RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2024.05.16
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R75.000, 12:25GMT+2
Race Summary: A moderate Work Riders maiden to begin the meeting and GOLD AGENT is unlikely to get a better opportunity to break her duck. TRIP TO STATES and THE NAVY LARK have the form and experience to pose a threat, though newcomer SEVENTEEN AGAIN wouldn’t have to be special to make her presence felt.
Selections:
#4 Gold Agent, #1 Trip To States, #8 Seventeen Again, #5 The Navy Lark
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 13:00GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky 2yo maiden. RODEO DRIVE has finished 2nd in both starts, the latest after a 4-month layoff, so should have more to offer with improved fitness and the benefit of experience. VALIEVA, runner-up in 3 of her last 4 outings, wouldn’t be winning out of turn either. HEY HEY JULIA and JILTED ought to have come on appreciably after pleasing introductions so could get involved too. Newcomers ACCEPT COOKIES, DESERT CLOUD and ROAMING SPIRIT are bred to be useful and cannot be underestimated. Watch the betting.
Selections:
#8 Rodeo Drive, #7 Roaming Spirit, #2 Desert Cloud, #10 Valieva
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 13:35GMT+2
Race Summary: WOLF MOUNTAIN finished a close-up 2nd on debut behind a highly regarded sort who had the benefit of an introductory outing. He finished more than 6 lengths ahead of 3rd and needn’t improve a great deal to open his account. ZAFAR, HOWZIT BOET and FRENCH BOLT should improve after encouraging debut displays so could fight out the minors.
Selections:
#7 Wolf Mountain, #2 French Bolt, #8 Zafar, #3 Howzit Boet
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 14:10GMT+2
Race Summary: DRAGON DRAGON and JUST THE TWO OF US are improving 3yo fillies. Both filled the runners-up berth in their latest outings and could fight out the finish. Youngster GREEN LIGHTNING finished an encouraging 3rd on debut and, with the benefit of that experience, should improve to pose a threat. GAELIC DANCER showed enough in 2 starts before her 12-week absence to make her presence felt. SMASHING and TOGETHER AGAIN complete the shortlist.
Selections:
#10 Just The Two Of Us, #1 Dragon Dragon, #13 Green Lightning, #6 Together Again
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R80.000, 14:45GMT+2
Race Summary: NKANDLA GOLD is at the top of his game and ran well enough under this 4kg apprentice in a stronger race last time to play a leading role. LULU’S BOY is closely matched with that rival on recent form so also warrants respect. MUNCHKIN recently beat PENDRAGON and SAMOA over 1000m on the Classic track but those rivals could turn the tables on these terms. IN THE ETHER should appreciate a return to this shorter trip and ought to acquit herself competitively too. However, the value could lie with consistent STORMY SEAS who caught the eye last time and races off a reduced merit rating.
Selections:
#6 Stormy Seas, #1 Nkandla Gold, #7 In The Ether, #5 Munchkin
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R82.500, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Wide open. Maturing TO THE RESCUE and consistent LEESON have run well when tried over 2400m, so are capable of a forward showing under top-weight 60kg. ROYAL MAZARIN and NUCLEAR FORCE go the trip well and have both the form and experience to be competitive. Progressive 3yo fillies ONE RELIGION and KAKIEBOS are open to improvement stepping up to this distance for the first time, so shouldn’t be underestimated. Hard-knocking 5yo mares IDEAL FUTURE and ANGEL’S WISH are proven stayers, both of whom are favourably treated by the conditions, so they ought to play leading roles.
Selections:
#11 Ideal Future, #10 One Religion, #12 Angel’s Wish, #2 Leeson
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R82.500, 15:55GMT+2
Race Summary: DARK SILVER has improved with blinkers fitted and confirmed as much with a last-start maiden win over 2000m. He is as effective over this shorter trip and need only overcome his wide No 11 starting stall to follow up in his handicap debut. FUSHIMI INARI has the form and experience to pose a threat, though does appear held by the selection if judged on their meetings with Marauding Horde. LEAO ALADO bounced back to best last time (the form of that win has been franked) and could give the selection most to fear. CARNELO, EIGER SANCTION and GUY ALEXANDER are capable of making their presence felt.
Selections:
#1 Dark Silver, #4 Leao Alado, #2 Fushimi Inari, #11 Carnelo
Vaal, 16.05.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R80.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Veteran WHORLY WHORLY won last time out and will have every chance if taking his place. It could, however, pay to follow the progress of well-bred first-start scorer REDCHERRY LANE who is open to any amount of improvement after scoring in a Work Riders maiden on debut. GRAPE SHOT returned to winning ways over 1200m last time and, on pedigree, should remain competitive over this extended trip under a minimum 2-point penalty. CITYSCAPE could also improve stepping up to this distance for the first time, so has to be respected. ZENOBIA’S GOLD completes the shortlist.
Selections:
#7 Redcherry Lane, #3 Grape Shot, #11 Cityscape, #9 Zenobia’s Gold
Best Win: #7 WOLF MOUNTAIN
Best Value Bet: #6 STORMY SEAS
Best Longshot: #6 STORMY SEAS
