Two riders in outstanding form are worth following at Thursday’s eight-race TAB Vaal Classic meeting on 12 November, with Tristan Godden and reigning Equus Champion Apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson both well positioned to continue their recent winning form.
Godden is enjoying a purple patch, winning wherever his travels take him – whether on the Highveld, back home in KwaZulu-Natal or on his occasional visits to the Western Cape. He rode a treble at last Thursday’s TAB Turffontein fixture and will arrive at TAB Vaal with a competitive book of rides, including two particularly appealing opportunities for trainer Fanie Bronkhorst.
The first leg of a potential Godden-Bronkhorst double comes in Race 2 over 1200m, where four-year-old Time Will Tell looks ideally placed to end a frustrating run of near misses. This son of William Longsword has finished outside the first four only twice in his last 10 starts, recording three seconds, three thirds and two fourths.
Godden takes the ride for the first time, but the gelding boasts the consistency that stands him in good stead in a field featuring two last-start maiden winners and offering little depth beyond them. Having scored his maiden victory 462 days ago, Time Will Tell deserves another visit to the winner’s enclosure.
The combination could strike again in Race 3 with three-year-old grey gelding Uncle Bob, who would also not be winning out of turn. This son of Heavenly Blue finished second for the fourth time in five starts when tried in blinkers over 1450m on the TAB Turffontein Inside track three weeks ago.
Earlier efforts suggest an extended trip would suit, having racked up three consecutive runner-up finishes over 1600m (twice) and 1800m. The step up to 1700m, with the blinkers retained, is a significant positive. Godden and Bronkhorst have a realistic opportunity to complete a race-to-race double.
Marx-Jacobson, meanwhile, has developed a productive partnership with Paul Matchett-trained Eight Hats, whom he partners in the concluding Race 8 over 1450m.
Last season’s Equus Champion Apprentice has ridden the four-year-old daughter of Hat Puntano in each of her last five starts for a win, three thirds and a fourth. Her victory came over 1600m on the TAB Turffontein Standside track in early August, and she has remained competitive under the resultant seven-point penalty.
Three successive third-place finishes followed, all in stronger company than she will encounter here. Her latest effort was particularly encouraging, finishing fast over 1200m on the TAB Turffontein Inside track to be beaten just a length.
Back over 1450m off an unchanged mark from an ideal 2 draw, Eight Hats looks exceptionally well placed to return to winning ways, and is a strong banker proposition for exotic-bet players.
Clive Robinson
