RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2024.08.29
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R90.000, 12:13GMT+2
Race Summary: Some star-studded pedigrees feature in the first race. FIREBURST and ON A JET PLANE are out of Grade 1 winning mares while SHADOW OF THE MOON is a half-sister by Lancaster Bomber to Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship winner Dyce. Follow the betting market closely. HEY HEY JULIA has run some decent races and had excuses in her last start when beaten by promising newcomer Bakwena. What A Winter-filly LILAC SNOW came was supported in her second start but suffered a mouth injury. All of the raced runners have shown enough to get into the money.
Selections:
#1 Hey Hey Julia, #5 Fireburst, #8 Lilac Snow, #6 On A Jet Plane
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R90.000, 12:45GMT+2
Race Summary: One World-gelding ONE AND ALL ran a much better race after a rest and gelding when second. He can build on that performance. PURSUIT OF FAME has also drawn well toward the outside and could be a big threat. He was beaten a neck with an injury in his penultimate and held form even though dropping in trip last time. CAPTAIN CLEVER needs to be watched. He showed good pace on debut and should improve. MIZZEN SWORD, stablemate SOLAR SAIL, and TAKEYOURBESTSHOT must have claims on form.
Selections:
#1 One And All, #2 Pursuit Of Fame, #12 Takeyourbestshot, #10 Mizzen Sword
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R75.000, 13:17GMT+2
Race Summary: A Maiden handicap over1600m sees three runners stand out at first glance. ROLL OF THE DICE has run well down the straight and could be hard to peg back dropping in distance. He does, however, give weight to improving youngster RED LEGEND who has shown potential and has finished ahead of him in the past. If he gets the distance he should have every chance. CAPTAIN JIM is holding form nicely and has the pedigree to go the longer distance. At these weights many can upset including GAMER who has shown some ability in the past.
Selections:
#3 Captain Jim, #2 Red Legend, #1 Roll Of The Dice, #9 Blurred Vision
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R110.000, 13:49GMT+2
Race Summary: SUGAR BLAST is the one to watch. The highly regarded son of Erupt won his track debut in good style but is racing after a rest and may just need it. FLYING BULL found his last few a bit far and should improve along with POETS WARRIOR. They should guarantee a good pace. The latter is back after a long layoff. IMPERIAL MASTER is best weighted and is in good form as a seven-year-old. He should be right there. STREWN SKY and THUNEE PLAYA have decent recent form and look to have more to come. Most have earning potential in this.
Selections:
#3 Imperial Master, #6 Strewn Sky, #8 Thunee Playa, #1 Sugar Blast
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R75.000, 14:30GMT+2
Race Summary: CALIDA has improved with each start as a gelding and caught the eye when a fast-finishing 4th over 1450m in his last start without blinkers and from the widest draw. He’s dropped further in the ratings so represents good value on 3.5kg better terms with hat-trick seeking RISKY BUSINESS for a length beating. Hard-knockers STROKE OF MERCY and ZOOMBOMBER cannot be discounted, while last-start maiden winners CARTAGENA and PERINI PALACE aren’t without a chance either on handicap debut. CALLABURN, CAN’T CATCH ME and SAIL THE SKY shouldn’t be underestimated.
Selections:
#3 Calida, #5 Risky Business, #6 Stroke Of Mercy, #8 Zoombomber
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R85.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: SHINTO SHRINE wasn’t winning out of turn when shedding his maiden tag over 1600m as a 2yo and it could pay to follow his progress on his seasonal reappearance as the runner-up DECEPTION PASS has franked that form by winning since. ROCK OF BISMANTOVA won both starts last month and should remain competitive under a 5-point penalty in his hat-trick bid. Veteran NORDIC REBEL is proven at this level and runs well fresh, so also warrants respect. RUN FOR COVER and WHISPERS OF WAR have claims too.
Selections:
#13 Shinto Shrine, #6 Deception Pass, #2 Rock Of Bismantova, #1 Nordic Rebel
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R85.000, 15:45GMT+2
Race Summary: SECRET CHORD has maintained form and consistency and is lightly raced so is open to further improvement. He won back-to-back comeback outings after a rest during which he was gelded and coped well when stepped up to this grade last time so could resume winning ways. Both THE NAVY LARK and WARM WINTER NITE should make their presence felt under a light weight. Last-start winner VEGAS HI RISE could also pose a threat despite a resultant 3-point penalty. COPPOLA and RATTLE BAG have earning potential too.
Selections:
#3 Secret Chord, #10 The Navy Lark, #4 Vegas Hi Rise, #11 Warm Winter Nite
Vaal, 29.08.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1100m, Turf, R75.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Veteran WRITTEN IN STONE has lost little zest for racing and was a convincing winner of his last start over 1200m on this course. He has a bit more to do under a penalty but should play another leading role. DANCING DORA and TOGETHER AGAIN are closely matched on the form of a recent 1400m meeting and both are effective over this shorter trip, so also have legitimate winning claims. JET CAT, RED CARPET GIRL, SAMOA and TWICE AS WILD are honest hard-knockers capable of getting into the picture too.
Selections:
#4 Dancing Dora, #2 Together Again, #6 Written In Stone, #5 Jet Cat
Best Win: #3 CAPTAIN JIM
Best Value Bet: #3 CALIDA
Best Longshot: #3 CALIDA
