David Thiselton

A Graduation Plate over 1400m is the highlight of the meeting at the Vaal Classic track on Thursday and could see the three-year-old King Harald claiming a second career victory.

Gavin Lerena has jumped ship from Winds Of Change to ride King Harald who has been quite close to the like of all of Gr 2 winner Tin Pan Alley, dual Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen and Gr 2 winner Chronicle King in races from 1400m up to 1600m. He has a tricky draw of five out of seven and is officially 2kg under sufferance with Winds Of Change, but Gavin Lerena knows him well and he should make a bold bid. He should appreciate this step up to this trip. Winds Of Change was staying on over 1000m last time and although both of his wins were over 1160m, he did finish a 3,70 length fifth in a Grade 2 race the only time he went further than a sprint and that was over this 1400m trip. He could mow down the others in the finish from a wide draw of six out of seven. Paul Revere is way out at the weights but is drawn in pole, was 2,5kg under sufferance in the Grand Heritage when finishing just 4,50 lengths back, so could be in the shake up here.  Clever Trevor is also way under sufferance but is on the up. I’m A Fireball is third best in at the weights but in his only try at a trip beyond a sprint, in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe, he was well beaten, although he did have a wide draw then and has a middle draw here on this more galloping track.

In the first leg of the P6 over 2400 females are at a weight advantage under the Classified Stakes conditions and the progressive Cartagena could thus be the one to beat under Craig Zackey, who is in sublime form. She does have a tricky draw of eight but possesses a good turn of foot so can make up the ground after being dropped out. Chabal has a very wide draw but is capable over this trip and will be ridden by in form Rachel Vennikerr, whose 1,5kg gender allowance will help him overcome being 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Arlington Action is also distance suited and is only 2kg under sufferance and he did beat Chabal when they last met over this trip. Mizzen Sword might be looking for this trip having won over 1800m before. Lava Lamp is the best weighted but was fatigued last time over 3200m when tailed off, so will likely come in freshened up. Party Punch is joint second best weighted and is 2kg better off with Cartagena for a 2,70 length beating, but she will need to confirm the form.

In the second leg over 2000m Palace Attack is a half-brother to Fire Attack and having shown promise up to 1700m he should relish this step up in trip and is well drawn. Diesel’s Shadow won well last time and if reproducing it off a five point higher mark from a good draw he could be a contender. Flashy Apache is always thereabouts and has a a fair draw over a suitable trip off a competitive mark. One More Star won well over this trip last time but does have a tough draw. Titans Of War has a tricky draw but has been in fair form and has Lerena up.

In the sixth race over 1200m Rockaroundtheclock has good formlines and can score a hattrick despite a five point raise for his latest win and even then he is officially 3,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, so he will need to improve again. Gimmethegoodlife is in good form and can go close from a good draw with Venniker up. Black Egret can never be ignored and has a fair draw. Lead The Charge is in hard-knocking form but does have a tricky draw. The filly Salenio Peninsula is the best weighted and only has to carry 52,5kg so should make a bold bid under Keagan de Melo.

In the seventh over 1200m Esquevelle is in fine form and should be right there from a fair draw. Palace Revolt ran a cracker over this trip with first time blinkers and has a shout from a fair draw. Winston’s Wonder ran well first time out the maidens over 1450m but was not only given a two point raise but has also had a short layoff and now has a tough draw.

In the ninth over 1600m Aquarius won well in the maidens and can follow up. Kensal Green beat the same horse Aquarius beat in the maidens but did not do it as convincingly. Azaleas For All has been in good form and has some good form over this shorter trip than she’s been running over recently. Open Sesame is capable of improvement but does have a tough draw. Nkwenkwezi was not herself last time so has likely been freshened up and the shorter trip could help.

In the tenth race Global Impact could be the one to beat over a suitable trip.

In the first race over 200m Samuel Sharpe should relish the step up in trip and can win this uninspiring race from pole position.

In the second over 1200m Quickfreeze was just 5,75 lengths back in second behind the promising Tintin on debut and with expected improvement could be the one to beat here.

In the third over 1200m Anahita has shown ability and might well enjoy the step down in trip but does have a tough draw. Savara’s Princess has a fair draw and comes off a close up finish over 1500m, but has finished second over this distance too before. Gimmesumluv is by Gimmethegreenlight and is a half-sister to Gr 2 winner Second Base.

Race 1

8 SAMUEL SHARPE 4 UNDERDOG 3 JABBERWOCKY 1 AFTERBURN

Preview: 8 SAMUEL SHARPE made a fair debut over 1200m and is drawn in pole over a step up in trip he should relish being by Flower Alley out of a Mambo In Seattle mare. 4 UNDERDOG has shown some ability over shorter and on pedigree should also enjoy the step up in trip although draw of seven is tricky. 3 JABBERWOCKY could earn if producing his best from a fair draw. 1 AFTERBURN has shown enough to be able earn in this uninspiring field. (David Thiselton 8-4-3-1)

Race 2

5 QUICKFREEZE 1 SKY PILOT 4 QUEVANO 2 MONKEY’S WEDDING

Preview: 5 QUICKFREEZE made a good debut behind a promising sort and is the one to beat from a fair draw. 1 SKY PILOT has 0,60 lengths to find on Quickstep but does have a tricky draw. 4 QUEVANO ran a good race last time and has a chance if able to overcome a tricky draw. MONKEY’S WEDDING has shown enough to be able to earn here from a middle draw. (David Thiselton 5-1-4-2)

Race 3

2 ANAHITA 3 SAVARA’S PRINCESS 9 GIMMESUMLUV

Preview: 2 ANAHITA has shown ability and might well enjoy the step down in trip but does have a tough draw. 3 SAVARA’S PRINCESS has a fair draw and comes off a close up finish over 1500m but has finished second over this distance too before. GIMMESUMLUV is by Gimmethegreenlight and is a half-sister to Gr 2 winner Second Base (David Thiselton 2-3-9)

Race 4

4 CARTAGENA 3 CHABAL 2 ARLINGTON ACTION 6 MIZZEN SWORD

Preview: 4 CARTAGENA is an improving stayer and has a good chance despite a five point raise for her last win and a tricky draw especially as females are favoured at the weights by Classified race conditions. 3 CHABAL is proven over this trip and is capable of better than last time when and the inform Venniker has a 1,5kg gender claim and can help overcome the wide draw. 2 ARLINGTON ACTION beat Chabal the last time they met but was behind him in an earlier race so there should not be much in it. 6 MIZZEN SWORD is capable but not to reliable and is interesting stepped up to this trip as she stays middle distances well. David Thiselton (4-3-2-6)

Race 5

7 PALACE ATTACK 2 DIESEL’S SHADOW 4 FLASHY APACHE 5 ONE MORE STAR

Preview: 7 PALACE ATTACK is a half-brother to Fire Attack and having shown promise up to 1700m he should relish this step up in trip and is well drawn. 2 DIESEL’S SHADOW won well last time and if reproducing it off a five point higher mark from a good draw he could be a contender. 4 FLASHY APACHE is always thereabouts and has a a fair draw over a suitable trip off a competitive mark. 5 ONE MORE STAR one well over this trip last time but does have a tough draw. (David Thiselton 7-2-4-5)

Race 6

7 ROCKAROUNDTHECLOCK 1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 2 BLACK EGRET 3 LEAD THE CHARGE

Preview: 7 ROCKAROUNDTHECLOCK has good formlines and can score a hat-trick despite a five point raise for his latest win. 1 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE is in good form and can go close from a good draw with the 1,5kg claim of in form Venniker helping. 2 BLACK EGRET can never be ignored and has a fair draw. 3 LEAD THE CHARGE is in hard-knocking form but does have a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 7-1-2-3)

Race 7

2 ESQUEVELLE 9 PALACE REVOLT 6 WINSTON’S WONDER

Preview: 2 ESQUEVELLE is in fine form and should be right there from a fair draw. 9 PALACE REVOLT ran a cracker over this trip with first time blinkers and has a shout from a fair draw. 6 WINSTON’S WONDER ran well first time out the maidens over 1450m but has had a short layoff and was given a two point raise and now has a tough draw. (David Thiselton 2-9-6)

Race 8

6 KING HARALD 1 WINDS OF CHANGE 2 PAUL REVERE 3 CLEVER TREVOR

Preview: 6 KING HARALD has some class and will enjoy this trip so can go close with Lerena, who has jumped ship from Winds Of Change, taking the ride. 1 WINDS OF CHANGE is well weighted to deliver here and strikes as one who will enjoy this trip so could mow them down from his tricky draw. 2 PAUL REVERE is distance suited and is drawn in pole over an ideal trip. 3 CLEVER TREVOR won well last time and can build on it but does have a penalty for two wins and has a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 6-1-2-3)

Race 9

6 AQUARIUS 7 KENSAL GREEN 1 AZALEAS FOR ALL 3 OPEN SESAME

Preview: 6 AQUARIUS won well in the maidens and can follow up. 7 KENSAL GREEN has similar form to Aquarius and should be right there. 1 AZALEAS FOR ALL has been in good form and tries a step down in trip. 3 OPEN SESAME is capable of improvement but does have a tough draw. (David Thiselton 6-7-1-3)

Race 10

4 GLOBAL IMPACT 7 PRINCE OF KILDARE 8 THE MIGHTIEST 9 MY LUCKY CHARM

Preview: 4 GLOBAL IMPACT should enjoy this trip and can go close. 7 PRINCE OF KILDARE has the form to be a contender. 8 THE MIGHTIEST should be in the shake up here. 9 MY LUCKY CHARM is capable of better and can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 4-7-8-9)

Soccer4 Saturday 17 January 2026. Carryover R25 000. Estimated Pool: R100 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 17 Pool 2.

Soccer6 Saturday 17 January 2026. Carryover R75 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 4 Pool 2.

Soccer10 Saturday 17 January 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.8 Million. Pool Closes at 16h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1.

Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 17 January 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.

Soccer13 GUARANTEED JACKPOT Saturday 17 January 2026. R17.5 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.

Soccer CORNERS Carryover R2 545. Saturday 17 January 2026. Pool Closes at 16h30.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Lingfield (UK) – 14 January 2026.