The Vaal Classic track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and an MR 86 Handicap over 1800m is the most interesting race.
Piere Strydom
Missouri was staying on in the Grade 2 Investec Dingaans over 1600m last time and looks likely to relish the step up in trip so is tipped to win under Piere Strydom, despite having to jump from draw nine. Royal Crusade is by Silvano out of Grade 1 Thekwini winner Royal Fantasy and won his maiden well over 1600m. In his handicap debut he likely needed it after a six month layoff and he lost ground at the start. He should improve a lot on that run and should be involved in the finish, although he also has to overcome a wide draw. His stablemate Wheel Of Time also returned from a layoff last time when over racing in a 1600m handicap. He had good maiden form from 1600m to 1700m before that and under Summer Cup-winning jockey Raymond Danielson this Tapit colt should settle better and can be involved. Double Mink has a nice stride and should enjoy this trip, but he was due to run on Thursday so is not sure to line up. Alssakhra beat the fair sort King’s County in his maiden over 1600m and the latter went on to win easily next time out over the same trip before later finishing third in the Listed Secretariat Stakes. Alssakhra ran well below par in the Ready To Run Cup and finished distressed. However, if he bounces back to his best he will be a runner here from a good draw under Lerena off an 81 merit rating.
Race two over 1000m sees the Mike de Kock-trained Kildonan gelding Highland Hero reappearing after failing narrowly over this trip on debut eleven days ago. He is a good looking sort who possesses a touch of class and will be hard to beat. Fearless Fred had some decent form last season and this tall sort should be cherry ripe so could return an attractive dividend for a place.
The first leg of the PA over 1800m is tricky. Tango Man was left with too much to do over this trip last time and initially stayed on well before running out of steam late. From a better draw he should be closer to the pace and this will also now be his third run after gelding. Short And Sweet and Dancing Rebel make most appeal of the rest.
In the seventh race over 2000m Ali Bon Dubai has a nice turn of foot and should relish the long straight here over his ideal trip. Gavin Lerena should get the best out of him and he can go close if not losing too much ground at the start.
The following race is an interesting MR 87 handicap over 1000m. Cathedral County has speed and class, although he does tend to start a bit slowly. He has also been found to be coughing occasionally so is not a banker proposition. However, he can progress beyond his current 85 merit rating and is tipped to win. Marmook is an excellent back up as he really caught the eye in his last start over this trip and that was his first run as a gelding. He bounded away from the opposition to win by 1,5 lengths and this Australian-bred by Medaglia D’Oro can handle a four point merit-rated raise. It would be no surprise to see him win his third race in just his fifth start.
By David Thiselton
