RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2024.02.20
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R95.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: PRINCESS LOLA produced a career-best effort last time and that form has been franked, so could open her account. Well-bred newcomers ILHA DA ORANGE and SENSUAL KISS needn’t be special to stake a claim in a race of this nature, but riding arrangements suggest stablemate EMPRESSOFNORMANDY is the pick of the yard’s 3 runners. BACARDI BABE ought to improve with the benefit of experience, so is another who could get involved.
Selections:
#1 Princess Lola, #2 Empressofnormandy, #9 Ilha Da Orange, #11 Sensual Kiss
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R110.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: EAST COAST has been taking on stronger and is slung in under the conditions, so will be hard to beat dropped to this class. Progressive stablemate LA MOOHAL ought to make further improvement going this trip and could complete a De Kock Exacta. Fellow last-start winner VIVA SPIRIT is another likely to improve stretching out to this distance and, as such, has to be respected. HAWKBILL is weighted to be competitive too, while FORGIVENESS is a lot better than her last start suggests.
Selections:
#4 East Coast, #5 Hawkbill, #2 La Moohal, #1 Viva Spirit
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R105.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: This won’t take much winning and GREAT BARRIER is unlikely to get a better opportunity to open her account. BLUE QUARTZ ran well enough on debut to suggest she could improve to pose a threat. TOOLEGITTOQUIT needn’t be special either to make her presence felt on debut. PRIZED PLATINUM is better than her last start suggests and should have a role to play too.
Selections:
#9 Great Barrier, #10 Blue Quartz, #1 Prized Platinum, #11 Toolegittoquit
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R105.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: ATARIME has improved in both starts around the turn and is likely to go one better if making further progress stretching out to this trip. KAROO GOLD has no stamina doubts and should pose a threat if taking his place in the lineup. CRYSTAL MAIDEN also has an earlier engagement but could get into the picture if she takes her place. ROCK OF BISMANTOVA and TEO TORRIATTE aren’t without chances either.
Selections:
#1 Atarime, #2 Karoo Gold, #3 Rock Of Bismantova, #9 Teo Torriatte
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R120.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. IPSO FACTO and SAY YES have big weights to carry but are distance suited and in good form, so likely to play leading roles. However, the same could also be said of DAMOSTAR, SPECIAL CHARM and ROSY LEMON. Both I AM REGAL and NAMAQUA BLOSSOM are not without chances either.
Selections:
#1 Ipso Facto, #2 Say Yes, #6 Damostar, #8 Special Charm
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R95.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. ARIEL’S JET has run well out the maidens and should remain competitive on her return under a big weight. REGAL DAUGHTER is on the up and has given the impression she could have more to offer over this sort of trip. However, the same could be said of ONE RELIGION who ought to relish this longer trip and she could represent the value in the race, especially off a reduced mark. All of PRETTY IN PEARLS, AVOONTOAST, AZALEAS FOR ALL and IDEAL FUTURE are capable of having their say too. LIDL MISS SUNSHINE, GILDA GRAY and BE REAL can also get into the picture if confirming recent improvement.
Selections:
#11 One Religion, #2 Regal Daughter, #3 Pretty In Pearls, #1 Ariel’s Jet
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R90.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. RYANS BOULEVARD has made the expected improvement as a gelding. He finished 4th in a similar contest last time and should have more to offer in his peak outing. SAN SIMON ran well in his first outing over this distance in a stronger race late last year and needn’t improve a great deal off an unchanged mark to fight for victory. Fillies MIZZEN SAIL and lightly raced ALLENDE are still maturing and ought to acquit themselves competitively too.
Selections:
#1 Ryans Boulevard, #2 San Simon, #3 Allende, #5 Mizzen Sail
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R120.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: A most intriguing handicap. CELTIC RUMOURS acquitted herself well in the Grand Heritage and wasn’t beaten far (at level weights) by the winner, so could give weight and a beating to these rivals if fully tuned on her reappearance off an unchanged mark. IN THE BEGINNING (blinkers fitted) and GOOD QUEEN BESS (with blinkers removed) ought to remain competitive under a penalty, while VIX PRINCESS has run well since relocating to the Highveld and should do so again. Both RIVER QUERARESS and LADY FALLON are not to be underestimated either.
Selections:
#1 Celtic Rumours, #8 Vix Princess, #2 In The Beginning, #5 Good Queen Bess
Vaal Classic, 20.02.2024, Race 9, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R95.000, 17:05GMT+2
Race Summary: MIGHTY GODDESS has been rejuvenated by the refitting of blinkers and has shot up 13 points (6.5kg) in her last three starts, although her latest victory in a similar contest was more impressive than the one before. On that evidence, she is good value to defy her latest six-point hike and the widest draw by completing a hat-trick. KAKIEBOS and ALESIA’S LOVE have run in stronger post-maiden races so ought to pose more of a threat at this level, while a return to this distance should also bring an improved effort from BOOM BOOM.
Selections:
#2 Mighty Goddess, #5 Alesia’s Love, #1 Kakiebos, #9 Lorna Lilly
Best Win: #4 EAST COAST
Best Value Bet: #11 ONE RELIGION
Best Longshot: #11 ONE RELIGION
