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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.05.15
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 11:20GMT+2
Race Summary: ACT ON SNOW, EMPRESS WU and BILINGUAL have the form and experience to play leading roles, while youngster BLINDFIRE is improving and also likely to be competitive. Watch the betting on well-bred newcomer HURRICANE POWER.
Selections: #2 Act On Snow, #7 Blindfire, #3 Empress Wu, #8 Hurricane Power
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 11:55GMT+2
Race Summary: CHRONICLE KING and FIRE STARTER showed promise on debut and would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of that experience. Both will have more to offer so they could well fight out the finish. GOLDEN WARRIOR and SERGEANT SOQRAT have shown enough to also take home a cheque.
Selections: #3 Chronicle King, #4 Fire Starter, #5 Golden Warrior, #6 Sergeant Soqrat
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 12:30GMT+2
Race Summary: MATCHA MINT and WITCHING HOUR have shown promise over shorter distances and are likely to improve over this extended trip. FAR BEYOND, OPERA FAN and REJUVENATE fit a similar profile but have more of a place chance than a winning one.
Selections: #5 Matcha Mint, #9 Witching Hour, #6 Opera Fan, #8 Rejuvenate
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 13:05GMT+2
Race Summary: EIGHT HATS and SUNSET WARRIOR have twice run well over this trip and neither would have to improve a great deal to open their account. In a race that won’t take much winning, any betting support for newcomers CAPTAIN FRANK and SEASON’S GREETINGS would speak volumes for their chances. Unexposed JET QUERARI, experienced RINGHO and improver SUMMER WINTER aren’t underestimated.
Selections: #8 Eight Hats, #7 Sunset Warrior, #6 Captain Frank, #4 Summer Winter
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R90.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: MOLOTOV COCKTAIL caught the eye on debut when running on well from a long way back and, with that experience to count on, it should pay to follow his progress over this extended trip. PHIL THE FLUTER, BRIGHAM and CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD have the means to trouble the selection, ahead of MISS TAKES and FOLLOW THE MASTER.
Selections: #9 Molotov Cocktail, #4 Chieftain’s Shield, #2 Brigham, #1 Phil The Fluter
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R75.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Recent maiden winners BLURRED VISION, STOP THE TRAFFIC and CITY LIGHTS remain competitive on their handicap debut but a chance is worth taking on hard-knocker GAMER, whose consistency will be rewarded sooner rather than later. Last-start winner BOB LEE SWAGGER and class-dropper SNEAK PREVIEW are other genuine candidates for honours.
Selections: #4 Gamer, #10 Bob Lee Swagger, #3 Sneak Preview, #9 The Merciful
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R80.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Well-bred WAGRAM is open to any amount of improvement over this trip and it could pay to follow her progress. Hard-knockers IDEAL FUTURE and ROSY LEMON have the form and experience to trouble the selection, as do SILVER FLARE and TEO TORRIATTE. Returning POMOZELOUS and last-start scorer RED SPARROW complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Wagram, #2 Ideal Future, #4 Rosy Lemon, #12 Silver Flare
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R100.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: AVOONTOAST sets a good standard and ought to remain competitive despite a penalty for an emphatic last-start success. Fellow recent scorer DIMAKO’S JET is progressive and could have the edge over a distance that she is unbeaten. KEY WORKER, ELEMBEE, I AM REGAL and FREE IN SEATTLE aren’t taken lightly.
Selections: #2 Dimako’s Jet, #1 Avoontoast, #7 I Am Regal, #4 Key Worker
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R75.000, 16:05GMT+2
Race Summary: Many with chances in a trappy handicap and the participation of several runners with prior engagements has to be monitored. AFTER HOURS, SAIL THE SKY and PERINI PALACE will be competitive if taking their place in the line-up. However, it could pay to side with class-dropper KOTINOS who races off a reduced mark. STROKE OF MERCY appeals most of the remainder.
Selections: #4 Kotinos, #6 Sail The Sky, #8 Perini Palace, #12 Stroke Of Mercy
Vaal Classic, 15.05.2025, Race 10, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R80.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: A tricky Lucky Last in which last-start scorers ARILENA, IN THE ETHER, SYLVAN WARRIOR, INAFIX and PHALA MILLIONS should remain competitive off their revised ratings. GAELIC DANCER, returning PRINCESS LOLA and LONELY AS A CLOUD also have legitimate Eachway chances.
Selections: #1 Arilena, #3 In The Ether, #7 Sylvan Warrior, #9 Inafix
Best Win: #9 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL
Best Value Bet: #4 KOTINOS
Best Longshot: #4 KOTINOS
