Download your South Africa racing information for FREE now:
RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.08.14
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R75.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: HOLLYWOOD MADAM and LADY BLUNT have improved after respective absences and remain open to further progress after career-best recent performances, so they will likely fight out the finish ahead of GENOVEFA, FRANGIPANI and long-time maiden MADAME POMPADOUR whose form and experience will stand her in good stead.
Selections: #3 Lady Blunt, #1 Hollywood Madam, #5 Madame Pompadour, #4 Frangipani
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R80.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: WINDS OF GRACE wouldn’t be winning out of turn after consecutive seconds recently and she gets the nod ahead of 4yo male rivals SEVENTH FLEET and GREENLIGHT RACER, both of whom could improve in first-time blinkers. DONDOYAKI has scope for improvement and may have more to offer stretching out to this trip with the headgear removed. Experienced TRIP TO STATES has the form and experience to make his presence felt too.
Selections: #2 Winds Of Grace, #3 Greenlight Racer, #1 Seventh Fleet, #5 Dondoyaki
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Fillies FAITHFUL NEO and DEAL MAKER are weighted to be competitive and should play leading roles on the strength and consistency of their recent performances. The latter finished second in both starts since arriving from the UK and won’t need to improve much in first-time blinkers to open her account on SA soil. Last-start winner LONELY AS A CLOUD remains competitive under a penalty. Returning WESTERN WISHES and class-dropper NKANDLA GOLD have earning potential too.
Selections: #2 Deal Maker, #3 Faithful Neo, #5 Lonely As A Cloud, #7 Western Wishes
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: SYLVAN WARRIOR finished a close-up fifth in a 2yo Grade 2 late last season and he could have more to offer in his sophomore year. However, conceding weight to older rivals at this level won’t be easy. Course-and-distance specialist FULLY LOADED and lightly raced 4yo HEMISPHERE have the form and experience to trouble the top-weight, and neither would be winning out of turn after back-to-back recent seconnds. Unexposed BOURBON RESERVE, Highveld newcomer ABOUND and RED PENNY, who will appreciate dropping back to a sprint, also have the means to get involved. PALACE REVOLT and LONGSWORD aren’t ignored.
Selections: #2 Fully Loaded, #1 Sylvan Warrior, #9 Hemisphere, #4 Bourbon Reserve
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: HONG KONG acquitted herself well (albeit without victory) at a higher level late last season, especially over this distance. She remains open to improvement and will give her male opposition a run for their money, even under joint top weight. Last-start winner OPEN HIGHWAY is effective over this extended trip and should play another leading role under a 2-point penalty. Hard-knockers EIFFEL TOWER and KING OF NUMBERS are also competitive off their current marks. SALUTE THE FLAG, OMBUDSMAN and GUERILLA WARFARE complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Hong Kong, #3 Open Highway, #2 Salute The Flag, #6 Eiffel Tower
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R140.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: SOLDIER’S EYE made no impression from a wide draw in a 2000m Grade 2 last month but she ought to fare better at this level over a distance more to her liking. However, conceding 5kg to progressive 4yo male rival OBSIDIAN seems a bridge too far. The hat-trick seeking latter will appreciate stepping back up to this trip and a 4-point penalty isn’t likely to halt his momentum. JURY’S OUT and STREWN SKY aren’t taken lightly, while MOUNT DARWIN and MASTERSHIP are capable of better than recent efforts suggest and shouldn’t be underestimated either.
Selections: #6 Obsidian, #1 Soldier’s Eye, #7 Jury’s Out, #5 Mastership
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 15:55GMT+2
Race Summary: TWOSTEP QUEEN made all under a 4kg-claiming apprentice last time when beating KISSHOTEN and LAST CAR TO PASS over 1800m. Without that weight allowance this time, she will struggle to confirm that form. ACCEPT COOKIES is also better off at the weights and should acquit herself competitively on these terms. MISS HANNIGAN is proven at this level and effective over the distance, so she should also make her presence felt. AVOONTOAST races well fresh and can take home a cheque.
Selections: #4 Kisshoten, #2 Last Car To Pass, #8 Accept Cookies, #3 Twostep Queen
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R100.000, 16:30GMT+2
Race Summary: KISSING MACHINE bounced back to form last time in a stronger race over 1800m. She raced without blinkers on that occasion and a repeat of that performance (off an unchanged mark) should suffice at this level. LADY SABRINA is distance suited and capable of posing a threat, as is FUTURE DATE whose consistency will be rewarded sooner rather than later. WAY TO BURN and PLAY WITH FIRE come next.
Selections: #3 Kissing Machine, #1 Lady Sabrina, #6 Future Date, #2 Way To Burn
Vaal Classic, 14.08.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R80.000, 17:05GMT+2
Race Summary: LIBECCIO capitalised on a drop in the ratings to finish an improved second (ahead of SAIL THE SKY) over track and trip in a similar contest last time, and there shouldn’t be much separating the pair again on these terms. The former is held on earlier form by frontrunner CAN’T CATCH ME, herself a runner-up over this course and distance recently, who will be hard to peg back if able to lead from gate 10. STROKE OF MERCY and SUNSHINE DAY are wider Quartet inclusions.
Selections: #6 Can’T Catch Me, #2 Sail The Sky, #5 Sheets And Goggles, #4 Libeccio
Best Win: #3 KISSING MACHINE
Best Value Bet: #2 FULLY LOADED
Best Longshot: #2 FULLY LOADED
