Highveld big-hitters Sean Tarry and jockey Gavin Lerena are likely to strengthen their positions as the province’s leading trainer and jockey respectively at the midweek fixture on Turffontein’s Inside track on Thursday 8 May.
No trainer has saddled more winners in Gauteng this season than Tarry, while Lerena’s mark of 129 winners in the province this term is 61 better than his nearest pursuer Muzi Yeni (68).
Ridgemont’s resident stallion, Rafeef, is enjoying a purple patch, with his progeny finding the winners’ box all over the country, and Tarry-trained Gulf Of America should continue her sire’s hot streak by landing the opener under veteran rider Piere Strydom in Race 1 over 1450m.
This two-year-old filly stayed on encouragingly to finish a close-up second on debut in a winners’ race over 1160m on the Standside track and on the evidence of that performance with that experience to count on, the extended trip will be more to the liking of Tarry’s charge, Gulf Of America.
Lerena rides Japanese Garden for trainer Tyrone Zackey but this Danon Platina filly finished 1.20 lengths behind Gulf Of America, so including her in Swinger and Exacta bets is probably the safer route to take.
Candice Dawson-trained Chronicle King should find the target for Lerena in Race 2, also over 1450m. This well-bred son of Vercingetorix caught the eye on debut when finishing second behind subsequent winner Whispering Dream and any improvement from the promising two-year-old colt should suffice in Leg 1 of the BiPot.
Tarry takes the wraps off well-bred Warning Sound on her reappearance in Race 7, again over 1450m. This Lancaster Bomber filly fluffed her lines in a stronger race over 1600m last time out but she would have strengthened and improved in the 15 weeks since, so it would not be a surprise were she to run a forward race on her comeback.
However, it could pay to follow the progress of fellow three-year-old filly Gregarious, Lerena’s mount for Tarry’s nearest pursuer Tony Peter.
This daughter of Vercingetorix acquitted herself well on handicap debut against male opposition, finishing a creditable fourth over 1400m on the Standside track 14 weeks ago. She, too, would have benefitted from the break.
Gregarious receives 1.5kg from Warning Sound and that weight discrepancy could prove the difference.
Tarry and Strydom will likely bookend the meeting with improving last-start winner Satyagraha good value to make a winning handicap debut in Race 9, the same course and distance (1450m) over which this son of One World shed his maiden tag.
Clive Robinson
