Lerena to unite with One Stripe

GAVIN LERENA departed for the USA on a Cape Town flight last night and is not only looking forward to being reunited with One Stripe, but he is also very excited about riding him in the US$1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Saturday.

- DAVID THISELTON

Jon Marshall-trained ONE STRIPE runs in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Picture: Race Coasel Candiese Lenferna

(Race Coasel Candiese Lenferna)

Gulfstream Park

One Stripe will face 12 other rivals at Gulfstream Park in the one mile and one furlong race and he has drawn four.

Gavin said about the draw, "I think that's a good draw. Obviously, you don't really want the fence and from draw four I can stay one out."

Gavin will only be having the one ride.

His visa is a bit restrictive and right now in the USA nobody would dare taking any chances with the immigration authorities, so he will stick to riding the South African horse in the invitational race.

It will be the first time Gavin has ever ridden in the USA, so riding in a couple of races on the day would have been ideal.

"I will walk the course though," he said.

He has also studied One Stripe's last race, in which he had an easy task at the weights in an optional claimer over a mile, but he was just 0,4 seconds outside the course record. Trainer Graham Motion has pointed out to Gavin the track was running very fast that day, so he will take that into account in his strategy.

The way jockeys ride in the USA is a touch different to South Africa and that is likely due to there being no false rail.