The final racemeeting on the Vaal sand will take place tomorrow, as the course will then be dug up and replaced by a turf track. There will be many a sad punter after race 8 on the card, because this track invariably provides good dividends for those who spend a little bit of extra time delving into the form.
In the first race, a maiden over 1200m, Leigh Woods would likely have come on from his debut last week over 1450m when green and staying on for second and from a plum draw here could stay on resolutely from the front to win. The first-timer Champions Cup is drawn in pole and has an eye catching sand pedigree being by Miesque’s Approval out of the dam of a three-time winner from 1200-1450m Cup Of Rubies so the betting must be watched. Fidelio has faced some fair sorts without being disgraced and enjoyed the step up to this trip on turf so will be a big runner under Piere Strydom, although the draw of eight is a concern. Pera Hur ran well over course and distance on Supreme Cup day. Tobago is by Dynasty but his dam, who was a Listed winner, has not produced any winners to date despite being sent to top sires.
Across The Ice (JC Photos)
In the second, a maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Cash In Camilla has a perfect sand pedigree and a racing style that should be ideal for this surface so is the one to beat from pole position under Andrew Fortune. Meet Me At Manos ran a fair second over course and distance last time but the winner was having her 12th start and had only managed two placed before that. She’s A Flirt stayed on from a wide draw for third in that race and Gavin Lerena now rides from another wide draw.
The third features some classy sorts in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m. Roman Carnival was an impressive winner over course and distance in his penultimate start and is the one to beat from pole position under Fortune. Amazing Strike has a touch of class and will be improving being by Ideal World so could overcome a five month break to do well here under Lerena, particularly considering he has a fine sand pedigree. Sarve is best in at the weights and has a plum draw. Across The Ice showed he was coming back to form last time when not disgraced over 1000m and he loves the course and distance so should be thereabouts from a good draw. Precursor is classy and goes well on the sand but does have a very wide draw to overcome.
The fourth is a MR 72 Handicap over 1000m. Wisaam could be the one to side with despite being a three-year-old asked to run off a merit rating of 84. He won with a ton in hand on debut and looks to be a classy sort, although the one concern besides the weight of 60,5kg is that he made a breathing noise. Magic took 12 runs to win his maiden but always bumped good types and the form of some of his races, such as his 1,4 length second to Noah From Goa over this course and distance, looks very good, so he will be a big threat. The pacey Chief Sioux will love the return to course and distance and Lerena is back aboard. The speedy Battle Of Alma is very close to Chief Sioux on the form of their last meeting, although the weight might just find him out in the closing stages. Kopi Luwak was also 1,5kg under sufferance last time out when finishing a close third over course and distance, but has a slightly tougher task here off his four point higher merit rating.
Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)
The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares. Slick Deputy is a typically progressive daughter of Go Deputy and looks to be running off a capped merit rating because she was being eased up when winning last time by 3,5 lengths. She has become very effective with hold-up tactics. Scandal has good early pace and could be a threat with Lerena up. Patrina brings some fair form from Cape Town, which has the strongest horses in the country, so is interesting off a mere 65 merit rating and running fresh over a trip too sharp. Last Girl Standing won her maiden well over course and distance and didn’t do badly last time over 1200m considering she was squeezed out at the start. Sweet Pickings is 7kg better off for a six length beating by Slick Deputy and could place. Wintry Night is 6,5kg better off for a 3,5 length beating by Slick Deputy but might have been flattered, although she could still earn a cheque.
The sixth is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Eastside is in fine heart and could claim a hattrick as the maximum eight point raise might not be enough to stop her with Piere Strydom up from a fair draw over a suitable trip. Escudo has been disappointing in her last two since an easy win over course and distance but jumps from a good draw for a change. Dover Beach was an easy winner of her last start over 1800m on the sand but the form is not outstanding, although she has a chance despite a wide draw. Fire Dancing ran a fair race from the same draw last time, but has had a tough campaign lately. Lemonade River makes her sand debut over a suitable trip from a good draw and as her grandam is by Fort Wood she might enjoy the sand.
The seventh is a MR 74 Handicap over 1600m. Facebook stayed on well over course and distance last time behind a pair of good form horses and is the one to side with from a good draw here despite making breathing noises last time. Hattrick-seeking Formal Request found extra after showing pace over 1450m last time and this scopey horse should handle the trip, although the wide draw and a six point merit rated raise makes it tough. Calico Quiver was pushed the whole way last time over 1450m after losing a length but responded well and will relish the slight step up in trip. Kidmambo has been knocking on the door over course and distance but has a wide draw. Lava Flow is interesting on sand debut as he has the pedigree and is a fair sort on his day but the wide draw is a concern. Son Of Approval is an in and out sort who could surprise on the day with Fortune up.
The eighth is a MR 65 Handicap over 1400m and Viking Castle has been knocking on the door over this distance and now has a good draw while he should have come on from his last outing too. It would be fitting if the sand stalwart St. John Gray brought the curtain on the Vaal sand and he has a chance with De La Vere who has a good sand pedigree and a good draw so should handle a two point merit rated after a good run over 1500m on turf. Disco Boy could earn if repeating his last start but the off putting factor is his quite wide barrier position.
By David Thiselton
Pictures
- Across The Ice (JC Photos)
- Sarve (Nkosi Hlophe)
