RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2024.02.01
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Difficult to assess – watch the money. Paul Matchett has half the runners in a field of 8 (two debutantes) of which FORCE EIGHT could prove best. WILLOWILD and RADIANT HEAT can improve. Respect the other newcomer, GAELIC DANCER.
Selections:
#2 Force Eight, #4 Gaelic Dancer, #6 Radiant Heat, #8 Willowild
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 13:07GMT+2
Race Summary: READY SET FIRE has been close up in all three runs and should contest the finish. FIRE ATTACK found solid support in his 2nd run but just failed. He is coupled with newcomer SUNSET RIOT – the money should give a good guideline. MASTER FORESTER attracted money on debut but never produced. Watch other first-timer COSMIC SPEED.
Selections:
#5 Ready Set Fire, #7 Sunset Riot, #2 Fire Attack, #1 Cosmic Speed
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R95.000, 13:39GMT+2
Race Summary: HAPPY MO is maturing and if sees out the trip will be thereabouts. DONNA MO has been threatening and deserves his maiden win, but it won’t be easy. TEO TORRIATTE was runner-up in her last two and it could be third time lucky. KADIZORA made vast improvement in her 2nd start and should be involved in the finish. PLAY WITH FIRE and PATCHES OF GREY are looking to improve.
Selections:
#7 Happy Mo, #2 Teo Torriatte, #8 Kadizora, #1 Donna Mo
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R105.000, 14:11GMT+2
Race Summary: GREEN GARNET just needed his first run as a gelding and rates the one to beat. MASTER CHRISTMAS was sluggish to start last time but has been costly to follow. BATTLEOFBARBERTON comes off a rest and should come on heaps on his debut effort. VOLTE FACE could need the outing. ATARIME, IN A BLUE MOON and SWORD OF MERCY could make the Quartet.
Selections:
#1 Green Garnet, #3 Master Christmas, #13 Battleofbarberton, #10 Volte Face
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: BEATING WINGS is only having her 4th start and the combo should make a bold bid of completing a hat-trick. Her record could improve to 3 wins and a 3rd from 4 runs. PRETTY IN PEARLS is fancied to win before this – watch the form. CRIMSON FOREST should run another honest race and shouldn’t be far off. It’s open for Quartet money – include GLOBAL CHOICE, GIMMEALIGHT and ALPHABETTY.
Selections:
#7 Beating Wings, #9 Pretty In Pearls, #8 Crimson Forest, #6 Global Choice
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R100.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Up-and-coming WORK OF TIME comes off a maiden win and the form hasn’t been franked. However, she seems to be on the up and tackles a field, all of which appear to be erratic. These include stablemate ROBERT BURNS, ARIVIDICIO, MUNCHKIN, PRINCESS ILARIA, VIVA DE JANEIRO and last week’s winner, CIRCUS LIGHTS.
Selections:
#2 Work Of Time, #5 Munchkin, #8 Viva De Janeiro, #4 Robert Burns
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R110.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: RUNWAY BOMB is bang in form and has yet to be out the money since joining her new yard – 7 runs, 3 wins, 4 places. She should improve her stats. WHIRLYBIRD was coughing last time and could get back on track. ALABAMA ANNA, LUCY IN THE SKY and SIGRID SWING warrant consideration for exotics.
Selections:
#4 Runway Bomb, #6 Whirlybird, #9 Alabama Anna, #7 Lucy In The Sky
Vaal Classic, 01.02.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R85.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: LAW OF SUCCESS is holding form and if covered should find more to come going for the judge. GIMME THE FLAME drifted from an opening call of 5-2 to an unbelievable 14-1 but won like an odds-on chance. She could go in again. SIMPLY MAGIC and stable companion LADY CRUSADE could challenge. CERULEAN DANCER is running close up but races before this – watch. SUGARY SWEET could make the Quartet.
Selections:
#2 Law Of Success, #8 Gimme The Flame, #7 Simply Magic, #4 Lady Crusade
Best Win: #1 GREEN GARNET
Best Value Bet: #7 HAPPY MO
Best Longshot: #7 HAPPY MO
