Warren Lenferna

The Turffontein Standside track hosts it’s final meeting of the current season with a nine-race card today. In the first Dondoyaki meets a weak field and can get the meeting off to a winning start. Ignore the last run and judged on her good penultimate effort and Fanie Bronkhorst’s charge gets an ideal chance to secure her first victory. Amazonian was not far adrift of the winner first time out and surely has more to come. 

Bronkhorst has another chance when he saddles Concordia in the second. She is never far off the action and bumps a weak field Delaware River is lightly raced and but seems to be progressing and can go close. 

In the first leg of the PA Jabari Thimba ran an absolute cracker on debut and with that run under the belt, should improve to prove a hard horse to beat. Willow Charm improved when asked the question for the second time and surely can improve further and has a strong money chance. Palace Attack has finished fourth in both runs so far and should go close.  Carnarvon is a must for the trifecta and quartet. 

Summer Shade is taking an age to secure the maiden victory but will not get an easier chance in the first leg of the Pick 6. If he cannot get it all right here, then might battle going forward. Jet Querari has popped up and run some fair races and has each way claims. Chilli Marmalade is another that is taking a long time to pass the line in front but has a strong place chance on her good last run. True Hero will not need to be too talented to beat this field on debut. 

In the fifth, Aladdin’s Lamp is currently shining brightly having added two glowing victories to his CV of late and has every chance of reeling off a hattrick. Vesuvio is in mustard form at the moment and the weight off will certainly add to his chances. He should be a big runner. Twenty Drachmas and Arumugam can fill the shallow end of the purse.

The Ultimate King steps up to 2000m in the sixth and Tony Peter’s charge has won the last two in the manner of a progressive animal and can be followed. American Rebel is also bidding for a hattrick and can pull it off. He looks to be a big threat to the first choice. Eiger Sanction ran well last time and can place again. Pocket Watch is the value suggestion for the swingers and quartets. 

The seventh is wide open with many in with chances. Unsolved Riddle is never far off the action and gets Strydom back in the saddle .Impact Investor is a tad erratic but clearly capable of a bold effort in a race of this nature. He has a big chance on bets form. Sheets And Goggles has a bright place chance and can represent some attractive value. Lapis Lazuli is never far off the action and can earn a cheque while  Chance. Lava County is a recent maiden winner when going a trip for the first time and can follow up.

In the eighth Beynac has solid form and rates the one to be with. In form rider Callan Murray gets the chance. Hawkbill charged home to win last time and will be a huge danger. Don’t Cry For Me is never far off and can pop up and On Target can threaten at the finish despite more than likely needing a run to tighten up after the rest. 

In the last race of the afternoon Obsidian has won two out of his last three and looks set to continue on victorious ways. Sea Shanty is ultra-consistent and has huge each way claims and can never be ignored. Gregarious can be forgiven for the last effort and can bounce back to near best. Strong claims for the minor money while Deception Pass can do way better than his last KZN run.

Race 1: Preview: DONDOYAKI (2) bumps a weak field and gets an ideal chance to secure her first victory. Ignore the last run and judge on good penultimate effort. The firm first choice. AMAZONIAN (1) was not far adrift the winner first time at school and surely has tons more to come. Strong each way chance. WINDSOR SILK (8) can improve to get a lot closer this time and so can LASTING LOOKS (3) – respect and include for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-8-3) 

Race 2: Preview: CONCORDIA (3) is never far off the action, bumps a weak field and can win. DELEWARE RIVER (4) is lightly raced and seems to be progressing – go close. ZAHRA DOMINIA (8) can improve a ton on okay debut and given a first four chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-8-3) 

Race 3: Preview: JABARI THIMBA (4) ran an absolute cracker on debut and with that run under the belt, should improve to prove a hard horse to beat. Strong win choice. WILLOW CHARM (9) improved when asked the question for the second time and surely can improve further – strong place chance. PALACE ATTACK (6) has finished 4^th in both runs thus far and should go close – a must for everything and CARNARVON (2) is a must for the trifecta and quartet. (Warren Lenferna 4-9-6-2) 

Race 4: Preview: SUMMER SHADE (2) is taking an age to secure the maiden victory but will not get an easier chance than today and if he cannot get it all right here, then might battle going forward. He is the first choice. JET QUERARI (1) has popped up and run some fair races and can be given each way claims. CHILLI MARMALADE (4) is another that is taking a long time to pass the line in front – strong place chance – good last run. TRUE HERO (8) will not need to be too talented to beat this field on debut. Watch the betting trends as race time looms. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-4-8) 

Race 5: Preview: ALADDIN’S LAMP (6) is shining brightly currently having added two glowing victories to his CV of late and has every chance of reeling off the hat trick. VESUVIO (5) is in mustard form at the moment and the weight off will certainly add to his chances. Big runner. TWENTY DRACHMAS (3) and ARUMUGAM (4) can fill the minor spots for trifectas and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 6-5-2-4) 

Race 6: Preview: THE ULTIMATE KING (2) has won the last two in the manner of a progressive animal and can be followed. AMERICAN REBEL (1) is also seeking the hat trick and can pull it off – big danger to the first choice. EIGER SANCTION (3) ran well last time and can place again. POCKET WATCH (4) is the value suggestion for the swingers and quartets. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-3-4) 

Race 7: Preview: UNSOLVED RIDDLE (2) is never far off the action, gets Strydom back in the saddle and is the winning suggestion. IMPACT INVESTOR (1) is a tad erratic but clearly capable of a bold effort in a race of this nature – big chance on bets form. SHEETS AND GOGGLES (10) has a bright place chance and can represent some attractive value – include. LAPIS LAZULI (4) is never far off the action and can earn a cheque. Chance. (Warren Lenferna 2-1-10-4) 

Race 8: Preview: BEYNAC (10) has solid form and rates the one to be with. In form rider Callan Murray gets the chance. HAWKBILL (3) charged home to win last time and will be a huge danger. DON’T CRY FOR ME (2) is never far off and can pop up and ON TARGET (7) can threaten at the finish despite more than likely needing a run to tighten up after the rest. (Warren Lenferna 10-3-2-7) 

Race 9: Preview: OBSIDIAN (1) has won two out of his last three and looks set to continue on victorious ways. SEA SHANTY (10) is ultra-consistent and has huge each way claims and can never be ignored. GREGARIOUS (2) can be forgiven for the last effort and can bounce back to near best. Strong claims for the minor money and DECEPTION PASS (4) can do way better than the last KZN run – chance. (Warren Lenferna 1-10-2-4) 

Ends  

Soccer10 Friday 18 July 2025. ADD-IN R100 000. Estimated Pool: R1.5 Million. Pool Closes at 20h45.Sport 15 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any13X on Saturday 19 July 2025. ADD-IN R75 000. Estimated Pool: R 200 000. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 13 and Pool 1

Soccer13 Saturday 19 July 2025. Carryover R5 678 988.R12 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 15h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer13 Sunday 20 July 2025. Carryover R4 416 338. R6.5 Million (All-13-Correct Pool). Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 11 Pool 1.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Haydock and Newmarket (UK) – 18 July 2025.

Andrew Harrison

With under two weeks of the current season left to run, Gavin Lerena can all but sew up the Jockey Championship at Turffontein today where he has nine fancied rides on the 10-race card. Going into yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting where he had five rides, he was eight winners clear of reigning champion Richard Fourie.

Fourie has opted to stay home in a wet Cape Town for these two meetings which could indicate that he has resigned himself to second place on the log.

However, there is still the small matter of a 12-race card on World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville next Sunday where Fourie is sure to have some plum rides. Deadline for final declarations for the meeting are at 11am this morning.

Lerena could get his afternoon off to a winning start when he partners Pretty Persuasive in the card opener. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s filly hacked up in her Highveld debut after a four-month break, her first outing resulting in a smart effort against males and finishing just 3.5 lengths back to the more than useful Military Command.

She does however, have to give 3kg  to Candice Dawson’s filly Anchorage who has finished runner-up in all three of her starts with Serino Moodley making the trip to the Highveld.

Lerena is aboard another Van Vuuren charge in the second. Top Division cruised to an easy victory on debut and although drawn widest of all he is likely to start deep in the red.

Lerena could have opposition from S’Manga Khumalo in the first leg of the PA where Lerena partners Frere Jacques for Lucky Houdalakis. The gelding was a well-beaten second on debut but the step up in trip should suit. Khumalo partners Safe Travel who has placed in both starts but now steps up in trip.

Lerena will need to overcome a tricky draw on another Houdalakis filly in the first leg of the Pick 6. Wise Counsel has shown up well in two sprints and the step up in trip should suit. Rendezvous In Rio looks a lively threat as she has her third run after a break and Joe Soma steps her up in trip. However, she has drawn one outside of Wise Counsel in gate 11. Khumalo will be aboard Winds Of Grace who is tested over the trip and has a good draw however, she has not been out since April.

In the fifth, Hopscotch is another Lerena ride that is likely to start top of the boards. The filly has been knocking on the door for Fanie Bronkhorst and although drawn wide she stays the trip well. Possible danger  could be Flightlight, Sean Tarry’s only runner with Piere Strydom aboard.

Lerena will have his work cut out on Sergeant Soqrat in the sixth. The gelding disappointed last Thursday but a Corne Spies runner can never be ignored. A better bet could be Mizzen Sword. He found all sorts of trouble when tried over ground for the first time and can build on that effort for Mark Khan. Heroic Act improved in first time blinkers for Tyrone Zackey and this shorter trip with a 4kg claimer aboard will find many supporters.

Lerena takes a breather without a ride in the seventh where Captain Efficient and Lonely As A Cloud look to be the principal contenders.

The eighth is the main event on the card and it looks wide open. Lerena stays with Francine who he has partnered in her last five starts so knows her well. She also has the best of the draw. However, she gives away 7.5kg to her younger rival, It’s Her Way who was a comfortable winner last run and can follow up.

Fanie Bronkhorst has two strong contender in the final leg of the Pick 6. Lerena rides Azaleas For All who could be the pick as she has won her last two races with Lerena aboard while Khumalo is aboard stable companion Play With Fire who was a touch disappointing last run but had solid previous form and should be right up there.