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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2026.08.13
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 1, Gallops, 2400m, Turf, R115.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: EPIDAURUS, EVENING NEWS and COMIC ARTIST have the form and experience to be competitive but are engaged to run at an earlier meeting over 2000m. CLAIRWOOD BREEZE is closely matched with those rivals on the form of their 2 July clash over 1800m. The lightly raced latter is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip so it could pay to follow his progress.
Selections: #4 Clairwood Breeze, #1 Epidaurus, #5 Comic Artist, #2 Evening News
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R115.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: CORSARO SUPER improved after a break to finish fourth over this trip last time before switching stables. He has scope for further progress and could make a winning start for new connections with a repeat of his latest performance. THE BACHELORETTE failed to confirm the promise of her debut second when last seen but she did have excuses that day so must be respected on her reappearance following a subsequent break. Returning JUSTHAVEFUN and well-bred newcomer THORN BIRD are other unknown quantities to keep onside and worthy of a market check.
Selections: #1 Corsaro Super, #8 The Bachelorette, #9 Thorn Bird, #4 Justhavefun
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R110.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: NORTHERN EUROPEAN showed enough promise as a 2yo, albeit up to 1400m, to suggest that she will be competitive over this extended trip. BE THE ONE has form over this distance and that experience will stand her in good stead. GRAINS OF PARADISE and stablemate VOLARE VELOCE are also open to improvement stretching out to this trip. TEA FOR THREE was dropped out from a wide draw last time over 1450m and made encouraging late headway, suggesting a step up in trip would suit. She is ideally positioned in gate 1 and should have more to offer over the extra, so it could pay to follow her progress.
Selections: #8 Tea For Three, #1 Northern European, #5 Grains Of Paradise, #2 Be The One
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R115.000, 14:00GMT+2
Race Summary: ONE STATE, CAMPO FORMIO and SKITT SMILING are closely matched on the form of a recent meeting over 1400m. The latter took off once the penny had dropped and was only narrowly defeated so this extended trip should be more to his liking. CRIMSON RANGER has the form and experience over 1600m to trouble the selection.
Selections: #7 Skitt Smiling, #1 Crimson Ranger, #3 Campo Formio, #2 One State
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R110.000, 14:35GMT+2
Race Summary: SCARLET O’HARA enjoyed a productive 3yo campaign and should continue to progress this term. She was a fast-finishing second in a stronger race over this trip last time so a repeat of that performance will likely suffice. Consistent hard-knockers SURPRISE PARTY, AZALEAS FOR ALL and LADY SABRINA are closely matched on recent form and should remain competitive off their current marks. UTSAAH and INSTANT ATTRACTION also have the means to make their presence felt.
Selections: #1 Scarlet O’Hara, #3 Azaleas For All, #2 Surprise Party, #6 Instant Attraction
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 6, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R100.000, 15:10GMT+2
Race Summary: TROMPE L’OEIL confirmed the promise of his 2yo debut win by finishing a close-up second in a stronger race on the opening day of the new season. He copped a 4-point penalty for that performance but will not need to improve a great deal – if at all – to get back to winning ways. HAMMER BLOW, ANGEL’S OASIS and LONELY AS A CLOUD are consistent hard-knockers with the form and experience to expose any chinks in the selection’s armour. SERGEANT SOQRAT and ICE DRAGON have earning potential too.
Selections: #2 Trompe L’Oeil, #3 Hammer Blow, #5 Angel’s Oasis, #7 Sergeant Soqrat
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 7, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R115.000, 15:45GMT+2
Race Summary: COLD SHINE lost little in defeat in his hat-trick bid over 1160m last time and, on pedigree, this extended trip ought to be within his compass. Stablemate BIG UNIT returns from a lengthy layoff but boasts solid Western Cape and Highveld form credentials for his former trainer. Veteran AFTER HOURS has rediscovered his form recently and remains competitive off his current mark, along with fillies FAIR PROPOSAL and ONCEINABLUEMOON off their reduced ratings. SEA SHANTY is another to consider for larger exotic-bet permutations.
Selections: #4 Cold Shine, #5 After Hours, #3 Big Unit, #7 Onceinabluemoon
Vaal Classic, 13.08.2026, Race 8, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R115.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: Lightly raced FRERE JACQUES blotted his copybook when last seen but had legitimate excuses on that occasion. He remains open to improvement on his reappearance with the tongue-tie removed but will be hard to beat at this level if bouncing back to his earlier form. GALLIC VICTOR flattered to deceive in the Western Cape and KZN for previous connections but has the ability to make his presence felt on his Highveld debut for a new stable. Last-start winner TRACKSUIT DAVE, recent runner-up ELUSIVE RED and consistent UBERMENSCH should be competitive on recent form. UNSOLVED RIDDLE can also earn.
Selections: #1 Frere Jacques, #5 Tracksuit Dave, #10 Elusive Red, #11 Ubermensch
Best Win: #7 SKITT SMILING
Best Value Bet: #8 TEA FOR THREE
Best Longshot: #8 TEA FOR THREE
