The Vaal stages another intriguing eight race meeting on the sand and as always on this surface punters will need to do their homework.

In the first race over 1000m the speedy Angie The Rebel, whose pedigree for this course and distance could hardly be better, looks hard to oppose on form. Windinmyhair appears best when held up off the pace so with a lot of speed in this race it should pan out to her liking and she could run on strongly for second. Matron Prilly has a suitable sand pedigree and is a noteworthy first-timer. The Berry Lady has speed but has made breathing noises before, although she does now have a tongue tie on. Pendulum Of Life is by Count Dubois and was purchased for R500,000, but a concern is that her two siblings to have raced have not amounted to much.

In the second over 1450m, Rock Me Var has come class and is a full-brother to Solarium who is generally kept to sprints but has won over 1400m, so he is interesting stepped up in trip with Andrew Fortune up, although he has a tricky draw of five in the seven horse field. Battle In Seattle has a better draw than last time when probably going too fast in front and it would be no surprise to see him make amends. Mighty Manzi is by Windrush, whose progeny are known to love the Vaal sand. He cast a shoe in his first start on the surface, but won second time out over this course and distance when flying up late. He has a better draw this time but runs off a two point higher merit rating and the concern is that he benefitted from horses going too fast in front last time out.

Olympic Owen is better than his last start in which he stumbled and overreached and was caught wide from a wide draw before being rushed around them , so from a good draw his class could possibly see him reversing form with Mighty Manzi, who beat him comfortably last time out. Vulcan is a speedy sort but won his only start over course and distance. He is now seven points higher in the merit ratings and he continually interfered with Rock Me Var last time over 1200m on turf  so the latter could reverse form. Raise The Red likely needed his last start and can improve but his wide draw will make it tough.

In the third over 1450m the Windrush filly Bluemoonrush  improved when switched to sand last time out over 1000m and on pedigree will love the step up in trip. Ginger Sioux ran well the last time she tried the course and distance and is now drawn in pole with Fortune up. Lindeman Lustre beat the latter in that race but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. Eastside can earn if repeating her last start over course and distance. Somerset Skye’s best run in Cape Town was over this trip and she could improve on her Highveld debut.

In the fourth over 1200m, Don Christo should enjoy the switch to sand having run two fair races on turf and has Gavin Lerena up from a fair draw. Le Clos has run well three times on turf, twice over this trip, and is well drawn but a concern is that he has made breathing noises every time. Seven Cheers ran a cracker from pole position over course and distance in his penultimate start and now has a draw midway between that and the draw he had last time, also over course and distance, when well beaten.

In the fifth over 1600m, Dancing Escudo won well over course and distance in her penultimate start and then was found to not be striding out when disappointing over 1800m, so she could be a big factor here if back to her best, although her wide draw is a bit of a concern. Fashion Secret won easily in just her second career start last time over course and distance and Lerena has kept the ride although her time was over three seconds slower than Escudo’s victory. Fire Dancing ran well in a Gr 2 on Saturday over 1450m and has the ability, but a concern is that she has been below par twice when stepped up in trip to this course and distance.

In the sixth over 1000m High Game is interesting as he was considered good enough to contest a Gr 1 and his merit rating of 76 is reasonable. He showed pace in a 1300m event last time out so the trip shouldn’t be too sharp. Maji Moto should be a runner here over an ideal course and distance with Fortune up. Chief Sioux did well over course and distance last time out and Lerena retains the ride. Flag Of France’s best recent performances have been over 1000m and he has come further down the sand merit ratings. Benbow is back to the merit rating of his last win over course and distance.

In the seventh over 1200m Knock Knock is off a competitive merit rating and ran a cracker over 1450m last time on the sand, so this shouldn’t be too sharp and he should be running on strongly from a wide draw. Play Date is interesting stepped down to this course and distance with Lerena up off a very much lowered merit rating as she has done well over course and distance before when in the maidens. Tabanna ran well over this trip on the turf last time and in her only sand start was outclassed in what proved to be a strong race over 1000m, so she could feature in the finish.

In the eighth over 1450m, Sub Shaawes used to be known as a shirker so now that he has won a race well last time and has the same experienced jockey aboard, he can be followed despite being given a six point merit rated raise. Cumberland should handle this trip and the form of his last start over 1200m looks good.  Pay As You Go has run well in his last two sand starts over 1600m and as a handy sort is interesting over sharper from a fair barrier position.
– David Thiselton
Picture: Champion jockey Gavin Lerena rides Don Christo (Race 4) at the Vaal today