Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Ace Of Hearts to come up trumps

Chad Cooke
Racing on the Highveld is a testing bread-and-butter card at the Vaal tomorrow where Phumelela offers a nine-race programme on the turf.
The “main” events are three 66 merit-rated handicaps, the first of these coming in the fifth race and will be contested over 1 400m. The John Vos-trained Ace Of Hearts could be the horse to beat based on his good recent form but Advance Call and Victory Belt also bring good form into the race and should make a good contest. The second of the ‘main events’ will be contested over the straight mile and trainer Geoff Woodruff could hold the ace here with his Parade Leader gelding Parade Prince.
This four-year-old put up a promising last effort when he stayed on late for a close fifth over 1 800m at Turffontein, that effort coming off a two-month layoff. Woodruff’s charge will strip fitter now and he has done well over the distance in the past.
The main dangers should come from KZN raider Julie Dittmer’s King Thom and Paul Matchett’s Balance Of Payment.
The former looks the main threat and he could make the going tough for the joint top weight. The last of the three main events of the day is the seventh and will be contested over 1 200m.
Two runners could suffice here in the St John Gray-trained Collect Call and Louis Goosen’s El Vencedor. Collect Call has promising recent form and showed good pace last time out but had to settle for second. This Announce gelding has won over the distance and has placed over the course and distance.
El Vencedor put up a very good penultimate effort when over the course and distance he found a strong late finish which resulted in a close second. He sports blinkers now and has an obvious chance.

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