IN the build-up to the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Gr 2) the universe seemed to be putting together a plan to point towards the eventual winner in the 1600m contest at Turffontein Racecourse.

Not only did New Predator have the right form, his run in the Joburg Spring Challenge (Gr 2) a month earlier had been a good one, but the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained son of New Approach ended up with Gavin Lerena in the irons.

Gavin Lerena, one of the stars of Charity Mile Day, 2016.

There were two other big pointers as fate would have it given that New Predator won on the same day last year and had ended up with boxer Kevin Lerena, cousin to jockey Gavin, after the draw to pair the various celebrities and charities to their respective runners.

The victory meant that the Peermont Education Trust received a welcome R150 000 boost.

Winning the main event added icing on the cake for Lerena and was the the penultimate leg of a rare feat in that Lerena ended up riding all four legs of the jackpot.

“It’s a fantastic initiative and wonderful that every charity goes home a winner,” said the winning jockey afterwards.

R1-million was given away based on the result of the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile with runner up, Saratoga Dancer, earning R100 000 for Charity Chest while the Lesedi Programme received R80 000 after Deo Juvente ran third.

The Seaside Fund walked away with a R70 000 injection while the remaining 12 charities each received R50 000.

“We couldn’t have written a better script. It’s great to be able to give back and even better that no charity walks away as a loser,” said winning celebrity Lerena.

The Highveld Horse Care Unit received a well-deserved, big cheque.