Lerena starts with a bang in Sunshine State

By Jordan Gerrans

Globetrotting hoop Brandon Lerena is eager to establish himself in the Sunshine State after his initial venture in Australia did not deliver the race riding opportunities he had hoped for.

The multiple Group 1-winner in the saddle has been in Queensland for less than a week and has already put his name up in lights with a victory at Caloundra on Melbourne Cup day.

The 36-year-old has spent five years riding in Sydney before heading north.

He was halted somewhat in his early days riding in New South Wales by visa restrictions.

Those restrictions meant he could only ride for his sponsor Bjorn Baker for the first four years and his opportunities in the city were limited.

He is keen to now build his profile.

With those restrictions now a thing of the past, Lerena is branching out as much as possible in his northern move, riding for four different barns at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday.

“I did not get to make as many connections as I would have liked too,” the well-travelled jockey said.

“But, coming here with a fresh start, I can ride for everyone from the go.

“The fresh start and being able to ride for anyone – that will be a big thing for me.

“I was straight into trackwork and trials on Monday morning before the races on Tuesday.

“It was nice to meet some new people on Tuesday, riding for a few different trainers and put some faces to names – it was lovely as everyone has been so welcoming.”

Lerena says he is testing the waters on the Gold Coast initially with an eye to making the move permanent if it all goes to plan.

After only riding for reigning Stradbroke Handicap-winning conditioner Baker in his early Sydney days, Lerena struck up a close working relationship with the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou team once his visa restrictions were lifted.

He rode seven winners for co-trainers Ryan and Alexiou since early April of this year.

The South African native kicked-off his new Queensland venture for another training partnership in Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean.

Bundaberg product McLean previously worked for Baker before shifting to the Edmonds team and helped instigate Lerena’s northern move.

It was for ‘Team Edmonds and McLean’ that Lerena landed his breakthrough Queensland winner.

He started Melbourne Cup day at Caloundra in perfect fashion by winning the opening event – a Maiden Handicap over 1800 metres – aboard Trapeze Torque.

The four-year-old gelding had been knocking on the door as he had stepped up in trip in recent runs.

“It was crucial for me to get my name on the board early on and set it out as a good advertisement,” Lerena said.

“Hopefully I can springboard from that. The horse enjoyed the longer trip and the tempo of the race was very hot early on.

“We were in a controlling position just off the rail and behind the speed.

“He was able to breathe up until the point where they actually eased the pace and he quickened up well when I needed him to.

"He stuck on pretty gamely.”

As well as his Caloundra engagements, Lerena also headed to Grafton on Wednesday where he rode Miss Shu into third for Edmonds and McLean.

“Stephen suggested I come give it a go on the Gold Coast and they could help me out while I help them out at the same time,” the rider said.

“I will use their stable as a base and try and build from there.

“Stephen and I spent two years together at Bjorn’s and we became very good friends and work associates.

“They have a nice team and a nice dynamic in the stable at the minute, Toby and Stephen. It can only get better.”

Lerena won a handful of Group 1 races in South Africa - with his first coming when he was still a teenager – as well as riding almost 900 winners in his home country.

He also has won at the elite level in Mauritius as well as riding in Macau.