David Thiselton
The highest rated race at the Vaal meeting today is a MR 95 handicap for fillies and mares over 1700m and the one to beat could be Willy Meet Again, a talented sort who has come down to a competitive merit rating.
That race is one of four on the day that are around the turn, but in the straight races the course is set up with a mere two metre standside false rail which by trends will lead to high draws being favourable.
In the MR 95 handicap for fillies and mares Willy Meet Again has faced some tough tasks recently in features or in races where she has had wide draws, but when she last ran in a handicap, on January 24 over 1800m at the Vaal, she finished a 0,45 length third to Aristotle in the Listed Dr Richard Maponya Handicap over 1800m. She ran off a 104 merit rating that day and she is now off a 99. Craig Zackey was up in the Richard Maponya and is aboard today. On the downside, she was drawn in pole that day and now has a tough draw of eight and does carry a big weight of 62kg. It is particularly tough because she is front-running to handy type. However, if she gets to the front without expending too much energy, or finds a handy position with cover, she will have a good chance because she possesses a good kick.
Dimako’s Jet has been in good form and although she got a four point raise for her last win she now gets Mickaelle Michel aboard so the 2kg hike in her weights are alleviated by her 1,5kg claim. She also has quite a tricky draw but that hasn’t stopped her doing well in two of her recent runs.
Scarlet O’Hara has some eyecatching form and this progressive three-year-old can rise above her merit rating of 84, but on the downside she has a tough draw of ten.
Future Date will enjoy the trip and is drawn in pole with 2,5kg claimer Jacey Botes up, so she has an opportunity to go close here.
The topweight Royal Invitation has relished running on the Highveld tracks with their long straights and although she would prefer further she is effective over this trip too and has a 2,5kg claimer up from a plum draw.
Those are the five that make most appeal and are selected in the order mentioned.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Fully Loaded will enjoy the trip from a nice high draw and off a three point higher mark for her last win she can go close again under the ever improving Blaine Marx-Jacobson. Wayne was not disgraced in the Egoli Mile last time out and should be in the shake up off a merit rating of 91, which he could rise above, and he has a fairly high draw of ten. Mastership looks to be full of potential and this scopey sort won three of his last four starts before being rested for six months. He might need it but his ability gives him a chance, although he does have a low draw.
In the fifth race over 2400m Green Machine has thrived since being stepped up in trip and won well in his first attempt at this trip last time. He can be ridden with confidence off a four point higher mark now that it has been proved he enjoys the trip and he should go close from a fair draw of five under Gavin Lerena. Repetition has not run over this trip since winning his maiden about 17 months ago and he now has a plum draw and has come down the merit ratings, so he could do well carrying just 57kg. DJ Junior was just 1,10 lengths behind Green Machine last time and has a good draw, so he should be right there.
In the sixth over 1000m Heath House has to carry topweight despite being a two-year-old but he is very quick and is unbeaten in three starts over 1000m and below. His draw of four is quite low but he should be able to use his speed to get to the front under 1,5kg claimer, Blaine Marx-Jacobson, who is the champion apprentice elect. Harry Nyquist is a British-bred who won easily on debut over 1160m and over this trip he could get away with a long layoff of about 16 months. He is drawn on the right side. Twentytwentyvision went close last time over 1000m and has shown continual improvement with blinkers on. This is his fifth start with the headgear and he has a nice high draw with the in form Mickaelle Michel coming with a bonus 1,5kg gender claim.
In the eighth over 1700m Kortvandraad enjoyed the step up in trip last time and should go close under Gavin Lerena, despite behaving to jump from a wide draw. Pretty Analia has a fair draw and will enjoy he step up in trip. She is capable of a strong finish and will be dangerous carrying just 53kg. Chariklo was npt disgraced in her first start out of the maidens and is 1kg better off with Kortvandraad for a 2,25 length beating and she can go close if able to overcome a tricky draw of ten.
In the last race over 1700m Guerilla Warfare has a chance in a wide open contest although he is not as well drawn as he was when going close last time over this course and distance. Redlightgreenlight ran a cracker over 1600m last time and the form has been well franked so he has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw. Sky Pilot’s maiden win has been well franked and he could go close under Gavin Lerena off an attractive 77 merit rating.
The third race over 1400m should see Midnight Show improving over a suitable step up in trip having faced some strong opposition over shorter in two previous starts and not being disgraced. High Fidelity could be in the shake up if able to overcome a low draw and Kovil should be respected.
In the second over 1400m Impressive is knocking on the door and can get it right here from a nice high draw.
In the first race over 1600m Cover Charge looks capable of improvement but has a low draw and Beach Walker and Vixeninthevineyard should be thereabouts.
