The first Vaal meeting of the new South African racing season will take place on Thursday 7 August and it’s worth keeping a close eye on two runners from the small but shrewd yard of Heather Adamson, along with the progressive sprinter Global Thunder from the Corrie Lensley stable.
Adamson, who operates with a boutique string, posted an impressive strike rate last season and looks poised to start the 2025-26 campaign in similar style. Her pair Cartagena and Futurewolff both hold strong claims, while Lensley’s Global Thunder stands out in the sprint division.
Global Thunder, a daughter of Global View, has thrived since the application of cheekpieces and she lines up in Race 5 over 1000m with clear winning credentials. She’s won two of her last four starts, finishing runner-up in another, with her only sub-par effort in that spell coming against male opposition.
Last time out, she dominated from the front under apprentice Mxolisi Mbutho and scored convincingly. She remains well below her career peak rating and, with similar tactics expected, she could prove hard to peg back again.
Adamson’s Cartagena has been a revelation over staying trips, rattling off three straight wins from 15 May to 19 June, despite sharp rating hikes. She was particularly impressive over 2400m at this very track and trip, scoring by nearly eight lengths over a re-opposing rival who now meets her 4kg better off.
She found things a bit tougher last time when fourth on a tighter track but a return to the Vaal’s long straight in Race 6 over 2400m (a course and distance over which she is unbeaten) will play to her strengths. Again under Kabelo Matsunyane, and back at her favoured venue, she’s the one they’ll all have to catch.
Stablemate Futurewolff is a reliable handicapper who’s knocking on the door. Although winless in six starts since his last success over this 1800m trip, he’s finished in the first five every time, often in stronger company. He now drops slightly in grade and gets the services of Raymond Danielson, a jockey with a solid record for the yard.
If he runs to his recent form, a breakthrough win wouldn’t surprise for the six-year-old Futura gelding and he shapes as a solid each-way bet for international punters in Race 7.
Clive Robinson
