Please note: the meeting at Limerick scheduled for Tuesday 27th January has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track.

Please note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Chepstow and Wolverhampton (UK) – 27 January 2026.

David Thiselton

The Vaal’s nine race meeting today is headlined by a MR 93 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares and the high draws are advantageous by trends over this course and distance.

Poblano has been catching the eye lately and will enjoy the step down in trip. In her penultimate start over 1200m on the Classic track she made up four lengths between the 800m mark and 400m mark to be in front and only faded late to finish a 1,85 length fifth. That was despite having had a shoe attended to at the start. Then last time out over 1160m at Turffontein Standside she looked the winner before being snared by the late charge of Chrome Tourmaline. She should be prominent early in this race and stay all the way to the line so looks the one to beat from a nice draw of five out of six. Bosum Buddy fought gamely to win over course and distance last time and has been raised three points to an 86. However, as she has gone close off an 89 before she has a chance. Roaming Spirit is 1,5kg better off with Bosum Buddy for a 1,40 length beating, which over this trip puts Bosum Buddy slightly ahead, but the latter has a nice middle draw. Miss Lia is capable of earning if reproducing her best. Caroline Island ran quite well after a long layoff last time and now has her second run after a rest. Let’s Go Lola would not be a surprise earner as she ran quite well in a Listed race over 1160m in her penultimate start at 100/1 odds.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a Middle Stakes event over 2000m and Texas Missile could claim a hattrick. He was raised six points for his last win but this One World colt is progressive and can do it from a good draw. One More Star looks to be the second choice of the yard on jockey bookings but could give his stablemate something to think about because he has a good record over this trip and has a fair draw. Dance King is a capable sort who has proved to be up to his current merit rating and he has a fair draw over an ideal trip. Vesuvio has the form to earn here if reproducing his best. Royal Edition can never be written off and Gavin Lerena, who won aboard him in his penultimate start, is back aboard.

In the sixth race over 1000m Plumbago Park has the hardest draw by trends of one. However, she is consistent and is still capable of further progression. Tempranillo was a bit disappointing last time but can do better and is 5kg better off with Deal Maker for a 2,70 length beating. There She Goes’ goes for a hattrick over this trip and can go close from a nice middle with Mickaelle Michel, who won on her in her penultimate start, back aboard with her 1,5kg gender claim. Deal Maker has three lengths to make up on There She Goes but is only 2,5kg better of if rider weight claims are ignored. Amazonian won nicely last time and could be in the shake up.

In the seventh over 1000m Time For Charity has a form chance and as she is drawn on the right side she is the choice. Blindfire  is capable of earning if reproducing her best over an ideal trip from a middle draw. In The Ether is capable of s strong finish if it pans out well. Misty Metal has a low draw but with a 4kg claimer up could earn. Red Hot Kisses is drawn highest of all and off a much reduced merit rating might bounce back to a semblance of form.

In the eighth over 1600m Dondoyaki has been transformed lately over a step up in trip and should go close again from a plum draw with a 4kg claimer up. Falconfly starts off on a reasonable 65 merit rating after a maiden win over 1450m and Craig Zackey can help overcome a tricky draw of six. Gift Of Royal won well last time and looks to be improving, so can earn from a middle draw. Commander Of All should be in the shake up in this line up, despite a wide draw. Sheets And Goggles could earn from a plum draw.

In the last race Quickfreeze won impressively second time out and has pole position over a suitable trip. Salute The Flag went close last time over this trip category and has a similarly tricky draw. Continental King looks to have plenty of ability and should enjoy this trip, although he has a tricky draw. Laughing William can go close if repeating his last start and he now has a plum draw. Father Christmas got five points for his last win, which was his third run on the Highveld, but he could progress further so is not out of it.

In the first leg of the PA War Talk can beat Asia’s Tiara.

In the first race Master Spy makes appeal with Zackey up despite returning from a six month layoff.

In the second race Babette’s Feast gets a good opportunity to get off the mark.

RACE 1

4 MASTER SPY 6 ROYALE JACKET 12 EMERALD FORGE 2 KAMBATI

Preview: 4 MASTER SPY went close in his third start and although he now returns from a six month layoff he faces an uninspiring field and Zackey is up. 6 ROYALE JACKET was disappointing last time but before that ran a cracker over1600m. 12 EMERALD FORGE has shown ability and should enjoy the step up in trip. 2 KAMBATI has run two fair races and should appreciate the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 4-6-12-2)

RACE 2

3 BABETTE’S FEAST 1 SWEETSUMMERLOVE 2 LADY LANCASTER

Preview: 3 BABETTE’S FEAST is knocking on the door and gets a vood opportunity here. 1 SWEETSUMMERLOVE ran an improved race last time out and can earn with a repeat. 2 LADY LANCASTER has scope for improvement and could earn. (David Thiselton 3-10-1-2)

RACE 3

5 WAR TALK 2 ASIAH’S TIARA 6 CHICKASAW 3 COOL REGGAE

Preview: 5 WAR TALK has finished two close seconds in last two over 1800m an will enjoy this trip but does have to overcome a wide draw.  2 ASIAH’S TIARA is knocking on the door and will enjoy the trip but also has a wide draw. 6 CHICKASAW has a fair draw and should be right there. 3 COOL REGGAE could earn as she has 1,90 lengths to find on Chickasaw. (David Thiselton 5-2-6-3)

RACE 4

6 TEXAS MISSILE 8 ONE MORE STAR 4 DANCE KING 5 VESUVIO

Preview: 6 TEXAS MISSILE goes for a hattrick and can do it off a six point higher mark because he enjoys the trip and is progressive and well drawn. 8 ONE MORE STAR is also in fine form over this trip and has a fair draw. 4 DANCE KING is a capable sort and from a fair draw over and ideal trip should be in the shake up. 5 VESUVIO has the form to earn here if reproducing his best. (David Thiselton 6-8-4-5)

RACE 5

2 POBLANO 4 BOSUM BUDDY 3 ROAMING SPIRIT 1 MISS LIA

Preview: 2 POBLANO has plenty of pace and will relish this course and distance from a nice draw. 4 BOSUM BUDDY won well last time over course and distance and off a three point higher mark could be in the shake up. 3 ROAMING SPIRIT is 1,5kg better off with Bosum Buddy for a 1,40 length beating, so there is not much in it. 1 MISS LIA is capable of earning if reproducing her best. (David Thiselton 2-4-3-1)

RACE 6

6 PLUMBAGO PARK 7 TEMPRANILLO 3 THERE SHE GOES 1 DEAL MAKER

Preview: 6 PLUMBAGO PARK is in fine form and is the one to beat. 7 TEMPRANILLO was a bit disappointing last time but can do better. 3 THERE SHE GOES is in good form but has to overcome a five point raise for her last win. 1 DEAL MAKER was a touch disappointing last time but will go close if reproducing her win before that. (David Thiselton 6-7-3-1)

RACE 7

6 TIME FOR CHARITY 2 BLINDFIRE 3 IN THE ETHER 1 MISTY METAL

Preview: 6 TIME FOR CHARITY has a nice high draw and has a good form chance. 2 BLINDFIRE is capable of earning if reproducing her best over an ideal trip from a middle draw. 3 IN THE ETHER is capable of s strong finish if it pans out well. 1 MISTY METAL could earn if reproducing her best. (David Thiselton 6-2-3-1)

RACE 8

1 DONDOYAKI 2 FALCONFLY 5 GIFT OF ROYAL 9 COMMANDER OF ALL

Preview: 1 DONDOYAKI has been transformed lately over a step up in trip and should go close again. 2 FALCONFLY starts off on a reasonable 65 merit rating after a maiden win over 1450m. 5 GIFT OF ROYAL won well last time and looks to be improving. 9 COMMANDER OF ALL should be in the shake up in this line up. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-9)

RACE 9

10 QUICKFREEZE 1 SALUTE THE FLAG 8 CONTINENTAL KING 7 LAUGHING WILLIAM

Preview: 10 QUICKFREEZE won impressively second time out and has pole position over a suitable trip. 1 SALUTE THE FLAG went close last time over this trip category and has a similarly tricky draw. 8 CONTINENTAL KING looks to have plenty of ability and should enjoy this trip, although he has a tricky draw. 7 LAUGHING WILLIAM can go close if repeating his last start and he now has a plum draw. (David Thiselton 10-1-8-7)

Andrew Harrison

William Robertson is every owner’s dream horse and has done the list of owners under his name in the racecard proud. ‘Willie’ may never have hit the headlines in the way of an Eight On Eighteen or One Stripe, but he is as honest as the day is long and has a constitution of iron. Corne Spies has done a wonderful job in keeping the son of Rafeef sound and enjoying his racing and the gelding fully deserved his win in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint back in March last year. However, he had been winless since in nine subsequent outings but back on what is possibly his favourite course and distance, he was hardly pressed to score the 16th win of his career from 52 starts. He landed the African Holly Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday with consummate ease.

As expected, King Of The Gauls under Andrew Fortune took off like a scalded cat but Ryan Munger sat in just behind with the balance of the field including fancied Cats Pajamas all out-paced.

King Of The Gauls was always in contention approaching the final furlong but Munger had barely moved and pressing for a final effort he left King Of The Gauls for dead with the balance trailing in with the washing.

While William Robertson as a seven-year-old is close to his ‘sell by date’ the Gareth van Zyl-trained Wild Justice is a young colt on the up and registered his fourth win from five starts when winning the B Stakes over 1200m.

Always in contention, he drew away to win comfortably from top-rated Talk To The Master who did have 4kg relief in the form of apprentice Dezahn Louw so it will be interesting to see how the handicappers view this run but not likely to increase much from his current 99 rating.

It was not an afternoon without incident. One sees Formula 1 drivers walk away from 250kph high-speed crashes with little more than a shake-up and good to go the following week, but jockeys are always on the edge as all that they have for protection is a skullcap and a body protector. Thankfully incidents are few and far between but when they do happen they can be catastrophic for both horse and rider.

The Maiden, second race on the card, the hot favourite Best Of All broke through his stall and bolted the course and was withdrawn. Nathan Detroit refuse to load, further delaying the start before also being scratched.

Mount Kennedy went down  at around the 400m mark dislodging Athandiwe Mgudlwa.

The horse was treated and taken off the track and Mgudlwa was taken to hospital. According to on-course medial reports he was fully conscious with no obvious breaks but is in observation for head injuries.

Most impressive winner on the day came in the card opener where Master Magician ran his field ragged. Mike Miller’s charge shed his maiden in equally impressive fashion and while one can question the strength of the opposition given this being early in the season, he does look to be a horse with a future although the vet may be called in given his pre-race antics with Tristan Godden just managing to stay aboard coming out of the entrance to the track.

Tienie Prinsloo will be on edge when Quickstepgal steps out onto the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth turf in the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes on Saturday but One Smart Cookie paid for his air fare to Cape Town as Serino Moodley produced her with a smart late effort to win the Middle Stakes ahead of the hard-knocking Tara Star.

Most Pick 6 tickets were in the waste bin after the first leg as 50-1 chance Reign On Impact got home ahead of Day Two in a decidedly modest field. The two came together a long way out but apprentice Louw’s 4kg claim came into play and S’Manga Khumalo was unable to get Day Two past. On course presenter and an astute studier of form, Rahiel Radhakrishna’s pre-race advice that the field in the first leg was the way to play, proved spot on.