Deputy Ryder cruises clear to win the Queen Palm
Jockey Gavin Lerena edged ever closer to his first SA jockey championship title when he rode a winning double at Greyville on Saturday. He won’t enjoy an easier commission than his armchair experience on the Go Deputy filly Deputy Ryder, who cruised in to win the R135 000 Listed Queen Palm Stakes.
The 2400m fillies and mares staying feature attracted a modest field of eight, but the manner of the 3yo’s smooth win spoke of plenty to come.
Produced late in the race, after San Trip had made the running, the former Neil Bruss-trained galloper made it three wins from four starts for her new trainer, Alyson Wright.
The result was never in doubt up the home straight, and the 16-10 Deputy Ryder simply glided clear to register her first stakes win by 1,75 lengths in a time of 152,94 secs.
Deputy Ryder was registering her fourth win in her last five starts.
Counting Angels kicked on well and she got up to catch Semra in the final strides to grab second, while Eva Tibbs came from last to run into fourth.
Deputy Ryder has now won 4 races with 2 places from 8 starts and R255 850 in stakes.
She hails from a super winner producing Lammerskraal family and is by Go Deputy out of the five time winning Red Ryder mare, Miss Ryder – who has produced a host of winners.
Gavin Lerena is over 20 ahead of S’manga Khumalo going into the final ten days of the season.
