The eight-race Vaal card on Tuesday 28 April may be labelled a Work Riders’ raceday, but don’t mistake it for a sideshow, this is a betting punter’s playground built on familiarity. The work riders know their horses better than anyone, and when that chemistry aligns with form, it pays to follow – not oppose.
It’s a sharp, tactical betting heat where those who do the hard yards at ‘home’ finally get to cash in and, provided they read it right, bettors should too.
And few exploit that edge better than Phenisile Mongqwana. Last season’s Champion Work Rider has hit the ground running this term, with four winners from just 10 rides and this card looks tailor-made for him to build on this statistics.
He should strike in Race 5 over 1000m aboard Gathering Winter, one of the better bets at the meeting. Brett Webber’s charge has turned the corner since relocating from the Western Cape, improving to finish second in consecutive recent starts after a modest Highveld debut for the yard.
Admittedly, she was comfortably beaten last time, but that was against male opposition and she reverts to fillies-only company so gets the chance to open her account.
Mongqwana’s double will likely be completed in Race 6, also over 1000m, aboard Buffalo King Cody for trainer Tony Peter, with whom the work rider has struck up a lethal alliance – eight wins from the last 15 runners for the combination.
Peter’s two-year-old inmate improved with blinkers fitted to finish second in his last two starts and showed enough to suggest that a maiden victory won’t be long in coming. He resumes after a 79-day break, during which he was gelded, with the headgear retained and if he’s come back sharper, his rivals will be running for second.
Hot on Mongqawa’s heels is Chamu Mabaya, another accomplished rider who knows how to capitalise on these opportunities. He, too, looks primed for a brace and should get things rolling early in Race 1 aboard Made To Measure for Alec Laird in what is a 1700m match-race.
Two seconds from her last three starts, including a solid effort behind an unexposed and well-bred filly last time. Against a younger juvenile rival, Laird’s daughter of Fire Away won’t need to find much – if anything at all – to finally get off the mark.
Mabaya’s second ride of note comes in Race 3 over 2000m aboard Green Machine, Mike and Mathew de Kock’s runner who looks a banker in the first leg of the Pick 6. This Gimmethegreenlight gelding stepped forward nicely when second over track and trip last time, and in a four-runner field lacking depth, a repeat of that performance should suffice.
Elsewhere, Laird could quietly land a double of his own with Lolly Willowes good value to break her duck in Race 8 over 1400m. Consistency is her calling card, and in a race where many have questions to answer, this Willow Magic filly looks the type to reward patient followers and round off a stable double.
Clive Robinson
