Champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo rode three winners over the weekend for Champion trainer elect Sean Tarry and this saw him edge six clear of Gavin Lerena in the intriguing race for this year’s national title.

Lerena rode the Geoff Woodruff-trained Touch The Sky to win yesterday’s feature at Turffontein, the Listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m, and completed a double for Woodruff aboard Sisters Of Mercy in the next race.

Lerena had given up his rides at Scottsville on Saturday in order to attend the funeral of trainer Lance Wiid, whose charge King’s Gambit gave him his first two Gr 1 victories in the SA Classic and SA Derby respectively in 2008.

Khumalo replaced Lerena at the top of the log last Sunday and had winners at all of Flamingo Park, the Vaal and Fairview last week to arrive at Scottsville five clear. His double at the latter centre included a fine ride on Carry On Alice to win the Gr 1 City of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint.

Khumalo added another winner at Turffontein yesterday. The Syringa Handicap was a thriller and the talented grey filly Touch The Sky, running in second time blinkers and over a step down in trip, produced a flying finish to catch the Mike de Kock-trained Maayaat in the final stride.

Khumalo rode a blank at Fairview yesterday, while Greg Cheyne rode a treble to cement his third place position on the log, thirteen winners off the lead.

By David Thiselton

Picture: S’Manga Khumalo (Nkosi Hlophe)