Superior racing experience coupled with first-time blinkers and a finely timed ride by Gavin Lerena were the keys to the R2,5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup treasure chest at Turffontein on Saturday.
Trainer Lucky Houdalakis gave favourite backers and the handicappers one to think about in the Cape Thoroughbred Sales flagship contest, when producing a joker in the pack in the form of the Just As Well gelding, Chili Con Carne.
Gavin again! Lerena salutes the crowd as Chili Con Carne gallops resolutely to beat S’manga Khumalo and Africa Rising (Pic – JC Photos)
Unfashionable breeding and a modest 82 rating. There is no keeping up with the Joneses when the gates open. The only thing that really matters is who stays out of trouble and passes the post first.
Gavin Lerena – hot and spicy on a big day
And on a day that Gavin Lerena could have ridden them to sleep with one hand tied behind his back, it was former jockey-turned succesful trainer Lucky Houdalakis who was set to celebrate his first Ready To Run success – and a big cheque for his prominent owner, Michael Leaf.
Lerena was hot on the afternoon and those that found the veiled synergy in the catchily named gelding would have been thrilled to have sweated only briefly as the 15-1 shot held off the well fancied 12-10 fancy Africa Rising to win by 1,25 lengths in a time of 84,52 secs.
From the 1 draw, the in-form rider had Chili Con Carne in the box seat without dispensing valuable energy, as Crowd Pleaser and A Greater Power showed the way.
Africa Rising was confidently ridden by S’manga Khumalo some ten lengths off the pace.
Lerena sat and counted to ten at the 500m before allowing Chili Con Carne to find his stride as Africa Rising was still eight lengths back and being switched out for his launch.
Lucky Houdalakis – plan come together
At the 200m the writing was on the wall as the 98 merit rated Africa Rising had two lengths to find and the Houdalakis bird had flown.
A cracking ride by Lerena and a shrewd move by the ‘Greek hanglider’ to fit the blinkers. Chili Con Carne’s tardy starting days look to be behind him.
Mike de Kock’s Australian-bred Act Of Loyalty was always in the firing line and only tired late for a 0,60 length third.
Unagi, who together with the winner was the most experienced racer in the field, was a further 0,25 lengths back on a day that Craig Zackey showed again what a promising rider he is developing into.
Stakes were paid all the way down to R30 000 for tenth position, with the Visionaire filly Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca scooping that generous honour.
Owner Michael Leaf – super Saturday!
Bred and raced by Michael Leaf, the winner is by Spring Valley’s AP Indy stallion Just As Well, out of the unraced Windrush mare, Wonder Glow, a three quarter sister to three-time winner Hurricane Brook and a half-sister to the smart seven winning speedster, West Cigar.
Just As Well raced over 4 seasons, and travelled extensively to race in the USA, Japan and Canada. He earned $859,582 in stakes.
The R300 000 CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale graduate has won 2 races with 2 places from 9 starts and took his earnings to a very respectable R1 361 875.
He was consigned on that sale by Balmoral Stud and signed for by Lucky Houdalakis.
Just shows again that one doesn’t need royalty to bank a king’s ransom!
