With all nine races at the Vaal on Thursday 31 March being run down the straight, it could pay to keep a close eye on the first couple of races to see which racing line the jockeys prefer.
In the first event, a Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1200m, it will be of particular interest to see how Impi Lukhele aboard Big Five and Trent Mayhew on Tara Iti approach the race. They are riding the only two horses in the field for trainers based at the Vaal and will probably have the most knowledge of the local track conditions.
While neither of the above mentioned are rated to win, it could give the punters who pay attention to detail a competitive advantage.
In Race 5, a Class C MR 77 Handicap over 1200m, Twice As Splendid looks the most likely to take the honours in a very open contest.
This three-year-old Twice Over gelding was thrown in the deep end three runs back in the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein. Although the record books show that he finished with the backmarkers, 8.25-lengths behind Gallic Princess, he did have a valid excuse.
He also followed that up with two very gutsy efforts, proof that his competitive spirit is intact and that his form is holding.
The youngster will have the much more mature stable companion Grindelwald to keep him company and the two could set the scene for an exciting finish for trainer Grant Maroun.
The Brett Crawford trained Another Thief could also steal the show and complete a hat-trick since arriving on the Highveld.
This three-year-old Time Thief gelding has forged quite a relationship with jockey Kabelo Matsunyane, and the pair could well keep their unbeaten partnership intact.
If these three don’t get the job done, any number of challengers could find the spotlight.
The brave bettors will probably go with the mentioned threesome, while a more conservative approach would be to include as many as the budget allows in the exotics.
Clive Robinson
