Clive Robinson
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren is in red-hot form launches a three-pronged attack in Race 2, a Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1450m, on Thursday 8 December at the Vaal.
He sends out Sprinkles, Shivers, and Homely Girl.
Sprinkles will be in action for the first time since turning four on 1 August and she will also be making her debut for her new yard.
This daughter of Elusive Fort has been most prolific over this distance category and despite coming off a break of 131 days, looks the runner to beat.
Sprinkles did run second to Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland in both the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. She also ran a 1,5-length third to Silver Darling in the Grade 1 Woolavington over 2000m.
After eight consecutive Graded contests over distances ranging from 1400m to 2000m, Janse van Vuuren is giving her a seasonal debut over her best distance and, with a record of running very well fresh, she looks the one to beat.
What also counts in her favour, is that she is the second-best weighted runner in the field.
Homely Girl is sure to keep her stable companion company all the way to the line. Slightly out at the weights, she does benefit from apprentice jockey Siyanda Sosibo’s 4kg claim.
By Querari, Homely Girl should also enjoy the drop in distance as she has produced her best efforts over this distance category – most notably her victory in the Grade 2 Tibouchina Stakes at Greyville.
Of the three Janse van Vuuren runners, Shivers appeals least for the simple reason that this six-year-old mare hasn’t raced in close on a year.
The Roy Magner-trained Hollywoodbound is in good form, but not weighted well.
Marigold Hotel, from Sean Tarry’s yard, seems to have lost that killer instinct and an array of headgear has not helped. This time round she’ll be sporting a compression hood as well as ear muffs.
Her stable companion Sound Of Warning tries this distance for the first time after pulling up fatigued last time over 1160m.
Tarry does seem to hold the trump card in Race 6, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, where Twice The Storm will be jumping from gate 2.
With six podium finishes in his eight career runs, this Twice Over colt is consistent as they come.
His two runs at this track, both over 1200m, saw him produce the fastest and second fastest time over the last 400m.
