Gavin Lerena has a whip hand at Turffontein

Gavin Lerena has a good day lined up at Turffontein on Thursday when nine races are decided on the Inside track.

The erstwhile champion jockey could even have a four-timer landed by 2.30pm.

He rides debutants Abbacadabra and Sonnestrahl for Johan Janse van Vuuren in the first two races, both of whom have been priced up as favourites on ante-post betting boards – a clear indication that the word is out.

In Race 3, Lerena does duty for David Nieuwenhuizen on the to-date hapless Pick A Lilly. This filly is a perennial placer but hasn’t had the best of luck and hasn’t been able to find her way into the winner’s enclosure in 12 gutsy attempts.

Nieuwenhuizen has decided to give fate a nudge by employing the strongest rider around to get Pick A Lilly to put in that extra effort needed to get her across the line.

In the fourth race, Lerena returns to the service of Janse van Vuuren with the promising About To Storm in a 1200m Maiden Plate.

This gelding has had two outings and finished third in both, less than two lengths off the winner. He looks perfectly tuned-up to win but does have some fair opposition to overcome.

Magnum P I was a decent third on debut at the Vaal Classic for Dorrie Sham and Chase Maujean and the slightly wiser three team up again.

Golden Aspen is overdue a victory, while Moonstrike is an improving youngster with a light weight and an inside draw.

Lerena rides a few more fancied horses later in the day, notably Traveling Wilbury for Lucky Houdalakis in the 1800m seventh race. Dark Travel for Brett Webber and Hear The Trumpet in the eighth and ninth are far from being without hope.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

2 Abbacadabra, 3 Just Be Nice, 5 Parmesso Avanti, 6 Red Carpet Girl

Race 2:

6 Sonnestrahl, 5 Outofthedarkness, 1 Maraca Ginger, 7 French Joy

Race 3:

2 Pick A Lilly, 9 Miss United States, 1 Caruso, 7 Namibsroos

Race 4:

4 About To Storm, 5 Magnum P I, 9 Golden Aspen, 10 Moonstrike

Race 5:

1 Two Fools Collide, 2 Bold Decision, 4 Lady Fair, 3 Oceans Pride

Race 6:

2 Stay The Course, 6 Scottadito, 5 Twosidestoastory, 1 Bureau Des Legende

Race 7:

2 Traveling Wilbury, 7 Masaaken, 5 Princess Kesh, 3 Rock You

Race 8:

7 Lilliana, 7 Dark Travel, 2 Fasinada, 11 Tinder Dry

Race 9:

6 Samoa, 9 Miss Costa Rica, 5 Hear The Trumpet, 4 Princess Sabrina

Pick 6:

4,5,9 x 1,2,4 x 1,2,5,6 x 2,3,5,6,7 x 5,7 x 4,5,6,9 (R1440)

PA:

2 x 4 x 1,2 x 2,6 x 2,5,7 x 7 x 5,6,9 (R36)