RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2024.05.07
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R75.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: SACAMBAYA returns to the Highveld after an encouraging 2nd over 1400m in KZN and needs only to reproduce that form/performance to shed his maiden tag. POMO CLAPPER and OKLAHOMA TWISTER have the form and experience to keep the selection honest, while AMBITIOUS LADY and SUMMER SHADE have also shown enough to make their presence felt.
Selections:
#1 Sacambaya, #4 Oklahoma Twister, #2 Pomo Clapper, #6 Summer Shade
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R75.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: THERES A LIGHT has improved in his 3 starts as a gelding and a return to this distance should stand him in good stead. REMAINS OF THE DAY would have benefited from a recent gelding and reverting to this trip may suit too. SOVEREIGNS CALL, however, is likely to pose a bigger threat after an improved last start over 1200m. THE NAVY LARK and TOGETHER AGAIN appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#1 Theres A Light, #3 Sovereigns Call, #2 Remains Of The Day, #8 Together Again
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R75.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. MAIN MISSION would have needed his last start returning from a layoff and remains capable of better. STREWN SKY and MASTER TIK TOK have an earlier engagement but could have a say if taking their places in this lineup. IN A BLUE MOON has the form/experience to acquit himself competitively, while JAPANESE MAPLE need only confirm the improvement of his last over this trip with blinkers fitted (retained) to stake a claim in the finish. Preference, however, is for improving filly INCREDIBLE INDRANI who caught the eye when a game-in-defeat 2nd over 1600m last time out. PERFORM could also earn.
Selections:
#5 Incredible Indrani, #3 In A Blue Moon, #7 Japanese Maple, #1 Main Mission
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R75.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Improving last-start winner RED KNOT has to concede weight but could prove up to the task. Both HIS MASTER’S VOICE and VIVA DE JANEIRO are better than their disappointing last starts suggest and can also have a say. KAKIEBOS is dangerous to discount given this drop in class off a reduced mark, while GILDA GRAY is seldom far off the action so cannot be underestimated either. IDEAL FUTURE runs well for this 4kg-claiming apprentice, albeit over further, and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. FULL GO and SUMMERLAND are others to consider.
Selections:
#5 Ideal Future, #12 Full Go, #1 Red Knot, #3 Kakiebos
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R70.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. SECRET RECIPE has finished 2nd in two of three course-and-distance appearances and could be rewarded for her consistency. SPARKLING JUBILEE held her own at a higher level before the layoff and cannot be underestimated in this grade on her return. CAN’T CATCH ME and HAVE A PARTY retain the means necessary to acquit themselves competitively over this distance, while COUNT YOUR CHANCES proved her competitiveness off this mark (under a 3-point penalty) last time and should run another honest race. KITTYBOYS GIRL is drawn wide but better off at the weights with that rival so has claims too.
Selections:
#2 Secret Recipe, #7 Kittyboys Girl, #8 Count Your Chances, #3 Sparkling Jubilee
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R75.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: PUTINS PROMISE is versatile and has acquitted himself well in defeat over distances from 1000m to 1600m. This represents a drop in grade so he could be rewarded for his consistency by capitalising on a reduced mark. GIMME THE FLAME and SOUTHERN STYLE are inconsistent but can also fare better at this level from inside gates, while WRITTEN IN STONE will need to overcome a wide barrier to make his presence felt. The latter caught the eye with an improved performance last time under the same 4kg apprentice. Both SAMTHEWISEMAN and FEELING GROOVY are capable of getting involved. Tricky!
Selections:
#2 Putins Promise, #6 Gimme The Flame, #8 Southern Style, #13 Written In Stone
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R70.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: ENCHANTING LADY wasn’t winning out of turn last time and despite conceding weight to all, should acquit herself competitively once more over the extra 200m on her handicap debut with Gavin Lerena again in the irons. EMPRESSOFNORMANDY made no impression in her first post-maiden appearance but a return to this trip should bring about an improved performance. TWICE AS WILD will strip fitter after a pleasing recent display against the boys and ought to play a leading role back against female opposition. EMPRESS GAME and veteran mare SMELTING are also capable of getting involved. Quartet bets on?
Selections:
#1 Enchanting Lady, #10 Twice As Wild, #2 Empressofnormandy, #12 Smelting
Vaal Classic, 07.05.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R75.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Veteran mare SAMOA runs well for Gavin Lerena and is course-and-distance suited, so could have her consistency rewarded with an 8th career success. She has acquitted herself competitively at a higher level recently and should capitalise on this drop in grade. MUNCHKIN fits a similar profile but has run only once over this distance and concedes 4.5kg to the selection, so a bigger threat could come from DELLA’S SWORD in her peak outing under 52.5kg after an encouraging last start over this trip. DARK TIDE and THYMETOSHINE have earning potential too. VAN MEIJEL’s participation must be monitored.
Selections:
#7 Samoa, #12 Della’s Sword, #1 Munchkin, #10 Dark Tide
Best Win: #1 SACAMBAYA
Best Value Bet: #5 INCREDIBLE INDRANI
Best Longshot: #5 INCREDIBLE INDRANI
