RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2024.08.01
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R90.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: ROMAN’S REVENGE improved with each start in KZN before relocating and needn’t make a great deal of progress to get off the mark on his Highveld debut. SKITTLES SKIES blotted his copybook over 1600m last time but deserves another chance on the strength of his earlier form, though his wide draw will do him no favours. SOMMERSILBER, ORANGE COUNTY and PALACE GUARD would have come on with the benefit of an introductory outing and are open to improvement, so could also get into the picture. OKLAHOMA TWISTER and ROLL OF THE DICE have the form and experience to make their presence felt too.
Selections:
#9 Roman’s Revenge, #8 Skittles Skies, #11 Orange County, #2 Roll Of The Dice
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R90.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: LACEWING has marked improvement in her 2 starts beyond 1200m and finished a close-up 2nd over 1600m late last season. She is open to further progress but need only repeat her latest performance to shed her maiden tag. Well-bred SILVER PARASOL has 2.25 lengths to find on that rival but has to be included in Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet bets. MESSALINA was a game-in-defeat 2nd over 1450m in her latest outing and will again be hard to peg back if allowed her own way at the head of affairs. KURAMATHI is one to keep an eye on, as this longer distance should unlock improvement.
Selections:
#4 Lacewing, #6 Silver Parasol, #5 Messalina, #9 Kuramathi
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R110.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: IMPERIAL MASTER was given a polished ride by jockey Jeffery Syster when a workmanlike winner over 1800m at this venue last time out, and the extra 200m under a 5-point penalty is unlikely to halt his momentum. However, he hasn’t won in 8 attempts over this distance and is 2kg worse off with MILLAHUE who ran on from a hopeless position to be beaten just 2.40 lengths. On that evidence, this extended trip could see the latter turn the tables on these revised weight terms. WHAFEEF is worse off at the weights with those rivals but will strip fitter. VESUVIO and PROFESSOR SNAPE can earn too.
Selections:
#4 Millahue, #2 Imperial Master, #1 Whafeef, #8 Vesuvio
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R75.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: NUCLEAR FORCE has found his niche with blinkers on and wasn’t winning out of turn at a higher level last time. He should remain competitive at this grade under a 5-point penalty but has to lug a hefty 61kg around 2400m. That won’t be easy. Hard-knocking mares ANGEL’S WISH and IDEAL FUTURE are distance-suited and proven at this level, so they should acquit themselves competitively. The latter ran into traffic over 2000m last time and will enjoy this trip, so is the value play under a 2.5kg claimer. GUY ALEXANDER, FLAG BEARER and MANZ KNIGHT come next.
Selections:
#6 Ideal Future, #1 Nuclear Force, #5 Manz Knight, #4 Angel’s Wish
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R100.000, 15:10GMT+2
Race Summary: SPECIAL CHARM, INDIAN OCEAN, and CRIMSON FOREST have prior engagements so their participation here could be in doubt. Both ROSY LEMON and I AM REGAL boast a good record over this distance. They cannot be underestimated under light weights. APACHE FIGHTER wasn’t disgraced on her return following a 7-month layoff and she would’ve tightened up with the benefit of that outing, so could fare better back against her own sex. Preference, however, is for progressive HAPPY MO who could have more to offer over this trip after finishing a close-up 2nd over 1600m last time out.
Selections:
#6 Happy Mo, #7 Rosy Lemon, #8 I Am Regal, #5 Apache Fighter
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R80.000, 15:45GMT+2
Race Summary: DIMAKO’S JET acquitted herself well under 60.5kg against male opposition over 1600m last time and the extra 200m, with the cheekpieces worn that day dispensed with, will be more to her liking. Both PRETTY IN PEARLS and LINGANOMORE are honest hard-knockers with the form and experience to play leading roles. OLIVIA’S WAY showed promise last season as a 2yo and was a wide-margin winner of a 1600m maiden. She is open to any amount of improvement over ground as she matures, so it could pay to follow her progress on handicap debut. TEO TORRIATTE appeals most of the remainder.
Selections:
#5 Olivia’s Way, #2 Dimako’s Jet, #6 Linganomore, #3 Pretty In Pearls
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R80.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Highly rated CHESTNUT BOMBER outsprinted a heavily-backed odds-on favourite on a successful KZN raid in late May, and the form of that race was given a boost by the 3rd-placed finisher who has won since. He is open to any amount of improvement as a 3yo. However, the same can be said of both ZIP CODE and I BELONG who showed enough during their promising 2yo campaigns to be competitive here. DR FAUSTUS, SOVEREIGNS CALL and unexposed IT’S HER WAY can earn minor money.
Selections:
#5 Chestnut Bomber, #3 Zip Code, #8 I Belong, #7 Sovereigns Call
Vaal Classic, 01.08.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R80.000, 16:55GMT+2
Race Summary: KOTINOS caught the eye with a staying-on 3rd under this 2.5kg apprentice in a similar contest last month and a repeat of that performance off an unchanged mark should see him fight out the finish. PENDRAGON finished behind that rival before winning his next start but, while he should remain competitive under a 3-point penalty, will find it tougher on these revised terms. RIDE ON is 2.5kg better off for a 2.60-length beating so make her presence felt. LULU’S BOY, MICKE’S BOMB, DARK TIDE and METEORIC aren’t taken lightly either.
Selections:
#1 Kotinos, #6 Pendragon, #3 Ride On, #4 Lulu’s Boy
Best Win: #5 CHESTNUT BOMBER
Best Value Bet: #6 IDEAL FUTURE
Best Longshot: #6 IDEAL FUTURE
