Southerner snatches up coveted award

THE South once again produced a jockey of high calibre when Gavin Lerena walked away with the coveted Champion Jockey of the Year award.

The Equus Awards rewarded the best in the horseracing industry for their efforts in the 2014/2015 season with a glittering ceremony held at Emperors Palace on Tuesday, August 11.

Lerena surpassed the number of winners ridden by an apprentice whilst serving his indentures, a record that was held by Michael Muis Roberts for 34 years. Lerena also achieved a new South African record of 283 wins.

The 30-year old, who has set a new record of 42 wins for the month of June, comes from a family deeply entrenched in horseracing. His cousin Brandon, who is riding in Mauritius at the moment, is a successful jockey and his father Tex Lerena, is a former chairperson of the South African Jockey’s Association and a jockey himself. His cousin, Kevin has just notched up the South African cruiserweight boxing title too.

For every winning horse he rides until the end of the season, the Southerner is donating R500 to the Horse Care Unit in each particular racing jurisdiction where he wins, a gesture that is also being matched by others within in the sport.

The Justin Snaith trained multiple Gr1 winner, Futura, walked away with the prestigious Horse of the Year title. Futura is the third son of Dynasty to lift the title after Legislate last year, and Irish Flame in 2009/10.

After his superb L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met double win last season, Futura made a cracking start to the new term with a sensational win in the rain delayed Super Saturday Gr1 Champions Cup a fortnight ago.

New Klawervlei stallion Captain Of All, who was also an obvious contender for the premier title, was the unsurprising winner of the speed champion award.

Multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom, who resides in Alberton and rode a recordbreaking 5000th winner earlier in the season, was deservedly acknowledged with a special achievement award for his incredible feats in the saddle.

All the winners:

Champion 2-year-old colt

Seventh Plain

Champion 2-year-old filly

Entisaar (AUS)

Champion 3-year-old colt

French Navy

Champion 3-year-old filly

Alboran Sea (AUS)

Champion older male

Futura

Champion older filly/mare

Hammie’s Hooker

Champion sprinter (1000-1200)

Captain Of All

Champion miler (1400-1600)

Legislate

Champion middle distance horse (1800-2200)

Futura

Champion stayer (2400m upwards)

Wild One

Special achievement award

Piere Strydom

Champion stallion

Captain Al

Champion broodmare

Si Senorita

Champion breeder

Klawervlei Stud

Outstanding stallion achievement award

Dynasty

Outstanding breeder award

Highlands Farm Stud

Print media award

Michael Clower

Television award

Kevin Harris

Apprentice of the Year

Craig Zackey

Champion Jockey of the Year

Gavin Lerena

Champion trainer

Sean Tarry

Owner of the Year

Mrs I and Mr M J Jooste

Horse of the Year

Futura