Craig Zackey and S’manga Khumalo are the jockeys to be with at the nine-race midweek Vaal fixture on Tuesday 26 August, and following both leading Highveld riders throughout the day should prove a profitable exercise.
Between them, they are likely to dominate to the tune of five race victories, with Khumalo’s six rides on the card featuring three attractive betting propositions while two of the better bets at the meeting are among Zackey’s four mounts.
Paul Matchett-trained Carnarvon has been knocking loudly at the door of a maiden victory and the three-year-old gelding will likely break through and open his account under Zackey in Race 2 over 1200m.
This son of Elusive Fort was not at his best when trying the Polytrack for the first time at Hollywoodbets Greyville last time out but is worth another chance as the switch back to turf on his Highveld return will be more to his liking.
Khumalo’s ride in Race 3, Global View filly Empress Wu, fits a similar profile and Kobus Roux’s inmate is unlikely to get a better chance to shed her maiden tag over the same distance. She filled the runners-up berth in four consecutive appearances before finishing third in back-to-back recent outings, and that consistency will be rewarded sooner rather than later.
Zackey rides Joe Soma’s only runner at the meeting, Gimmeachoice, in Race 5 over 2000m and the sparingly raced five-year-old should, in his peak outing (third run after a rest and gelding), belatedly double his tally in only his 10th racecourse appearance.
This well-bred Gimmethegreenlight gelding got going too late last time when a fast-finishing third over 1800m at the same venue and on the evidence of that performance, the extended trip will be more to his liking.
Improving last-start winners Xenophon (Race 6) and Time Will Tell (Race 7) give Khumalo the edge over Zackey, and both recent maiden scorers seem capable of following up on handicap debut.
Lightly raced Sean Tarry-trained Xenophon wasn’t winning out of turn on Vaal’s Classic track last time in just his fourth career start, and this well-bred Vercingetorix gelding is probably a lot better than his opening mark.
With just 53,5kg on his back and the promise of further progress, Xenophon is an attractive betting proposition in receipt of weight from all bar one of his rivals.
Fanie Bronkhorst’s charge, Time Will Tell, was rewarded for consistency last time in his first outing after a gelding operation. This son of William Longsword remains open to improvement so could capitalise on what seems a lenient mark.
Clive Robinson
