RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2024.06.04
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R75.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: GOLD AGENT has the form and experience to fight for victory and wouldn’t be winning out of turn. She could, however, have to settle for 2nd once more with youngster SEVENTEEN AGAIN expected to build on the promise of her course-and-distance debut. BELLISSIVAR and GOLDEN ARGO appeal most of the remainder.
Selections:
#12 Seventeen Again, #1 Gold Agent, #9 Bellissivar, #2 Golden Argo
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R90.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: ONE PARTY caught the eye when finishing 3rd on debut in open company and, with the benefit of that experience, is likely to improve to fight out the finish. GAELIC DANCER, INTRO and TAKE YOUR PLACE have all shown enough to pose a threat. Watch the betting on the newcomers – market support for BASKED IN GLORY, QUELLO CHE and/or KOMATI RVER will need to be taken seriously.
Selections:
#11 One Party, #15 Take Your Place, #3 Basked In Glory, #6 Intro
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R90.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: VALIEVA boasts has form credentials and could upstage her male rivals in receipt of a sex allowance. ANTONIO GAUDI, COCKEY WALK, HOWZIT BOET and SPY STORY, with the benefit of experience, could make their presence felt. However, a bigger threat is likely to come from one of the newcomers so the betting market needs to be monitored closely. CHILI BOMB, FLIGHT ENGINEER, MILAN’S WORLD and SEA WOLF have attractive pedigrees and are worth keeping an eye on.
Selections:
#16 Valieva, #12 Sea Wolf, #11 Quevano, #3 Chili Bomb
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: WHAT A LUCY has been threatening to exit the maidens and could get it right in her peak outing after finishing 3rd and 2nd in two comeback appearances. Younger rival GREEN LIGHTNING receives 2.5kg and is likely to put up a fight. TOGETHER AGAIN is closely matched with the latter on recent form, so ought to be competitive too. Newcomer TIGER STORM is worth a market check and will need to be respected/included if attracting betting support.
Selections:
#5 What A Lucy, #14 Green Lightning, #6 Together Again, #13 Tiger Storm
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R92.500, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. QUICK TRIP has thrived since relocating to the Highveld and should remain competitive under a 3-point penalty for her last-start victory over this trip. STORMY SEAS earned a 5-point penalty for his recent course-and-distance success but should also acquit himself competitively. NKANDLA GOLD and KINSHIN SHA are better off at the weights with those rivals so are likely to pose more of a threat, while a return to this distance should see IN THE ETHER perform in a better light.
Selections:
#2 Quick Trip, #7 Kinshin Sha, #5 Stormy Seas, #9 In The Ether
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R80.000, 15:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Tricky. MOCHA FRAPPE has scope to improve and could bounce back from a disappointing last start with the blinkers removed. CLARKSON has dropped to a dangerous mark and cannot be discounted, while AVOONTOAST is another to keep safe on her return from a 15-week absence. PUTINS PROMISE, VIVA DE JANEIRO and LAUGHING WILLIAM have obvious claims after encouraging recent outings, but it could pay to side with EIGER SANCTION who returned to form with an improved effort at this level last time off a higher mark. VOLTE FACE and LEESON shouldn’t be underestimated either.
Selections:
#11 Eiger Sanction, #10 Volte Face, #6 Viva De Janeiro, #5 Putins Promise
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R110.000, 15:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. PAISLEY PARK got his career back on track with a staying-on 3rd over 1200m last time and this extended distance will be more to his liking. TSAR BOMBA and EMPORIUM are capable sorts with scope to improve and shouldn’t be written off after their unplaced recent outings. FULLY LOADED has defied a penalty in each of his last three starts and completed the hat-trick over 1500m on this course 13 weeks ago. He returns off a 3-point higher mark but is open to further progress on his reappearance. Stablemate KING’S EXPRESS and resurgent (with blinkers removed) BRAVE VIKING have claims too.
Selections:
#1 Paisley Park, #9 Fully Loaded, #7 Emporium, #8 Brave Viking
Vaal, 04.06.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R80.000, 16:28GMT+2
Race Summary: MUNCHKIN has a good record at this level of the handicap and is likely to be competitive given the strength and consistency of his recent form. Veteran mare SAMOA is closely matched with that rival on recent form and ought to acquit herself competitively on these terms. DANCING DORA, CITYSCAPE and LULU’S BOY have maintained their form in this grade recently and shouldn’t be far off the mark either. WALLED GARDEN and RAINING RUBIES are distance-suited and in good form. Both should play leading roles. AFTER HOURS and reserve runner DUKE OF ROCK are capable of making their presence felt.
Selections:
#9 Walled Garden, #11 Raining Rubies, #1 Munchkin, #16 Samoa
Best Win: #12 SEVENTEEN AGAIN
Best Value Bet: #11 EIGER SANCTION
Best Longshot: #11 EIGER SANCTION
