The Vaal stages a nine race workrider’s meeting at the Vaal tomorrow and it should be exciting as none of the best riders have a clear advantage in terms of the quality of their mounts.

The best bet comes in the seventh over 2000m as the hard-knocking Indy Ice should finally get it right over an ideal trip from a plum draw with the former Champion Workrider Chamu Mabaya aboard, although Flapjack will give some cheek from pole position under the astute Goodman Dadamisi.

Mabaya rides Shezahotti in the eighth race over 2000m. This Irish Flame filly went close over 1800m last time and should relish the further step up in trip. She is an honest sort and will be hard to beat from a pole position draw. However, Midnight In Paris is also a capable sort and if Charles Ndlovu rides her from off the pace over this ideal trip like she was in her penultimate start she could upset the applecart.

Mabaya has a chance with the frustrating Noble Princess in the next race over 1700m. However, this filly has become expensive to follow and is proving to be limited so although she has to be included in all exotic bets preference is for Arctic Party who can start coming into her own now being by Oratorio. Factor Fifty made a fair debut and is also a must include. One Dollar Massage and The Great Queen are also capable of earning.

The first leg of the PA should be fought by Kindavar, who has the experienced former Workrider’s Champion Francis Semela aboard, and Royal Future who represents the lethal combination of Paul Peter and Charles Ndlovu.

The latter pair will also have had a chance in the first leg of the Bipot with the first-timer Just Dance, who is by Querari out of a Whitechapel mare who is a half-sister to a Listed-winning Var filly. However, Fuyu looks the one to beat on paper and he is ridden by Marcell Pillay, who has ridden in Australia and trainer Shaylen Naidoo has put him aboard for the reason he gets along well with this horse. 

Paddy’s Legacy looks likely to improve in the fourth over 1400m having made a fair debut over 1200m despite losing a length. Tintagel is an interesting runner as he looked to have a fair chance last time over 1160m but never got in to the race and he could now be looking for this trip.

In the fifth over 1400m Colonel Caramel will be ridden by Castigo Machaelie, who has only had five rides but has a second and a fourth to his name. This rangy sort has caught the eye before and has had a succession of bad draws around the turn but should now have a fair chance down the straight. Latin Opus and Dry Your Eyes are capable of improvement and are probably more reliable selections. Prix Eclips and Gaelebale can also be included.

In the sixth race over 2400m Smart Deal has been disappointing but faces an uninspiring field. The Honey Badger needs things to go away so he will have a chance from a plum draw. Voodoo can also be involved although this race could have an upset and it would be wise to try and find more to include.

By David Thiselton