A Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m headlines the Vaal race meeting on Thursday 17 August when only seven races are carded and although Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas-winner Eye Of The Prophet looks the one to beat, a case can be made for a number of challengers.
Eye Of The Prophet does seem to have everything going for him.
This four-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight will have regular rider Rachel Venniker in the saddle again. She has steered him to all five his career wins, so knows exactly how to get the best out him.
They will also be jumping from gate 1, and with her 1.5kg allowance, carrying top weight should not be an issue.
Eye Of The Prophet also loves the Vaal Classic track, as attested by his record of three wins and two runner-up finishes from five runs at this track.
The only concern is that he is yet to win over further than 1600m, but given the circumstances, he should get that monkey off his back.
He did place in his two runs over 1800m as a three-year-old, so having recently turned four, he may just have matured enough to find the extra to his liking, and with trainer Paul Matchett in hot form, a big run is expected.
The biggest danger is Flashy Apache from the yard of Tyrone Zackey. This five-year-old son of The Apache did finish ahead of Eye Of The Prophet last time out over 1700m when flashing up late, but he has not won in this calendar year despite ten runs.
That does raise the question whether Flashy Apache still has a knockout punch. The Vaal Classic course is also not his happiest hunting ground, with a single place finish in three runs.
Hazlo Grande, Duke Of Sussex, and Ocean Warrior are also in with earning potential.
Ocean Warrior wasn’t far behind Eye Of The Prophet and Flashy Apache last time out, but considering he lost many lengths after being last out the gates, he could offer a much more serious challenge this time round if jumping well.
Earlier on the card, Ocean Warrior’s stable companion looks the banker bet for the day in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for three-year-olds over 1200m.
Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Babylon showed a lot of promise in his post-debut outing and in this field should have no problem recording a first career win.
Clive Robinson
