The Vaal Classic track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow although there are some good horses turning out before the feature season.
The Jackpot has good quality races in all of its legs.
Kangaroo Jack
In the first leg, a MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, Frederico’s Dream is made the best bet on a tricky card. She showed pace throughout over 1160m last time with first-time blinkers on in the Listed Swallow Strakes. She was out at the weights with some of the best runners in that race but still finished a close second so looks to be potentially well weighted here off a merit rating raised three points to 87. The unlucky horse in the Swallow Stakes was Winter Watch, whose run was blocked at a crucial stage. She has a fine turn of foot and although she has a difficult task with Frederico’s Dream on paper the risk averse should consider her for the exotics, considering this is a fillies and mares handicap. Movie Show has been in fine form and seems to love The Vaal, so can also be included. Ice Art finished like a train in her last two starts after being dropped down in trip to 1000m and must also be considered. Arissa clearly has her problems but ran well after a long layoff on Summer Cup day when finishing second in the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m and she has only been raised one point.
The next race is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m and the one to beat here could be Matador Man. He has a good turn of foot and as one who enjoys the tight Greyville track, the drop in trip might be what he is looking for. New Predator is top class and this is his best trip, so he will go close as the joint best-weighted male horse in the race. Kangaroo Jack is another one with a fine turn of foot. He has high cruising speed and is well drawn, so this should his good draw of three will suit his style ideally as he should be able to sit off the pace and then turn it on. Heaps Of Fun is the best weighted horse in the race, so should be considered being a Graded winning sprint-miler. Captain Aldo can’t be ignored as one who loves this trip.
The third leg of the Jackpot is a MR 88 Handicap over 1600m for three-year-olds and the selection here is the classy Noble Secret. This son of Dynasty was ultra impressive on debut over 1200m when winning by nearly ten lengths. He disappointed next time out over that same trip, but has since been gelded and is now running over a distance which will suit him much better. He has a fine draw and Randall Simons, who partnered him in both of his first two starts, stays aboard. The interesting runner here is Wonderous Climber as he is also by Dynasty and is a half-brother to the like of Silver Mountain, Cloth Of Cloud and Helderberg Blue.
He has his second run after gelding and if recapturing the form of his maiden win, which was over this trip in the May of his two-year-old year, then he can be involved off a merit rating which has dropped from 85 down to 73. Silver God can also be in the shake up as he won going away last time over 1500m and has only been raised two points. He was beaten by Alshibaa in the Secretariat Stakes over 1800m, but did beat the latter over this trip in the Dingaans. Alshibaa deserves his merit rating, but there are question marks about whether he is as good as some of the others here and he has to give all of them weight except for Noble Secret. The dark horse is Bright Blessed Day, who won impressively over 1200m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip.
The last leg of the Jackpot is a MR 87 Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1600m and it should be fought out between Dressed To Impress and Maple Syrup. The former was clearly outpaced over 1160m on debut but still won easing up by 2,3 lengths so will relish the step up in trip and looks classy. Maple Syrup was not hard pressed to win over 1400m last time to remain unbeaten in two and off just a 81 merit rating she can progress further over a step up in trip she will appreciate.
The first leg of the Pick 6 has the value bet of the day running Circle Of Latitude, who should relish the step up in trip to 2000m and is well drawn.
The last leg of the Pick 6 should be fought out by Waity Katie and Our Shining Star. The former has come back to her best since joing David Nieuwenhuizen yard and could follow up on her recent win, while the latter is looks full of promise.
Collegiate and Gertjie should be enough to get punters through the first leg of the PA.
By David Thiselton
