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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.12.23
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R105.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: WINDS OF GRACE has been costly to follow but deserves to break her duck after several near misses. GALAXY QUEEN and HUBERTUS HUNT finished close-up last time and they wouldn’t need to improve a great deal to make life difficult for the selection. SHADOWLINE has scope to improve, so they could get into the picture too.
Selections: #1 Winds Of Grace, #4 Galaxy Queen, #3 Hubertus Hunt, #10 Shadowline
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: LANCE ALOT improved to finish ahead of MILAN’S WORLD over track and trip last time, and he should confirm his superiority on 4kg better terms in his peak outing. SHOREYBOMBA and ONE OF THOSE DAYS are closely matched on the form of a recent 1450m meeting at this venue. They are improving and should have more to offer over this extended trip.
Selections: #7 Lance Alot, #1 Milan’s World, #10 Shoreybomba, #9 One Of Those Days
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R105.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Thriving NKWENKWEZI and progressive BELLEROPHON have the form and experience to fight out the finish, but both are engaged to run at an earlier meeting which casts doubt over their participation. Last-start winner SKY PILLAR ROCK and veteran hard-knocker BANHA BRIDGE ought to remain competitive.
Selections: #1 Nkwenkwezi, #3 Sky Pillar Rock, #4 Banha Bridge, #6 Bellerophon
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R100.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: FATHER CHRISTMAS and PRINCE OF KILDARE are closely matched on their 1450m meeting in October. The latter is 0.5kg better off but the former is open to improvement in his peak outing so can uphold that form. Last-start maiden winner FORCE PUBLIQUE also has the means to make the presence felt.
Selections: #3 Father Christmas, #6 Prince Of Kildare, #1 Johnny Drama, #9 Force Publique
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R135.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: Several with chances in a small but competitive lineup, but a chance is taken on consistent PRINCESS ILARIA (unbeaten over track and trip) capitalising off a slightly reduced mark. Class-droppers THAT’S MY BABY, stablemate TINA LOVELACE and LADY SABRINA boast solid form credentials too.
Selections: #8 Princess Ilaria, #1 That’s My Baby, #6 Lady Sabrina, #3 Tina Lovelace
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R105.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: FIRE IN HER SOUL fluffed her lines in a 3yo feature last time but is 2.5kg better off with last-start winner SARAGOSSA CAT on earlier 1400m form, so there shouldn’t be much separating the pair on these terms. However, the latter continues to improve and will have more to offer over this extended trip. Fellow recent scorers INTO DANCING has more to do on handicap debut but could get a look in. Hard-knocker WHIRLYBIRD should pose more of a threat.
Selections: #3 Saragossa Cat, #6 Fire In Her Soul, #4 Whirlybird, #7 Into Dancing
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R135.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: MANYELETI was beaten for the first time recently but she lost little in defeat behind an experienced rival to whom she conceded weight. She is the least exposed of these runners and won’t need to improve much to get back to winning ways. Fellow 3yo fillies ALPINE JET also has scope for improvement. Older duo GREEN FLASH and ROAMING SPIRIT (blinker strike) have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitvely too.
Selections: #7 Manyeleti, #4 Green Flash, #6 Roaming Spirit, #5 Alpine Jet
Vaal Classic, 23.12.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Well-related TEMPRANILLO was impressive when winning her maiden last time and could follow up with further progress expected. MAVERICK QUEEN is engaged to run at an earlier meeting but has won 2 of her last 3 starts, so she’ll likely play a leading role if taking her place. On their 13 November clash, aptly named familiar foe SEASON’S GREETINGS will have a role to play on 2kg better terms. DEAL MAKER is complete the shortlist.
Selections: #8 Tempranillo, #2 Maverick Queen, #1 Season’s Greetings, #5 Deal Maker
Best Win: #7 MANYELETI
Best Value Bet: #8 PRINCESS ILARIA
Best Longshot: #8 PRINCESS ILARIA
