The Vaal Inside track has a tricky nine race card tomorrow and by trends low draws are favourable on this track.

Weiho Marwing

The highest rated race on the card is a MR 87 handicap over 2000m and the Weiho Marwing-trained Let It Rain looks the one to beat. He proved last time he is coming into his own as a four-year-old, which is the case with many progeny of his sire Dynasty. On that occasion in a 2000m event he benefitted from hold up tactics, as opposed to his usual handy tactics, and swept through to win by three lengths from the promising Bush Pilot. He is seven points higher in the merit ratings but can build again.

Furthermore, he has a plum draw this time and the form of that last run has worked out well as Revelation, who was a 3,75 length third, has come out and won since over 1800m. Revelation beat Scotland in the latter race and Scotland now takes on Let It Rain. Scotland has come into his own too this season and has been thereabouts in two starts off a one point lower mark than his current merit rating, so should be involved in the finish again. Kingmambo’s Legacy, Trip To Rio and Go Direct can also be dangerous over this suitable trip.

It would be unusual to extract a card best bet out of a low grade fillies and mares handicap, but in race seven, a MR 61 Handicap for females over 2000m, the Gavin van Zyl-trained Mogok filly Costa Da Sol has everything in her favour. She stayed on well over 1600m in her penultimate start and then did well over a probable too far 2400m last time. The 2000m trip should be ideal and she has the bonus of both a plum draw of two as well as Gavin Lerena aboard.

The value bet comes out of race 6, a MR 70 Handicap over 2000m. The four-year-old Lateral colt Rain Shadow proved last time over 1600m, when looking likely to be swamped over 1600m but then fighting back to finish third, she is crying out for this trip and should go close despite a tricky draw.

The question in race 3 over 1600m is whether Rouge Allure will stay the trip as she will be a banker if she does. Om pedigree she should stay the trip comfortably, but she does possess speed, as well as a good turn of foot.

In race 8 over 1200m there will be a lot of interest in the Dynasty filly Always A Lady as she was not disgraced in a level weights Gr 3 for three-year-olds over 1400m last time and runs off a mere 79 merit rating here, while she did show some speed on debut.

In race 9 over 1300m Ebony Knight might also still be ahead of the handicapper, although King And Empire and Racethegreenlight could be go close too.

By David Thiselton