Champion trainer Sean Tarry will make his first raid on Port Elizabeth on Sunday when he saddles Orchestrated and Stonehenge in the R350,000 Grade 3 Betting World Algoa Cup over 2000m on the Fairview turf track.

“I don’t really know what I’m up against,” said Tarry yesterday. “I do believe my two runners are unexposed and are better than rated. I’m upbeat about their chances.”

In all his years as a trainer Tarry has not taken a runner to the Eastern Cape, but admits the lure of a R350,000 race cannot be ignored. “Both are the right type of horse for an event like this and it has come at the right time. Horses with merit ratings in their 80s are not going to get into R350,000 races in Joburg.

“I think those two horses have the right profile. Stonehenge finished second to Legal Eagle in the Listed Derby Trial and Orchestrated I always thought had a bit of class and I think he was crying out for the blinkers.”

Orchestrated seemed to be losing his way a little but in his last start Tarry fitted blinkers and the change was immediate. The five-year-old son of Jay Peg was up with the pace the whole way in the Vaal River Handicap (Non-Black Type) on the Vaal sand and did well to finish a 1.50-length second behind Ahlaam.

Orchestrated is a four-time winner, all of which have been over 1600m and 1700m but he failed over 2000m when more than eight lengths behind Stonehenge.

“I believe he is crying out for the distance. I think he will be very comfortable with 2000m. He was losing interest and the blinkers have helped.”

S’manga Khumalo is a regular rider in Port Elizabeth and knows the course well. He is aboard Orchestrated who carries just 52.5kg, and they will jump from barrier No 2. Stonehenge has Julius Mariba in the irons but they will have to deal with No 14 draw.

“Julius knows the horse well and with just 52 on his back there was not much point trying to find another jockey. Stonehenge is quite versatile in that he can come from last or sit up with the pace so the draw is not a big deal.

“Orchestrated, on the other hand, likes to race up handy and S’manga likes to go up there so No 2 draw is ideal for him.

“I don’t know the form of the PE runners but I would just imagine if I were to contest a normal race down there my runners would win.

“I just hope they travel well and we get a true understanding of how the form correlates.”

The two horses left for Port Elizabeth on Wednesday night.
– Jack Milner for TABNews

The PinkDrive meeting at Greyville is here at last and the crowds should be flocking to the course in their pink outfits to support the worthy cause of breast cancer awareness as well as enjoying plenty of on course entertainment and great racing.

There look to be some good opportunities for punters, which is usually the case on a polytrack card.

In the Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, Master James has been fitted with blinkers since running green on his first outing after gelding and he is doing “exceptionally well” after taking part in a grass gallop at Summerveld on Monday alongside Solar Star. The latter had excuses in his last start in the KZN Breeders Million in June as he was hit by a clod and he has also been doing exceptionally well. He won his only poly start over 1600m and should enjoy this trip. Olma has won her three poly starts from 1600-2000m by an average of five lengths and will be fully wound up having recently been taken to Greyville for a gallop. She is drawn well in five under Ian Sturgeon but is eight points higher in the merit ratings since her last win and is up against battle hardened males so won’t have it easy. The selection is Master James to beat Olma, Solar Star and Alghadeer with The Royal Rhumba making most appeal of the rest.

In the first over 1400m, Ricochet Flyer has fared well against some good sorts and is drawn in pole over a suitable trip. Dark Avenger drops back to the trip of his best run and should be thereabouts from a good draw. Oracle Kingdom has only ever faced useful sorts and is better than his form suggests so could earn here under a 2,5kg claimer over a step up in trip which should suit. Royal Champion and Buster Brown could earn too and Buck Eye by Ideal World is the most interesting of the first-timers.

In the second over 1400m, First Sea Lord has been expensive to follow for win-only punters, but this looks to be a good opportunity over a suitable course and distance and he will be hard to beat from a plum draw. Shine Up is having his third run after a rest from a good draw over a suitable trip and should earn in this weak field. Quantity is likely improving and should enjoy the step up in trip while betting moves for the two-first-timers by Dynasty and Visionaire respectively, Filoli and Stokvel, should be monitored.

In the third over 1400m, the hard knocking Queen Of Thrones gets a good opportunity to get off the mark from a good draw. Red Seductress hasn’t been disgraced against one or two fair sorts and should enjoy the step up in trip. Gordon’s Cungee has pace and should appreciate the step up in trip so is interesting with Delpech up from a good draw.

In the fourth over 1000m, Sea Urchin is the one to beat from pole position under Delpech, especially if he jumps on terms as he has been close up to two good sorts in his two starts over this trip despite losing a couple of lengths on both occasions. Lord Luton improved with blinkers on the turf with this same 2,5kg claimer up which makes him interesting here as he is well-bred for the poly being by Miesque’s Approval. Bank It is a consistent sort who can earn again.

In the fifth over 1600m, Let It Rip would prefer further, but she has been doing well at home and can follow up on her easy course and distance win in May, albeit off an eleven point higher merit rating. Mission Rapids is hard to ride as she usually pulls if she jumps well and her best win was when able to stride out freely before settling in behind horses as the handler had held her by mistake, causing her to lose five lengths. However, if she does manage to settle she will be the one to beat as she has some class. Topweight Royal Denise  proved herself a capable sort when beating the classy Sabaha on turf over 1400m and Delpech might bring out the best in her off a four point higher merit rating from pole position.

In the seventh over 1000m, Arabian National is ultra-quick and won his only poly start over this course and distance, so is interesting from a good draw with Delpech up. Harrison appears to be a fair sort who is improving and from a good draw he could earn a place, or even a win, and a same could be said for Tonto.

In the eighth over 1000m Regardstobroadway will be hard to beat from a good draw if behaving himself at the start as he is quick, classy and should have benefitted from his last outing. All True Man is knocking on the door over course and distance and is drawn in pole and Apollo’s Gift should be right there too as he is improving and had a legitimate excuse when finishing second over this distance at Scottsville last time.

The last over 1000m Heart Of Christmas showed pace on debut at Scottsville over 1200m and was green so could cause an upset as the form of that race has worked out quite well. She will have to improve considerably to reverse form with Chapel Queen, but will likely appreciate the step down in trip as she was up with the pace before beginning to run all over the place. Chapel Queen has good natural speed so should be involved under Delpech. However, she does have to overcome a high draw. The obvious horse in the race is Simla and she will be right there if not being used up too much early to overcome a high draw.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Master James (Nkosi Hlophe)

Greyville’s second ever Twenty20 meeting on Friday evening saw the in form Gavin van Zyl and Dean Kannemeyer yards on fire once again.

Van Zyl scored two wins, a second, a third and a fourth from six runners, while Kannemeyer notched up two winners and a third with his only three runners on Friday evening.

The twenty minute gap between races makes for an exciting evening and appears to be a popular innovation as long as it remains an occasional event, because the downside is obviously that with the format being jockeys riding alternatively with apprentices, trainers are unable to always book their first choice riders.

In the third, a MR 94 Handicap over 1400m, the Van Zyl-trained four-year-old Seul Amour gelding Just Ask Me proved he could soon take in a feature as he won well off his merit rating of 90 under Billy Jacobson, holding off the admirably consistent Translunar. Just Ask Me has won four times from just ten starts and Seul Amour is proving to be a useful sire.

In the fifth, a Novice Plate over 1600m, the Sean Tarry-trained Intergalactic was attempting to book her place in the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup, but instead it was the R2,015 million Bloodstock South Africa Ready To Run Cup candidate Way Out Front, who showed her big sales race credentials with a good win under Keagan de Melo. The Van Zyl-trained Mogok filly showed a fine turn of foot from the back of a small six horse field to quickly reel in the Kahal filly Khonza, who was beautifully relaxed in the running and made an early dash for home. Khonza fought back well when headed to be only 0,75 lengths shy at the line and is a horse with plenty of scope so is definitely one to follow.  Intergalactic ruined her chances by over racing and was well beaten in third.

Kannemeyer’s new arrivals from Cape Town to his Summerveld satellite yard kept up their fine record and in all have now had 18 runs, 9 wins, one second, three thirds and four unplaced runs.

His five-year-old Judpot gelding Surrey relished the step back in trip to 1400m in an Apprentice 78 Handicap , having over raced early when narrowly winning his KZN debut over1600m on the poly two weeks earlier. The event fortunately fell in one of the four apprentice-ridden races on the night, which allowed 4kg claimer Eric Ngwane to keep the ride. Ngwane took Surrey straight to the front from a wide draw and the gelding strode out at relaxed pace. Ngwane simply had to use hands and heels to drive him out to a comfortable 3,75 length victory over Mackdesi. The handicapper might take a while to rein in this horse and he could make it a hattrick next time out.

Later Kannemeyer’s once well regarded Argentinian-bred Giant’s Causeway five-year-old gelding Capel Top enjoyed the slight step up in trip from 1800m to 1900m, having battled to stay in touch early last time out before running on. This was also his third run after a layoff and he was clearly a touch sharper which allowed Anthony Delpech to get him into the perfect position early, one wide of the rail in fifth place, having jumped well from draw six. The luckless Van Zyl-trained Rocketball had to be driven to get into a handy position from a wide draw and this early exertion might just have been his undoing as he only just failed to hold on from a running on Capel Top. Rocketball should be cherry ripe next time out.

In the first race of the evening, which was interrupted by a false start, the Sean Tarry-trained King’s Chapel filly proved perfectly suited to the 1400m trip at this stage of her career. She had not been disgraced in some fair company in two races over 1200m. However, she then appeared to be a bit uncomfortable at the maiden 1600m pace last time out, despite being out of a Badger Land mare, and over raced slightly throughout before finding little extra. This time she relished the quicker pace and despite being caught wide she found plenty in the straight to win comfortably under Muzi Yeni at generous odds of 12/1. She will enjoy stepping up in trip against a better class of horse next time out.

In the second, an Apprentice maiden for three-year-olds  over 1400m, the Tony Rivalland-trained New Zealand-bred Kolinsky looked hard to oppose having not been disgraced against strong opposition in his previous two starts. He easily despatched the weak field, cruising in by three lengths hands and heels under Luyolo Mxothwa. Runner up Mighty Mississippi and the third-placed favourite, the first-timer Bahamas Woodstar, will both enjoy a step up in trip as they stayed on well.

The sixth race, an Apprentice Maiden over 1800m, saw an exciting finish as the three-year-old James Goodman-trained A.P. Answer filly Fashion Talk, ridden by 2,5kg claimer Tristan Godden, just touched off Cherry Orchard by a short-head with the rest of the field well beaten. This was far from being an inspiring field but the front two are at least improving.

In the eighth, an Apprentice MR 64 handicap for fillies and mares, Doug Campbell kept up his good recent form as the five-year-old mare Lucky Packet enjoyed stepping down to a sprint trip for the first time in over two years off her competitive merit rating and won comfortably under Callan Murray at odds of 5/1. The 54 merit-rated mare won on debut way back on Boxing Day at Clairwood in 2012 as an early two-year-old and this was her first victory since.

The ninth race, a Maiden over 1600m, was a thriller. The Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred three-year-old gelding Fareeq started 5/10 and led from the off under Anthony Delpech, although he did have to do some work to get there from a draw of six. Meanwhile, the Wynand Nel-trained five-year-old Fort Wood gelding Danish Wood, returning from a nine month layoff and ridden by Mandla Ntuli, had settled well on the rail about three lengths off the lead from a low draw. Fareeq maintained a resolute finishing run in the straight and fought back after being headed by the running on Danish Wood. The judges were unable to separate them. The Kannemeyer-trained third-placed Noordhoek Ice is one to watch having run on strongly from second to last in the running.
– David Thiselton
– Picture: Surrey was an easy winner at Greyville on Friday night (Nkosi Hlophe)

Some tonics are more effective than anything the doctors can prescribe and Mike Bass – already promised a trip to St Andrews – now has the Avontuur Fillies Guineas to inspire him as he drives himself on, pumping iron in the gym.

He went home for the weekend, attended trackwork on Saturday morning and in the afternoon he watched on TV in delight as Silver Mountain gave weight and an impressive beating to older horses in the Lyric Consulting Handicap at Durbanville.

The Silvano filly looked a possible Guineas horse when she won her maiden but this, frankly, was more the performance of a potential classic winner. Despite a three-month absence and receiving a hefty bump from a loose horse, the 14-10 favourite swept clear just inside the final furlong to come away under hands and heels with Aldo Domeyer waving his index finger in triumph.

He said: “I think very highly of this filly, she gave me a really good feel in her first race and she got me quite excited here.”

Candice Robinson added: “She is tiny – no more than 15.2 – and she is not very robust either but from day one she has done everything right and I have always rated her. I’m hoping that she can be something special and it certainly looks that way. She will run in the Choice Carriers (Nov 7) and then the Fillies Guineas.”

Victorious Jay (Liesl King)

Basil Marcus was also in need of a tonic. According to son Glenn, he had a nasty fall three months ago landing on his shoulder with half a ton of steel-tipped horseflesh treading on his bicep so heavily that it was detached from his arm. The resultant operation failed to ease the pain and a further scan revealed two torn ligaments.

The second operation was performed last Thursday and so the victory of Georgeous Gaby, owned by Glenn’s syndicate and trained by Adam, had Marcus senior cheering. This was the second of three winners for Sean Cormack – he also scored on Candaleeyah for Shane Humby and the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Our Icon.

But it is on Dennis Drier’s army that Cormack expects to fight his biggest battles in the next few months – “We’ve got a nice young strong team with some real quality among them including Well In Flight and Rock On Baby.”

The jockeys’ efforts to promote this meeting were rewarded with by far the biggest crowd of the Durbanville season and R40 000 cheques for both the Western Cape Equine Trust’s rehoming programme and the local Grooms School Trust.

The jockeys’ chase revealed some unsuspected talent – Donavan Mansour managed to finish within two lengths of the supposedly unbeatable Domeyer – and it was fitting that MJ Byleveld (one of the principal organisers) should win the Darkhorsewheels.com Handicap on Victorious Jay.

Vaughan Marshall has his sights on the CTS Million Dollar with this colt whose time was only a quarter of a second outside Act Of War’s recent course record. The winner was also the subject of a massive plunge, being backed at all prices from 8-1 to 5-2 favourite.

Indeed this was an extraordinary betting race. Jet Air (second last) was supported from 14-1 to 6-1, Groen Gevaarte (sixth) drifted from 9-2 to 16-1 and Tar Heel, who dropped right out in the final furlong, eased from 22-10 favourite to 7-1.

The Somerset winner was to some extent a victim of his poor draw but also, as in the Cape Nursery, of his own impetuosity with Mansour reporting: “I tried to drop him out but he was too aggressive and when he saw daylight he went.”

Mike Robinson is reading his paper this morning in a more relieved frame of mind thanks to the Grant van Niekerk-ridden Imperial Guard ending a painful ten-week winnerless spell.

“It’s been a tough time,” said Robinson. “I’ve been slated and called everything in the book. I’ve just had to keep my chin up and carry on digging.”

Andre Nel, on the other hand, is in the happy position of finding himself sitting on a pool of unexposed talent and this was brought home to him when newcomer Quine, a chance ride for Bernard Fayd’Herbe, made a winning debut despite losing valuable ground at the start.

Sabine Plattner’s new trainer said: “Quine is honest and I was confident she would run a place but she is not one of our better ones so this was nice.”

– Michael Clower

Picture: Victorious Jay ridden by MJ Byleveld (Liesl King)

The Vaal stages another intriguing eight race meeting on the sand and as always on this surface punters will need to do their homework.

In the first race over 1000m the speedy Angie The Rebel, whose pedigree for this course and distance could hardly be better, looks hard to oppose on form. Windinmyhair appears best when held up off the pace so with a lot of speed in this race it should pan out to her liking and she could run on strongly for second. Matron Prilly has a suitable sand pedigree and is a noteworthy first-timer. The Berry Lady has speed but has made breathing noises before, although she does now have a tongue tie on. Pendulum Of Life is by Count Dubois and was purchased for R500,000, but a concern is that her two siblings to have raced have not amounted to much.

In the second over 1450m, Rock Me Var has come class and is a full-brother to Solarium who is generally kept to sprints but has won over 1400m, so he is interesting stepped up in trip with Andrew Fortune up, although he has a tricky draw of five in the seven horse field. Battle In Seattle has a better draw than last time when probably going too fast in front and it would be no surprise to see him make amends. Mighty Manzi is by Windrush, whose progeny are known to love the Vaal sand. He cast a shoe in his first start on the surface, but won second time out over this course and distance when flying up late. He has a better draw this time but runs off a two point higher merit rating and the concern is that he benefitted from horses going too fast in front last time out.

Olympic Owen is better than his last start in which he stumbled and overreached and was caught wide from a wide draw before being rushed around them , so from a good draw his class could possibly see him reversing form with Mighty Manzi, who beat him comfortably last time out. Vulcan is a speedy sort but won his only start over course and distance. He is now seven points higher in the merit ratings and he continually interfered with Rock Me Var last time over 1200m on turf  so the latter could reverse form. Raise The Red likely needed his last start and can improve but his wide draw will make it tough.

In the third over 1450m the Windrush filly Bluemoonrush  improved when switched to sand last time out over 1000m and on pedigree will love the step up in trip. Ginger Sioux ran well the last time she tried the course and distance and is now drawn in pole with Fortune up. Lindeman Lustre beat the latter in that race but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Eastside can earn if repeating her last start over course and distance. Somerset Skye’s best run in Cape Town was over this trip and she could improve on her Highveld debut.

In the fourth over 1200m, Don Christo should enjoy the switch to sand having run two fair races on turf and has Gavin Lerena up from a fair draw. Le Clos has run well three times on turf, twice over this trip, and is well drawn but a concern is that he has made breathing noises every time. Seven Cheers ran a cracker from pole position over course and distance in his penultimate start and now has a draw midway between that and the draw he had last time, also over course and distance, when well beaten.

In the fifth over 1600m, Dancing Escudo won well over course and distance in her penultimate start and then was found to not be striding out when disappointing over 1800m, so she could be a big factor here if back to her best, although her wide draw is a bit of a concern. Fashion Secret won easily in just her second career start last time over course and distance and Lerena has kept the ride although her time was over three seconds slower than Escudo’s victory. Fire Dancing ran well in a Gr 2 on Saturday over 1450m and has the ability, but a concern is that she has been below par twice when stepped up in trip to this course and distance.

In the sixth over 1000m High Game is interesting as he was considered good enough to contest a Gr 1 and his merit rating of 76 is reasonable. He showed pace in a 1300m event last time out so the trip shouldn’t be too sharp. Maji Moto should be a runner here over an ideal course and distance with Fortune up. Chief Sioux did well over course and distance last time out and Lerena retains the ride. Flag Of France’s best recent performances have been over 1000m and he has come further down the sand merit ratings. Benbow is back to the merit rating of his last win over course and distance.

In the seventh over 1200m Knock Knock is off a competitive merit rating and ran a cracker over 1450m last time on the sand, so this shouldn’t be too sharp and he should be running on strongly from a wide draw. Play Date is interesting stepped down to this course and distance with Lerena up off a very much lowered merit rating as she has done well over course and distance before when in the maidens. Tabanna ran well over this trip on the turf last time and in her only sand start was outclassed in what proved to be a strong race over 1000m, so she could feature in the finish.

In the eighth over 1450m, Sub Shaawes used to be known as a shirker so now that he has won a race well last time and has the same experienced jockey aboard, he can be followed despite being given a six point merit rated raise. Cumberland should handle this trip and the form of his last start over 1200m looks good.  Pay As You Go has run well in his last two sand starts over 1600m and as a handy sort is interesting over sharper from a fair barrier position.
– David Thiselton
Picture: Champion jockey Gavin Lerena rides Don Christo (Race 4) at the Vaal today

The Australian-bred Aces United will bring South Africa a world first today in race nine at The Vaal when running with a breathing device invented by Dr. Ralph Katzwinkel of the Summerveld Equine Hospital.

Katzwinkel emphasised that the device is not at all performance enhancing, rather it allows the horse to receive sufficient oxygen and therefore perform to its natural ability. The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has approved the device.

Aces United  ran second in his first two starts over 1000m at Kenilworth to two decent sorts in Equity Kicker and Tomba La Bomba.

Then on L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate day he won over 1200m. However, he has not run since J&B Met day, where he was well beaten over the same course and distance.

The well-bred four-year-old colt by Lonhro was starting to become anxious at both the races and in training and sweating up in the ring until eventually one day he finished extremely distressed and wanted to fall over.

It was then discovered that he had a rare condition, which can usually not be detected when a horse is at rest, called “a fourth branchial arch defect.” It apparently occurs at a rate of two horses in every 20,000 and the end result of the condition is that a horse does not receive sufficient oxygen while galloping.

Aces United not surprisingly scoped normal at the Sales. Katzwinkel was only able to pick up the cause of the problem through the use of an Overground Exercise Laryngoscope, a device which transmits a live video of a horse’s throat while at full gallop.

A fourth branchial arch defect, or “four bad”, is a congenital condition affecting the fourth branchial arch.

It is a malfunction in the upper airways whereby the nerve endings and muscles do not develop properly. This leads to multiple defects in the upper airways. Horses who have had surgery in an attempt to solve the condition inherently do not do well.

Katzwinkel and his team first performed a “permanent tracheotomy” on the horse. This is where a permanent opening is created and in Ace’s United case the opening was made high up on the neck just behind and between the jaw mandibles.

When Aces United was put back into work, it was discovered the opening was acting like a valve and was collapsing. In other words the horse was sucking the opening closed.

Katzwinkel had Aces United transported from Cape Town to Summerveld in order to find a solution to this problem. He consequently invented a removable plug to keep the incision open. The device is covered with gauze, so that no dirt can enter the opening.

The device worked very well and the horse has not made any noises in training since it was applied and he is no longer showing any signs of distress either.
– David Thiselton

TREVE proved unable to rewrite racing history when failing to make it a third win in the Arc as victory went to Golden Horn and a delirious Frankie Dettori. Flintshire finished second, as he was last year, with New Bay third and Treve fourth in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) at Longchamp yesterday.

In the end, after all the expectation and endless speculation, the outcome was remarkably clear cut.

Golden Horn had shadowed Treve’s pacemaker Shahah more closely than any of the other 15 runners and when kicked on in the straight opened up a clear gap as all eyes looked for Treve among the chasing pack.

There she was, wide and closing, but never with anything like enough momentum to threaten the winner, whose owner Anthony Oppenheimer had said, somewhat controversially, that his horse would beat Treve “easily” on fast ground.

So it turned out, with Dettori basking in the adulation of the crowd on a colt who has now won the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Qipco Irish Champion Stakes and Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“I really believed in this horse and he put it to bed like a superstar,” said Dettori after his fourth Arc win.

“It was an amazing performance. I scratched my head all week about what to do, but I knew I was on the best horse so I wanted to make use of him and show the world just how good he really is.

“He’s probably the best horse I’ve ridden.”

Dettori caught the eye in the early stages when taking Golden Horn wide on the course, from a draw in stall 14 connections felt beforehand may prove a hindrance.

“When you’re drawn wide like we were,” said Gosden, “we had to stay wide and run our own race before slotting into the field. The plan was to do that to get him in a prominent position and it worked perfectly in the end.

“Frankie has given him a great ride – he rides this track quite beautifully.”

Gosden, winning the €5 million race for the first time, said: “It’s great to win the Arc in France, just as it is great to win the Derby in England.”

What comes next depends on how Golden Horn emerges from his exertions, but Betfred decided to introduce him as 4-5 favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on October 31.

Flintshire and New Bay both represented owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah, and they may have contrasting futures.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Abdullah, said: “They have both run fantastic races, we can’t complain. They had good positions, travelled very well, kicked in the straight and did everything right. The best horse won, unfortunately!

“I think we have to think about plans quite carefully. Flintshire could be a Breeders’ Cup possibility. I would have to speak to Andre [Fabre] and the prince about what they wanted to do with New Bay. We would have to see about whether he stays in training.”

Erupt finished fifth a place in front of Free Eagle, whose rider Pat Smullen said: “They didn’t go over-fast but the way he travelled into the race I was very happy.

“When they straightened up I thought he would pick up a little bit better than he did. But he rode a very good race and stayed to the line, so overall I’m happy enough with the run.”

– Racingpost.com

Picture: Golden Horn winning the 2015 Arc (Galop)

Jockey Brandon Lerena suffered a fractured vertebra during track work at Summerveld this morning and could be looking at between six to eight weeks on the sidelines.

It was an untimely injury for the KZN-based jockey having successfully worked his way back onto the local scene following a stint in Mauritius. The setback will be particularly frustrating for Lerena considering a solid recent run of form which saw 24 of his last 30 rides earning a stakes cheque.

– Victor Tojeira