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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.12.18
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R95.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: This won’t take much winning and FLYING WORLD need only bounce back to her form over a similar trip to fight out the finish. SAVARA’S PRINCESS and COMIC ARTIST also have the form and experience to play leading roles. Unexposed SAY A WISH returns from a layoff but is open to any amount of improvement, so she has to be respected too.
Selections: #2 Flying World, #4 Savara’s Princess, #5 Comic Artist, #9 Say A Wish
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R135.000, 12:40GMT+2
Race Summary: BOOM BOOM won a similar contest last time but both ARTIC SILVER and WOMAN’S WORLD are weighted to turn the tables on their last-start conqueror. NKWENKWEZI is going from strength to strength but a 5-point penalty complicates matters.
Selections: #5 Artic Silver, #4 Boom Boom, #6 Nkwenkwezi, #2 Woman’s World
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 13:15GMT+2
Race Summary: MASTER’S LADY finished second last time for the third time in her last 4 starts, so she wouldn’t be winning out of turn. VARACHINO’S CHAMP has scope for more improvement and has shown enough in recent starts to pose a threat. Newcomers DUCHESS ZAHRA and ELEGANT EDGE are worth a market check on debut.
Selections: #1 Master’s Lady, #9 Varachino’s Champ, #5 Duchess Zahra, #6 Elegant Edge
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 13:50GMT+2
Race Summary: INSPECTOR JAMES was runner-up in consecutive starts before a layoff so, with any improvement on his reappearance, he should be good enough to account for these rivals. Clinton Binda runs 5 in the race and his newcomers EDELSTEEN and SABRAGE won’t need to be special to challenge the selection, especially if the market speaks in their favour. MONKEY’S WEDDING appeal most of the remainder.
Selections: #1 Inspector James, #8 Sabrage, #7 Monkey’s Wedding, #6 Edelsteen
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R120.000, 14:25GMT+2
Race Summary: EUPHRATES (blinkers refitted) and ASIAH’S TIARA are experienced and neither would be winning out of turn after several near misses. EMERALD CITY and FESTIVAL OF LIGHT are likely to have a say in the finish if building on career-best last-start performances.
Selections: #8 Asiah’s Tiara, #1 Euphrates, #10 Festival Of Light, #4 Emerald City
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R105.000, 14:58GMT+2
Race Summary: ETHICAL and DUCHESS OF PALOMA are maturing with progressive profiles – both should remain competitive in their bid to complete a hat-trick. The latter is closely matched with SCARLETT HEART and ANNEWITHAN E on recent form, so those rivals warrant respect.
Selections: #4 Ethical, #2 Duchess Of Paloma, #5 Scarlett Heart, #1 Annewithan E
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R125.000, 15:35GMT+2
Race Summary: XENOPHON and TOP DIVISION are closely matched on the form of a recent meeting in a similar contest, but the latter is engaged to run at an earlier meeting so preference is for the former. MISTER WILSON beat ANTONIO GAUDI last time out and could defy an unfavourable weight turnaround as he is progressive and open to more improvement than his familiar foe. Hard-knockers FULLY LOADED also has the form and experience at this level to fight out the finish.
Selections: #7 Xenophon, #5 Top Division, #2 Mister Wilson, #4 Fully Loaded
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R100.000, 16:15GMT+2
Race Summary: JABARI THIMBA impressed when running out a wide-margin winner stretching out to 1500m last time and he could have more to offer over this extended trip. Fellow 3yo rivals LUWAK and PALACE ATTACK also have scope to improve and should be competitive. Filly DRUMNADROCHIT ran in a Grade 3 last time so should fare better at this level.
Selections: #7 Jabari Thimba, #5 Luwak, #6 Drumnadrochit, #1 Palace Attack
Vaal Classic, 18.12.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R110.000, 16:45GMT+2
Race Summary: STOKESY was a well-beaten fourth over further last time but he ought to be more competitive over this shorter trip. ACTUARY should have more to offer stretching out to this trip so could fight out the finish. RED SUNRISE has shown enough to play a leading role too. CODEWORD complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Stokesy, #3 Actuary, #2 Red Sunrise, #6 Codeword
Best Win: #1 MASTER’S LADY
Best Value Bet: #7 XENOPHON
Best Longshot: #7 XENOPHON
