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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2026.03.05
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R120.000, 11:40GMT+2
Race Summary: GRANDE HAWAII showed promise on debut and with natural improvement should fight out the finish. Newcomers DRACHENFUTTER, PROUD MARY and SITVA QUEEN are respected on debut and worth a market check.
Selections: #2 Grande Hawaii, #6 Proud Mary, #1 Drachenfutter, #8 Sitva Queen
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 2, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R130.000, 12:10GMT+2
Race Summary: THE BRONX BULL would have benefitted from pleasing introductory outings and both should improve to be competitive. GONE COLD, SHINING SUN and SHERIFF BILL BROWN are well-bred newcomers, and the betting should provide a guide to their chances on debut.
Selections: #6 The Bronx Bull, #1 Gone Cold, #4 Shining Sun, #3 Sheriff Bill Brown
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 3, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R110.000, 12:45GMT+2
Race Summary: Exciting SPEEDMAN got back to winning ways when dropped from 1600m to 1450m last time and this shorter trip, even under a 6-point penalty, isn’t likely to prevent him from adding to his tally. Fellow last-start scorer STONEYWOOD is maturing and should remain competitive off his revised mark. TITAN OF THE TURF hasn’t been seen since finishing a close-up 3rd in a 2yo Grade 2 last season. He is open to any amount of improvement on his reappearance, so may pose the biggest threat if not needing the outing. PALACE PRINCE and filly BLUSHING BLOOM have earning potential too.
Selections: #4 Speedman, #2 Titan Of The Turf, #5 Stoneywood, #1 Palace Prince
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 13:20GMT+2
Race Summary: TOP FLOOR improved markedly over this trip when a fast-finishing 2nd on his return from a rest and gelding. With further progress expected, he should go one better and confirm his superiority over POMPEII SHIELD who is closely matched on recent form. INDIAN SPICE and improving SMUGGLER (blinkers fitted) have the form and experience to make their presence felt.
Selections: #9 Top Floor, #3 Pompeii Shield, #5 Smuggler, #2 Indian Spice
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R105.000, 13:55GMT+2
Race Summary: FUTURE GAMBLE and KEEP WARM will likely build on pleasing Highveld introductions to play leading roles. However, the former won’t need to improve much on her close-up 2nd to go one better. LANTERI has also shown enough to have a say in the outcome. MIRACULOUS MOMENT steps up in trip after a promising 1160m debut 3rd and she could fight out the finish with natural improvement expected.
Selections: #1 Future Gamble, #11 Miraculous Moment, #3 Lanteri, #7 Keep Warm
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 6, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R160.000, 14:30GMT+2
Race Summary: BOB’S YOUR UNCLE and OPEN HIGHWAY (0.5kg better off) are closely matched on the form of their Grand Heritage meeting and there shouldn’t be much between them again on these revised terms. In-form stablemates BIRTHRIGHT and THE PLAYBOY BOMBER have a fitness edge.
Selections: #1 Bob’s Your Uncle, #5 Birthright, #8 Open Highway, #9 The Playboy Bomber
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R135.000, 15:05GMT+2
Race Summary: DUCHESS OF PALOMA has gone from strength to strength since relocating to the Highveld, winning 3 of her last 4 starts including both course-and-distance appearances. She was an authoritative winner over track and trip last time and a repeat of that performance under an 8-point penalty should suffice. FREE IN SEATTLE, ART NOUVEAU and AZALEAS FOR ALL are consistent hard-knockers with solid form at this level, and they should acquit themselves competitively.
Selections: #3 Duchess Of Paloma, #7 Azaleas For All, #5 Art Nouveau, #2 Free In Seattle
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 8, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R120.000, 15:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Consistent GIMMEACHOICE who races off an unchanged mark in his peak outing after a course-and-distance 3rd. ONE MORE STAR and FLASHY APACHE are capable of better than their latest displays, and they could have a say if bouncing back to earlier form. ARUMUGAM is consistent hard-knockers with the means to get involved.
Selections: #1 Gimmeachoice, #2 One More Star, #5 Flashy Apache, #9 Arumugam
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 9, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: PIVOTAL ROLE has shown promise in his three starts. He clearly needed his last run and could bounce back to beat these rivals. BLINDFIRE picked up a deserved second win and only got a 3-point penalty for that win so may well follow up. INAFIX has not been at his best of late but can get into the mix of things. TIGER STORM may need to find some improvement if they are to win but they are capable of earning some money.
Selections: #1 Pivotal Role, #2 Blindfire, #3 Inafix, #4 Tiger Storm
Vaal Classic, 05.03.2026, Race 10, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R100.000, 16:55GMT+2
Race Summary: BRAVE VIKING has ability but he does not always show it. He was good last time out, without winning, but may well go one better. Trainer Sean Tarry has his yard in very good shape and TRAIL RUNNER has won her last two starts. This is, however, a tougher ask of her but she can complete a hat-trick. SINGLE COMBAT has scope for improvement and is not out of it. LONGSWORD has a place chance. READY SET FIRE is capable of better than the last run would suggest and could earn some money.
Selections: #2 Brave Viking, #1 Trail Runner, #8 Ready Set Fire, #3 Single Combat
Best Win: #3 DUCHESS OF PALOMA
Best Value Bet: #1 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
Best Longshot: #1 BOB’S YOUR UNCLE
