RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2024.05.09
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: PARISIAN WALKWAY made an encouraging sprint introduction and would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of that outing. On pedigree, he should be more effective over this distance. PEARL IN HER CROWN and SONIC JET have the form and experience to pose a threat, especially in receipt of a 3kg sex allowance. ULTIMISSIMO and well-bred newcomer MIZZEN SWORD complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#3 Parisian Walkway, #4 Pearl In Her Crown, #6 Sonic Jet, #2 Mizzen Sword
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R100.000, 13:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. LITTLE BALLERINA confirmed the promise of her Cape Summer campaign by winning a Grade 2 over a similar trip on her Highveld introduction and is more than capable of giving weight and a beating to these rivals with further improvement expected. IT’S HER WAY is held on that form but should get closer on 3kg better terms. KINDRED HEART wasn’t winning out of turn last time and could pose the biggest threat under Piere Strydom, while FORCE EIGHT has shown enough to make her presence felt too. Watch the betting on well-bred newcomer GREEN SAPPHIRE – respect any market support.
Selections:
#1 Little Ballerina, #4 Kindred Heart, #3 It’s Her Way, #5 Green Sapphire
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 13:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Several of these have a prior engagement so their participation must be monitored. Juvenile SHINTO SHRINE stayed on encouragingly to finish 2nd on debut over 1200m which suggests the step up to this trip will be more to his liking. GRAND CRESCENDO was deemed good enough to take to Cape Town for the summer, so his chances over this extended distance shouldn’t be underestimated. ILHA DA ORANGE should enjoy reverting to this trip and is capable of getting into the picture. APACHE SON has claims if taking his place.
Selections:
#14 Shinto Shrine, #9 Ilha Da Orange, #12 Grand Crescendo, #2 Apache Son
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R85.000, 14:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. BLOOMINGTON and KING’S EXPRESS had legitimate excuses for their disappointing last starts. Both are capable of a competitive showing but have big weights to carry. MARDI GRAS benefits from his rider’s 4kg claim and a No 1 stall so he has to be respected, having already proved effective over this trip. MAJESTIC PALACE won a similar contest last time and should remain competitive under his resultant penalty. Fellow 3yo OFFICER IN COMMAND and veteran NORDIC REBEL are consistent at this level and should also acquit themselves competitively.
Selections:
#4 Majestic Palace, #2 King’s Express, #5 Officer In Command, #3 Mardi Gras
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R110.000, 14:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Best-weighted SUKHUMVIT finished 2nd in a Listed race over this trip last time behind subsequent Grade 2 Oaks winner. She is progressive and ought to capitalise on these favourable conditions. Hard-knockers SUPREME DANCE and IMPERIAL MASTER remain consistent off their current marks and will keep the young filly honest, while WILLOW’S WISH is in good form and should make his presence felt off a reduced mark. A bigger threat, however, could come from MILLAHUE who caught the eye recently with a fast-finishing 3rd on his reappearance. TOTAL SURRENDER isn’t out of it.
Selections:
#10 Sukhumvit, #5 Millahue, #4 Willow’s Wish, #6 Supreme Dance
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R85.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. MIA MOO is slung in under these conditions and will be hard to beat if running to the level she did last time when finishing 2nd in a 1400m KZN Listed race. She is, however, better over slightly further so it could pay to side with unexposed BEAMONESQUE who was a wide-margin maiden winner over this distance before a layoff during which he was gelded. The latter is open to improvement on his reappearance and could represent the value in the race. CHASING HAPPINESS, after an encouraging comeback in a similar contest, and consistent MOUNT PILATUS are also capable of getting involved.
Selections:
#3 Beamonesque, #7 Mia Moo, #2 Mount Pilatus, #8 Chasing Happiness
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R110.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: AUSSENKEHR has maintained form/consistency at a higher level off this mark and should again acquit himself competitively under 62kg. PAISLEY PARK is a capable performer at this level and could have more to offer after a much-needed comeback outing. BLACK EGRET caught the eye when a fast-finishing 4th in a KZN Listed race over 1100m and is better suited to this trip, so is a big runner off a reduced mark. Muzi Yeni, who rode him that day, partners 2yo filly GIMMEFABULOUS who made a promising start to her career during the Cape Summer. WINGS WITHIN ME is weighted to be competitive.
Selections:
#4 Black Egret, #7 Wings Within Me, #1 Aussenkehr, #10 Gimmefabulous
Vaal, 09.05.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R82.500, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Several of these are carded to run at an earlier meeting so their participation must be noted. MOOLA MAN and WHORLY WHORLY have held their own in a higher grade and should be competitive, despite shouldering top weight. SHARAPOVA is out of sorts but has been given relief from the handicapper so ought to fare better under these conditions. LAUGHING WILLIAM had excuses for his last run and is also capable of getting into the picture. Preference, however, is for WALLED GARDEN whose improved recent performance over a shorter trip would’ve teed him up nicely for this race. DANCING DORA has claims too.
Selections:
#7 Walled Garden, #2 Whorly Whorly, #13 Dancing Dora, #1 Moola Man
Best Win: #1 LITTLE BALLERINA
Best Value Bet: #3 BEAMONESQUE
Best Longshot: #3 BEAMONESQUE
