The Vaal Classic Track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and Kilrain could make amends in the highest rated race of the day, an MR 87 Handicap over 1700m.

In his penultimate start over 1700m the six-year-old gelding by Dynasty was staying on well over 1800m when he and most of the field were taken out by the hanging antics of the runner up Hidden Agenda. Tomorrow he faces Hidden Agenda on 1,5kg worse terms despite being beaten by him in that aforementioned race, but he could well have beaten the latter with a clear run that day. His only run since then was not a bad 3,6 length fourth in the Michaelmas over 1900m on the Greyville polytrack, considering he was found to be coughing.

Gavin Lerena

Gavin Lerena up is a bonus and as a hold up type the tricky draw of six in a nine horse field should not be too bothersome. Tommy Waterdevil has improved with the application of cheek pieces and went close from a similar draw last time over 1600m in soft going at Turffontein despite being bumped twice. He did make a respiratory noise that day though and also has to overcome a two point merit rated raise. Hidden Agenda is distance suited and should be right there but he has had a busy campaign. This will be his third run with blinkers on. Malinga rose through the ranks last season with three nice handicap wins from 1800-2000m. However, he was well beaten by Hidden Agenda over 1800m in May, when reportedly making a breathing noise. He is better than that run and as a son of Silvano should still be capable of improvement as a five-year-old.

However, this is his second run after a layoff and the trip is sharper than ideal. Rushmore River is a six-time winner who has dropped to an attractive merit rating on his best form and this is his third run after a layoff. However, that layoff was over a year long, so he obviously has his problems. Tandava has shown signs of class on occasion so is interesting with the blinkers removed over a trip which is longer than he is used to running over. Bold Viking has talent and appears to be effected by breathing issues so can’t be relied on. However, he is tough to ignore off a 78 merit rating. Street Flyer looks likely to be stretched by the trip. Odd Rob would prefer further and his resolve is sometimes questionable as he  moves up well but then does not find a lot.

The best bet of the day could be in race 8, where Star Of Joburg runs in a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m. When he won his maiden last time in an uninspiring field he was drawn on the wrong side of the track and only won by half-a-length. Therefore his 74 merit rating could be lenient and this time he is well drawn with Gavin Lerena up.

In the previous race the talented Alex The Great could also provide a winner for Championship-chasing Lerena. He has been dropped a further point by the handicapper and has his third run after gelding from a good draw over a suitable trip.

By David Thiselton