While the eight-race meeting at the Vaal on Thursday 6 July is almost exclusively reserved for maidens, it is eight-year-old mare Samoa who could provide the most fun and the best return for bettors and her connections alike.
A veteran of 74 races, she goes into Race 7, a MR75 Handicap over 1200m, with seven career wins to her name. But that should move up to eight with Gavin Lerena in the saddle.
Trained by Bridget Stidolph, Samoa has been in prolific form against her peers, both male and female, lately.
Her last five outings saw her record two wins, without finishing outside the top four. And with four of those runs under Lerena, the old dame seems in the form of her life.
One of the most consistent performers in her class over the last four years, she is obviously still enjoying her time on the track.
Never a banker bet, Samoa will have to contend with Time For Charity, who should make a race of it again and there shouldn’t be much between them. The last time they met they were only separated by 0.25-lengths and do they seem to take turns getting the better of one another.
Dark Tide is another who cannot be ignored for money.
Fanie Bronkhorst’s six-year-old gelding has been round the block 40 times for four wins, but boasts a win-place strike rate of close on 50 percent.
In Race 8, a Class B Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, ‘youngster’ Kwazzi’s Lady is on track to complete a hat-trick.
This four-year-old trained by Alec Laird seems to have found her running shoes since given more ground.
By Coup De Grace, she is maturing into a decent runner and seems to have much more to offer over longer.
It will be interesting to see what her best distance is as time passes.
The biggest threat is three-year-old filly United Council. Robbie Sage’s charge didn’t really pass her feature race test when finishing stone last in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, but she did bounce back last time out when dropping down in class and distance.
Perhaps she just bit off too much to chew in the Guineas and with confidence restored she should make a race of it.
Clive Robinson
