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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2025.11.20
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 11:50GMT+2
Race Summary: AMANDLA NGAWETHU has the form and experience over this trip that will stand him in good stead, especially with his rider taking 4kg off the back. ARIZONA MAGIC and WORLD ORDER are capable of better than disappointing recent efforts suggest, and they could get involved if bouncing back to their earlier form. RED SUNRISE had legitimate excuses last time and remains open to improvement, so could get into the picture. Newcomers BIG SKY RANGER, KING ETHELRED and KNOWMORE are bred to be useful but won’t need to be special to play leading roles either.
Selections: #10 King Ethelred, #1 Amandla Ngawethu, #11 Knowmore, #6 World Order
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: FORCE PUBLIQUE is well bred and open to improvement after respective absences. TOMMY ATKINS caught the eye when staying on well to finish third over this trip on debut. He would’ve benefitted from that experience and should improve to fight out the finish. Newcomers AGOGE and GIMMETHESPOTLIGHT are worth a market check.
Selections: #12 Tommy Atkins, #6 Agoge, #8 Gimmethespotlight, #2 Force Publique
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: AL GREENGA attracted market support when finishing fourth on debut and would’ve strengthened during a subsequent 175-day absence. She’s open to any amount of improvement so can play a leading role. WINDS OF GRACE wouldn’t be winning out of turn after several near misses and her recent race fitness could give her the edge. ONCEINABLUEMOON and EMERALD COUNTESS have shown enough to take home a cheque.
Selections: #1 Winds Of Grace, #11 Al Greenga, #3 Onceinabluemoon, #8 Emerald Countess
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: DELAWARE RIVER finished a close fourth over a similar trip last time so won’t need to improve much to fight out the finish in her peak outing. BABETTE’S FEAST showed promise in 2 starts as a juvenile against older rivals and could open her account with any improvement on her reappearance after a 112-day absence. LADY LIMONCELLO and SAVARA’S PRINCESS also have the form and experience make their presence felt.
Selections: #10 Babette’s Feast, #2 Delaware River, #1 Lady Limoncello, #5 Savara’s Princess
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R160.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: KUDZU acquitted himself well in a similar contest behind a subsequent Grade 3 winner and a repeat of that performance in his peak outing off a 1-point higher mark could suffice. HOTARUBI showed signs of improvement in a 2400m feature earlier this month and, even under top weight, could have a role to play off a 2-point lower mark. DOUGLAS DRAGON ran on to finish a close third over shorter last time so this extended trip could be more to his liking. Hard-knocking veterans IMPERIAL MASTER isn’t taken lightly.
Selections: #6 Kudzu, #1 Hotarubi, #9 Douglas Dragon, #4 Imperial Master
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R135.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive HAZY DAZY relished the step up to this trip when winning easily last time so a resultant 5-point penalty may not be enough to prevent her from winning again. As such, a bigger threat to the selection will likely be posed by familiar foes KISSING MACHINE and AZALEAS FOR ALL who are closely matched on these terms. Top-weight ROYAL INVITATION and recent runner-up (against males) CARTAGENA complete the shortlist.
Selections: #5 Hazy Dazy, #2 Kissing Machine, #3 Azaleas For All, #1 Royal Invitation
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R105.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Paul Matchett has a strong hand with three runners spearheaded by consistent MATCHA MINT who, given her pedigree, is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip. Stablemate SURPRISE PARTY was outclassed in a 1400m Grade 3 at the start of the month but she, too, is likely to improve for the step up to this distance. Recent maiden winners REJUVENATE and ETHICAL opened their accounts over 1800m last time and should have more to offer stretching out to this trip.
Selections: #1 Matcha Mint, #3 Ethical, #4 Surprise Party, #8 Rejuvenate
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R90.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: MICHAEL FARADAY didn’t land a blow in a recent 1000m handicap but this trip will be more to his liking. Last-start maiden winner SCARLETT HEART is maturing and remains open to improvement after a 12-week break. THE MIGHTIEST and GAMER are hard knockers with the means to acquit themselves competitively too.
Selections: #2 Scarlett Heart, #1 Michael Faraday, #4 Gamer, #3 The Mightiest
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: It’s hard to oppose COSMIC SPEED, a proven top-level performer and Grade 1 winner. Sean Tarry’s charge resumes after a 166-day absence but won’t need to be fully tuned to make a winning reappearance. Stablemate SHADOWFAX is progressive and would’ve come on from his pleasing 1200m comeback, so he could improve to complete a stable Exacta. MASTER CHRISTMAS is honest hard-knockers with earning potential. PLUS FOUR could take home a cheque.
Selections: #4 Cosmic Speed, #11 Shadowfax, #2 Master Christmas, #9 Plus Four
Vaal, 20.11.2025, Race 10, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R100.000, 17:00GMT+2
Race Summary: CAPTAIN SELVIE, QUIET WINTER and SHE’S ALL MINE are 3yo fillies with more scope for improvement than their opposition. However, older male rivals SPY STORY will make life difficult.
Selections: #7 Quiet Winter, #5 Captain Selvie, #10 Spy Story, #8 She’s All Mine
Best Win: #4 COSMIC SPEED
Best Value Bet: #2 SCARLETT HEART
Best Longshot: #2 SCARLETT HEART
