Punters hunting value on the Highveld’s midweek fare on Thursday 5 February are spoiled for choice at Vaal’s Classic track where an honest eight-race card features several last-start winners who look ideally placed to go back-to-back, alongside a couple of Gavin Lerena rides whose progress it could pay to follow.
The follow-up theme kicks off in Race 4 over 1800m with Dimako’s Jet, who did everything right when scoring over the same distance on New Year’s Day. The lightly raced daughter of Ideal World finished off strongly under Muzi Yeni to account for Future Date, who is now 1kg worse off after franking the form with a subsequent 2000m victory. Yeni’s decision to stick with Dimako’s Jet is a telling pointer.
Weichong Marwing’s mare absorbed a five-point penalty for that win but she remains progressive, especially with blinkers – worn in her last two starts – sharpening her focus. She looks like a confident banker in exotic bets.
A similar profile belongs to Merryweather who lines up in Race 5 over 1800m. Johan Janse van Vuuren’s improving Gimmethegreenlight filly was good value when beating male opposition over 1600m last time and a modest two-point rise shouldn’t stop the roll. This is her first attempt beyond 1600m, but her pedigree screams stamina (her dam is a full sister to 2016 SA Derby runner-up Rocketball) suggesting she’s only just getting started. Off a career-high mark, she still rates a value follow-up play.
Never Never Land announced himself as one to follow when justifying solid market support under Lerena four weeks ago. The Stuart Pettigrew-trained Ideal World gelding quickened nicely to win over 1200m and the extra 250m in Race 7 looks tailor-made. There are three other last-start winners in the line-up, but none with the same scope for improvement – save perhaps recent maiden scorer Gulf Of America. Lerena staying loyal is another box ticked.
In Race 6 over 1600m, Lerena also reunites with the ultra-consistent Max The Magician, and the return to 1600m could be decisive. Roy Magner’s charge was outsprinted late over 1200m last time when a close-up fourth under Yeni, but the longer trip, a plum draw in gate 2 and Lerena back in the irons make for a compelling winning recipe.
Clive Robinson
