping up to 1600m for the first time, he is an interesting proposition.

The extra distance could unlock meaningful improvement. Tintin is also unexposed after only seven starts and there’s a strong sense he may still be ahead of the handicapper. If Moodley gets him settled early, Tintin has the profile of a horse capable of taking a decent step forward.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Feast Of Berries, 8 Perfect Sky, 6 Impressive, 3 Fallodon

Race 2: 4 Gone Cold, 5 Gotthetiger, 12 Stormact, 9 Lucky Awesome

Race 3: 2 Rock My Boat, 4 Doctor Strangelove, 6 Emerald Countess, 7 Sapphire Sun

Race 4: 7 Celtic Manor, 2 Gimmesumluv, 5 Be My Fate, 1 Made To Measure

Race 5: 10 Tintin, 6 Errol Flynn, 1 King’s Express, 8 The Playboy Bomber

Race 6: 4 Repetition, 10 Instant Attraction, 5 Sand Script, 6 Terrence

Race 7: 4 Ariovistus, 8 Future Gamble, 3 One More Star, 1 Jordan

Race 8: 1 Ziyasha, 2 Almond Sea, 11 Lead The Charge, 8 Destiny Of Fire

Race 9: 1 Umzingeli Wenyathi, 2 His Lordship, 3 Hemisphere, 6 Twentytwentyvision

BEST BET

Race 4: 7 Celtic Manor

VALUE BET

Race 8: 1 Ziyasha

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 4×8

BIPOT

R81

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 2, 4, 6

Leg 3: 7

Leg 4: 1, 6, 10

Leg 5: 4, 5, 10

Leg 6: 3, 4, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2, 4

Leg 2: 7

Leg 3: 1, 6, 10

Leg 4: 4, 10

Leg 5: 4, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 11

Leg 7: 1, 2, 3

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 7

Leg 2: 1, 6, 8, 10

Leg 3: 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 4: 3, 4, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 8, 11

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 1, 6, 8, 10

Leg 2: 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 3: 3, 4, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 8, 11

JACKPOT 2

R300

Leg 1: 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

Leg 2: 3, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 8, 11

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9