A bumper 10-race card on Vaal’s Classic track on Thursday 22 May features several standout betting propositions for punters to cash in on, including four last-start winners that are good value to follow up.
In Race 2, Tony Peter-trained Mighty Eagle and Alec Laird’s runner Tenjiku square off over 1500m after recent victories over slightly shorter distances. The former, a Danon Platina colt ridden by Gavin Lerena, won by four lengths in open company last time over 1450m and should have more to offer over the extended trip against two-year-old opposition.
Chris Jonker’s rejuvenated Lancaster Bomber gelding Sail The Sky – whose Vercingetorix half-brother recently won the Grade 2 KZN Guineas – won for the second time in his last three outings at the same venue just seven days ago and will line up in Race 6 over 1600m under a resultant penalty with Muzi Yeni aboard. Be that as it may, Jonker’s charge could defy the handicapper’s revised assessment and win again on his quick reappearance.
Familiar foes After Hours and Unsolved Riddle renew rivalry with their last-start conqueror and are worth including in Swinger, Exacta and Trifecta bets.
In-form Captain Of All mare Pretty Analia lost little in defeat when finishing fourth against male opposition in her hat-trick bid 11 days ago but a return to winning ways looks likely for the Barend Botes-trained five-year-old in Race 7 over 1600m.
Louis Nhlapo has ridden Pretty Analia in her last eight outings for two wins, two seconds, a third and two fourth-place finishes so, unsurprisingly, retains the ride.
Fabian Habib is doubly represented in Race 8 over 1000m with Passage Of Power and Warm Winter Nite. Both runners have a winning chance, though preference is for the latter who fits a similar profile to Pretty Analia in the preceding event as this son of What A Winter also ran creditably in defeat last time after back-to-back wins.
Warm Winter Nite easily won a similar contest over 1000m in his penultimate outing, beating re-opposing rival Master Casper (3kg better off) by 2.5-lengths. He finished behind stablemate Passage Of Power last time in a race won by Yamadori over 1160m but the return to this shorter trip will suit Kabelo Matsunyane’s mount.
Promising two-year-old and last-start scorer One Tiger makes his handicap debut in Race 10 over 1000m and Mike & Adam Azzie’s runner looks good value to get the better of his older hard-knocking rivals. The One World colt opened his account at just the second time of asking and should improve appreciably with race experience, especially with blinkers fitted for the first time.
Clive Robinson
