The Highveld’s eight-race Vaal programme on Wednesday 19 August offers punters plenty of ammunition, with potential doubles for trainers Fanie Bronkhorst and St John Gray, while jockeys Philasande Mxoli and Craig Zackey also have realistic opportunities to strike twice.
Bronkhorst could make a serious impact when the Pick 6 gets underway in Race 3. Korcula has been a costly customer for punters, but five successive third-place finishes tell their own story: she is knocking loudly on the door. The four-year-old daughter of Hawwaam gets a new rider in Calvin Habib, and this could be the occasion when he finds the little bit extra required to finally get her head in front over 1400m.
If Korcula delivers, stable companion Uncle Bob could complete the quickfire double in Race 4. This three-year-old has finished runner-up in his last two starts over 1600m and does not need to improve much to break through over the extra 200m. Zackey partnered him in both those races and his decision to stick with the son of Heavenly Blue is a significant positive. Punters should take the hint.
St John Gray’s Olympian Gold is another runner whose recent form deserves close attention. The lightly raced Potala Palace colt made a winning seasonal return over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track and now steps up to 1800m in Race 5. The five-point penalty is unlikely to stop his progression, particularly with further improvement expected over the extended trip.
Mxoli, who produced the winning ride last time, retains the partnership and can give Gray a chance of a double in Race 7. After Hours may be nine years of age and a veteran of 109 starts, but the old warrior has been rejuvenated and is capable of making his experience count over 1600m. Mxoli knows him, and that familiarity could prove valuable.
Zackey, meanwhile, is still searching for his first winner of the new season (at the time of writing) after his well-earned break, but the champion jockey has several opportunities to put that statistic right. His best chance of a second winner on the card may come in the finale aboard Quiet Winter for Lucky Houdalakis.
The What A Winter filly has been nearing a return to form and now gets an appealing set-up: a career-low mark, a favourable outside draw down the Vaal straight and a rider with plenty to prove after his quiet start to the campaign. At the right price, she could be the value play that rounds off the meeting.
Earlier, in the opening race, Tony Peter’s three-pronged attack sets the tone, where Master Christmas looks the one to beat. The Master Of My Fate gelding is proven at a higher level, is ideally suited by the distance and should appreciate this drop in class. Kabelo Matsunyane’s mount looks a solid banker-type option to kick-start proceedings.
Clive Robinson
