The Vaal stages an eight race meeting tomorrow and the well regarded Querari gelding Galactic Warrior can win the headliner, a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m.
This lightly raced three-year-old would have needed his last start over 1200m on the Classic track following a six month layoff so did well to finish fourth to the former Grade 1 winner Arabian Beat. He will prefer further in time and his only win has been over 1450m, but he has struck as one who can rise above his current merit rating of 82 and he has snuck into the handicap here with the minimum weight of 52kg. The outside draws were favourable last week at this course and in draw seven of 12 he is closer to the outside than the inside. Premier Show is a progressive sort who is coming off a good second in the Egoli Sprint over 1100m and he is drawn on the right side over his optimum trip.
Piere Strydom
Tammany Hall has caught the eye before as one with some class and she was finishing strongly from last over 1000m last time in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap to finish a 2,4 length fourth. She was carrying the same weight as the winner, the promising Covered In Snow. It won’t be easy here running off a 98 merit rating against the boys, but she is a strong filly by Await The Dawn so won’t be pushed around and has a favourable draw of nine. Splendid Garden is an enigmatic sort but on his day can mix it with the best, so has to be considered from draw eight. Unrehearsed has talent and is likely distance suited considering he over raced in a 1400m race in his penultimate start, which he still managed to win. He might have benefitted from a layoff since December and could be dangerous under his regular pilot Delpech. MacDuff is held in his regard and was even fancied for the July once.
He has proven effective over sprints and his seventh place in the Diadem this year would be just about good enough to win this, although against him is a tricky draw of four and having to carry 61kg on his first outing on the Highveld. Piere Strydom rode Galactic Warrior last time but has remained aboard Clever Guy following a good third behind Cathedral County. This horse has largely been kept to 1000m, but won his maiden over 1200m. His low draw might be against him. Rebuked is a talented sort who can’t be ignored although he would prefer a touch further and he has the number one draw which could be problematic. Emerald Jaguar could be anything but this is a tough handicap bow in just his second career start, although he does have a plum draw by trends. He has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight, as has the filly For Vodka, who can earn if repeating her penultimate start behind the promising Ninjara. Captain Chips is a 1400m specialist but sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a plum stand side draw with a 4kg claimer up, so he can’t be ignored either. Roquebrune is an enigmatic sort whose last five runs at Flamingo Park include three wide margin victories and a seven length and eleven length defeat, so it’s hard to know what to expect from him.
The best bet on the card is Shanghai Tang in race three over 1400m. The Tarry/Hewitson combination are in top form and this Tiger Ridge gelding was bumped around early on debut over course and distance before running on well for second. He would have come on from the run and has a plum high draw. The main danger could be his stablemate Bakkies, a R650,000 gelding by Await The Dawn who is a half-brother to the like of Grade 1-winner Rabada and the promising Glider Pilot and he has 4kg claimer Dylan Lerena up from a fair draw.
The stumbling block in the exotics could be race six, where the middle-distance to staying type Cardiff Castle has been tipped as he has fair form in the stronger centre of Cape Town and he has a plum draw. He would prefer further, although he was quick enough to be handy the last time he raced over 2000m. Players should consider going wide in this leg.
By David Thielton
