Winners’ cheque goes to Lerena and Bouclette Top
16 horses racing for 16 charities supported by 16 celebrities.
THE sky was the limit when Gavin Lerena and top horse Bouclette Top made a tactical move to win the Peermont Emperors Palace R1 million Grade Two Charity Mile.
The Peermont Emperors Palace’s annual Charity Mile took place on Saturday, October 31, at the Turffontein Racecourse and announced that summer racing is back at home.
Trainer Alec Laird recorded his second consecutive R1 million Grade Two Charity Mile success, when the Argentinian-bred gelding, Bouclette Top, produced a sterling performance under Lerena, the champion jockey.
Laird won the race last year with Bezanova whilst Bouclette Top ran in fifth. But the five-year-old gelding turned the tables on Saturday and showed that he could well be more effective running from off the pace as opposed to his customary role out front.
At the jump the field was fast on the inside for Lerena and the pace was on, but he and Bouclette Top found themselves just forward of midfield and about eight lengths off the leaders as they went into overdrive.
Lerena made the tactical move and won by 2,25 lengths in a time of 97,07 seconds.
ML Jet stayed on and came in second, while Mitraad took up the third spot.
