Follow Lerena at the Vaal

Talented jockey Gavin Lerena drew a rear blank at Turffontein on Saturday but with a promising book of rides this time he is likely to feature on the eight-event card at the Vaal track today.

His first strike should come in Race 1 when teamed up with Van Vuuren-trained Torio Lake in a 1200m Maiden contest.

The three-year-old was unplaced on debut at Scottsville but when ridden by Lerena next time he was a promising runner-up at Turffontein – and that was despite the colt being cramped at the start.

He will go off favourite this time and with a trouble-free run the combination should be in the winner’s enclosure.

He has a bright chance of success in Race 4 when aboard Stenger-trained Hot Talent in a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1800m.

He partnered the filly for the first time in her most recent outing when an unlucky close second after being carried in twice in the running over 1800m at the Vaal. With better luck in the running the four-year-old should not miss this time.

Lerena teams up with Peter-trained Diamond Dancer who looks tough to beat in Race 5, a MR 72 Handicap over 1800m. Lerena had the ride in the four-year-old’s penultimate outing when backed and a decisive maiden winner over 1800m at Turffontein.

Then coming off an eight-month layoff and ridden by Keagan de Melo, the colt was an encouraging second in a Novice contest over the same course and distance. With the benefit derived from that run he should be much sharper this time.

Magner-trained one-time winner Pillaroftheearth (Lerena) looks the best bet of the day in Race 7, a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m.

The three-year-old, who has yet to  be unplaced in is his seven starts, was a four-length maiden winner four runs back at Vaal over 1000m.

Lerena was aboard the colt for the first time in his most recent outing when sent off favourite and a half-length second in a MR 74 Handicap over 1000m at Turffontein. The ultra-consistent colt should recover the losses with Lerena up again.