Gavin Lerena excelled in a thrilling finish to the R100 000 Listed Aquanaut Handicap when the tough-as-teak Elusive Fort mare Chitengo got the better of a tight tussle with Tyrus Express to win the 2400m feature for the second consecutive year at a hot Turffontein on Saturday.
Bred and raced by Wilgerbosdrift, Chitengo was never far off the action and came alongside Muzi Yeni and Tyrus Express to set up a thriller over the final 250m.
With both riders doing their utmost to keep their mounts on a straight course, Chitengo appeared to drift inwards slightly – but it made no difference with Lerena straightening his mount and getting the Alec Laird-trained mare’s head down on the line.
Tyrus Express (Muzi Yeni) stays on dourly, but Chitengo (Gavin Lerena in red cap) will nab him on the line (Pic – JC Photos)
Chitengo (16-1) got the verdict by a nose in a time of 151, 66 secs.
The 4-1 shot Tyrus Express ran his heart out while the favourite Don’t Look Back (33-10) clung on to third from a flying African Adventure (7-2), who maintained his consistent form.
Tyrone Zackey’s 7yo Glider Pilot sadly seemed to go wrong in the run for home and was pulled out of the race by Ryan Munger.
The winner is a Wilgerbosdrift -Maurtzfontein-bred daughter of Equus Champion Elusive Fort (Fort Wood).
Chitengo is certainly bred to stay all day and is out of the Irish-bred nine-time winning Montjeu mare Gorongosa.
The dam raced here for Mike de Kock and was a €110,000 graduate of the 2008 Goffs Million Sale. She won to 3200m amd is out of the juvenile winner Parvenue, who is out of Patria, a winning full-sister to the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Lycius and to the imported mare Sit Akul, who produced Gr1 Gommagomma Challenge winner Eddington (Model Man).
Chitengo has won 7 races with 5 places from 24 starts for stakes of R602 975.
The feature is run in honour of the Foveros champion stayer Aquanaut. Watch this tribute to the big horse:
