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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2025.12.20
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R150.000, 11:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Debut winners HEATH HOUSE and VOLCANIC HEAT are open to any amount of improvement, and they should fight out the finish. The latter is 1kg better off with runner-up RUBY WHISPER so should have the measure of that rival who also has scope for progress. Well-bred newcomers CUSTODIAN complete the shortlist.
Selections: #1 Heath House, #2 Volcanic Heat, #7 Ruby Whisper, #5 Custodian
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R105.000, 12:25GMT+2
Race Summary: GULF OF AMERICA and VARACHINO’S STAR have the form and experience to fight out the finish. However, well-bred newcomers BE ALL YOU CAN BE and GREENSIDE GIRL won’t need to be special to play leading roles either, especially if the betting speaks in their favour.
Selections: #10 Greenside Girl, #9 Be All You Can Be, #12 Varachino’s Champ, #1 Gulf Of America
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 13:00GMT+2
Race Summary: TINTIN has finished 2nd in both starts after a lengthy layoff so, with any improvement in his peak outing, should open his account. HAMMER BLOW had excuses for disappointing last starts but also remain open to improvement and could make life difficult for the selection. GHOST TOWN ROADand QUICKFREEZEre bred to be useful so any market support for those well-bred newcomers would speak volumes of their chances.
Selections: #2 Tintin, #6 Ghost Town Road, #11 Quickfreeze, #1 Hammer Blow
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R105.000, 13:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Several with chances in a big field but a chance is taken on MAVERICK QUEEN continuing her good form. Wide-margin maiden winner PLAY WITH THE WIND has also shown enough to be competitive. SHE’S ALL MINE and SPY STORY have the form and experience to make their presence felt too.
Selections: #4 Maverick Queen, #6 Play With The Wind, #7 She’s All Mine, #13 Spy Story
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R110.000, 14:10GMT+2
Race Summary: CHABAL is engaged to run at an earlier meeting but his good recent form stands him in good stead if taking his place in this lineup. ROMEO’S MAGIC stays well and has been competitive at a higher level, so he should play a leading role in this grade. COPPER PLATE and CARTAGENA have nothing to prove at this level or over this distance so they should be competitive too.
Selections: #2 Romeo’s Magic, #1 Chabal, #4 Cartagena, #3 Copper Plate
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1475m, Turf, R500.000, 14:50GMT+2
Race Summary: YIPPEE KIYAY and stablemate CALANTHA have enjoyed ideal preparations and are poised to fight out the finish. KZN raider ROLLO THE VIKING and MASTER CHRISTMAS also have the credentials to play leading roles.
Selections: #18 Yippee Kiyay, #14 Calantha, #10 Rollo The Viking, #9 Master Christmas
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1475m, Turf, R175.000, 15:25GMT+2
Race Summary: PALACE PRINCE had legitimate excuses for a disappointing last start so can consider himself unlucky not to have earned a place in the main event. Stablemate SECRET CHORD, FULLY LOADED and in-form KZN raider AMOR FATI have the means to challenge for top honours.
Selections: #2 Palace Prince, #9 Fully Loaded, #4 Secret Chord, #7 Amor Fati
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1475m, Turf, R125.000, 16:00GMT+2
Race Summary: BIG UNIT and COPPOLA have both the form and experience at this level to fight out the finish. However, it could pay to follow the progress of improving last-start maiden winner WAYNE who is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip.
Selections: #17 Wayne, #4 Coppola, #8 Drivelikeamaster, #3 Big Unit
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R90.000, 16:35GMT+2
Race Summary: AMANDLA NGAWETHU improved with cheekpieces fitted to open his account under the same rider as last time and could improve sufficiently to follow up on handicap debut with the same headgear on. GAMER, CONCORDIA and CAN’T CATCH ME are hard-knocker with the form and experience at this level to make life difficult for the selection.
Selections: #1 Amandla Ngawethu, #6 Gamer, #9 Concordia, #15 Can’T Catch Me
Vaal, 20.12.2025, Race 10, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R90.000, 17:08GMT+2
Race Summary: INAFIX has been acquitting himself at a higher level so need only run to his recent form to challenge for top honours. Though the same could be said of veteran hard-knockers THERE SHE GOES and TIME FOR CHARITY. Last-start winner ORIENTAL BOUQUET benefitted from the fitting of blinkers last time and could confirm that improvement to play a leading role too.
Selections: #1 Inafix, #7 There She Goes, #8 Time For Charity, #11 Oriental Bouquet
Best Win: #2 TINTIN
Best Value Bet: #18 YIPPEE KIYAY
Best Longshot: #18 YIPPEE KIYAY
