The Vaal has an eight race card on the Inside track today where low draws tend to be favourable and there look to be some more early season opportunities for punters.

In race 1 over 1200m, a Maiden for three-year-old fillies, My Friend Lee was green on debut but was doing good work late. This Pathfork filly should have benefitted from the experience and will appreciate the step up in trip and she is also drawn on the right side according to trends. Goodness Me was overtaken late on debut by My Friend Lee and could earn here again as she should also improve. Tandana has run some fair races and now wears first time blinkers from a favourable draw. Spice Lady showed pace when stepped up from 1000m to 1450m last time out but was run out of it so she could appreciate the step down in trip and has a reasonable draw. Mandolin showed improvement last time when stepped back down to this sort of trip but does have a high draw to overcome. Rolled Silver was disappointing over course and distance on debut after being backed in from 12/1 to 33/10, but could improve. None of the first-timers make much appeal.

In race 2 over 1200m Harry’s Silver is a full brother to a twice-winning sprinter and didn’t stay the 1600m trip last time after a reasonable debut over this course and distance in very soft going. He is an imposing horse with a nice stride and is drawn on the right side so in faster going conditions could be dangerous. On one collateral formline Nilgiri Hills comes out better, but Harry’s Silver looks to possibly have more scope for improvement.  Nilgiri Hills showed good pace over course and distance last time and has a good chance in this uninspiring field despite having an unfavourable draw. Sail For Joy has a nice stride and is knocking on the door, but has been a bit one paced in the finish over this trip and might be looking for a touch further. He has a tricky draw.

In race 3 over 1600m Mr Joe Black ran on well when it was already all over last time over course and distance so is most interesting with blinkers on for the first time. He has a fair draw. Elevenses has been knocking on the door and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Last time out he was caught wide and is better than that. Stunned over raced a little bit in the early stages on debut over course and distance, so if settling better this time could be a big runner, but the high draw is a concern.

In race 4 over 1600m Silver Peg was raised six points for his easy, hattrick clinching win over 1800m last time and although this trip is slightly too sharp he looks likely to be pacemaker and could run them off their feet in the straight under the wily Andrew Fortune. Hidden Agenda was staying on strongly in the final stages when stepped up to 1450m last time and finished only 1,5 lengths back despite being 1,5kg under sufferance. That was in a MR 91 handicap, so he can do well here in this lower class MR 79 handicap despite a three point higher merit rating. He looks likely to stay the trip, although the high draw is a concern and he will need luck in running. Analyse This won well from an ideal draw over 1600m last time and has the best draw here so can be involved again despite a six point merit rated raise.

In race 5 over 1600m King Gerard has a good draw for a change and is the type who needs it as he requires cover in order for his strong finish to be at its most effective. He is off the same merit rating as his last win and should go close. Pacific G is knocking on the door but has a wide draw to overcome. He might be dropped out as he is capable of a strong finish. Viking Castle is only two points higher than his last win and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Baracah is 41 points lower than his highest merit rating and while he has been frustrating to follow he can’t be ignored. Champions Cup is off a competitive merit rating and can be involved if finding cover from a tricky draw.

Race 6 over 1000m is very open. Quattro will appreciate the step back in trip and blinkers could help him get into the race earlier so he has a chance from a fair draw. Buster Posy ran a cracker over course and distance without shoes last time and they remain off.  Le Tigre enjoys this course and distance and won his maiden well when using his pace from a similarly high draw but he does look to be off a tough merit rating. Musical Romance has a wide draw but has pace and has been consistent lately. Tiger’s Legacy has his second run for a new yard and it his second run after a layoff, but if reproducing his best form off a lowered merit rating he will be a big runner. Chief Sioux is only two points higher for a course and distance win. Dragoon has found  no extra lately and will likely appreciate the step down in trip. Striking Pose can’t be ignored.

In race 7 over 1200m Raring To Go runs well for this claimer and is off an attractive merit rating over a suitable trip. The consistent Dangerous Diva often makes breathing noises so is interesting dropped in trip with Fortune up in an uninspiring field. Miss Argentina has the ability to do well from a good draw over a suitable trip for an in form yard. Lakahal is drawn on the wrong side but is knocking on the door and this isn’t the strongest field.  S’Way and Victor’s Castle can’t be ignored.

In race 8 over 1400m Arpad is well drawn over a suitable trip, although on the downside he is four points higher for his last run when going close from a good draw over 1600m. Delamere is off a competitive merit rating and could be dropped out from a high draw as he ran on well last time over 1450m. Mendoza’s Melody is off a competitive merit rating and ideally course and distance suited. Thewaywemaykem ran on well for second over 1300m at Greyville last time in a below par field for the KZN Yearling Sale Million and he has a merit rating of 80 to contend with despite having taken seven runs to win his maiden. Intandokazi  ran a cracker last time over course and distance and can do so again if dropped out from a high draw. Lokshina has not been disgraced against some fair horses on the Greyville poly over this trip and off a lowered merit rating from a good draw with Fortune up is interesting having his first run for a new yard.

Crimson Magic is capable of better and is now off an attractive merit rating and the blinkers have come off, so could surprise if overcoming the draw. Mutakayyef has a high draw but as a consistent sort off a lowered merit rating can’t be ignored. Trip To Paradise could earn if dropped out from a high draw. Formal Request could be thereabouts if finding the front from a high draw. Roaring Tiger is well drawn and the blinkers are on for the second time so he could earn on best form in a tough race to analyse.

David Thiselton   

Champion Jockey S’manga Khumalo got his new season off to the worst possible start when he copped a 60-day ban for an injudicious ride in the third race at Fairview on June 24.

Khumalo was charged with not taking all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his mount Captain Courteous was given full opportunity to win or be placed by a National Horseracing Authority enquiry board on Monday.

Khumalo pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a 60-day suspension from riding. The suspension started on Tuesday this week and ends on October 7.

Dean Kannemeyer sends out his highly regarded Var colt Paperback Writer for Sundays Bloodstock SA Million Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville and said he was definitely better than his last run.

He also said the key to his SA Bloodstock Million Mile contender Gregorian Chant had been found.

Kannemeyer said, “We expected better from Paperback Writer in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion but we have freshened him up and he worked nicely this morning (Wednesday). We have always thought highly of him, he is a speed horse and is not out of it if he puts his best foot forward.”

The Medallion did not pan out well for Paperback Writer and he could have otherwise been closer than a 7,9 length seventh.

Anthony Delpech has not abandoned him and rides from a number one draw.

Kannemeyer said, “Gregorian Chant is very well and when we put the blinkers on and stepped him up in trip to 1400m, he won well. Unfortunately he is drawn in the bush.”

The Trippi colt is drawn 16 and Keagan de Melo rides.

David Thiselton

Highveld trainer Joe Soma sends down two promising horses in gelding Orapa and colt Old Oak Tree for the Bloodstock South Africa Million Mile to be run at Scottsville on Sunday.

Orapa has been merit rated 83 after an impressive win second time out over 1400m at Turffontein where he came wide into the straight before cantering past the field effortlessly and winning by 3,25 lengths.

On debut over 1450m Orapa was backed in from 12/1 to 4/1 but it did not pan out too well for him and Old Oak Tree beat him by 3,1 lengths.

In his next start Old Oak Tree was caught wide so was not at all disgraced in finishing a six length fourth to the highly regarded Heavenly Blue. However, he has been accorded a merit rating of only 78.

Orapa, who is by Tiger Ridge out of the decent Fort Wood mare Loupe (who won three-in-a-row between 1160m and 1200m early in her career), has unfortunately drawn 18.

Soma said, “We rate him highly although it is still a big ask for a young horse who is still gathering experience. We are also a bit concerned about how well he will travel, as he has tended to be a naughty horse in the pens, and there is also the draw, although on the bright side with the new rules in place he should load last from that barrier position.”

Old Oak Tree, who is by champion freshman sire Gimethegreenlight out of Captain Al mare Ribbons For Thee, was a 12/1 shot when winning the 1450m maiden third time out from a handy position and Soma said his last start proved he is improving. He is drawn in barrier 10 and Andrew Fortune, who rode him in his last two starts, is up again.

Soma said, “When you have a jockey like Andrew Fortune, you always have a chance.”

Corné Orffer will ride Orapa for the first time as Aldo Domeyer, who won on him, is serving a suspension.

Soma concluded, “There is not much between them in work. We are not a stable who drills young horses and they could both have very nice futures ahead of them, so I hope they come through the race unscathed.”

David Thiselton

Sean Tarry can hardly separate his pair for Sunday’s Bloodstock SA Million Sprint over 1200m at  Scottsville, but said he would “only just” swing towards Bold Viking ahead of Side Show if he had to. He expected a better run from his Bloodstock SA Million Mile contender Kahula.

Bold Viking and Side Show met in a grass gallop this week and “there was not much in it”, but Tarry pointed out the conditions of the gallop had favoured Side Show.

Tarry added, “They are different types of horse, Bold Viking takes his time but has a very strong kick, while Side Show will be there the whole way as he has some toe. I think the tough Scottsville 1200m will suit Bold Viking.”

Bold Viking, a strong Black Minnaloushe colt who came from a seemingly beaten position to win going away by 1,2 lengths on debut over 1200m at the Vaal, will be ridden by Andrew Fortune from a middle draw, while Querari colt Side Show, who romped home by 5,25 lengths when stepped down to 1200m for the first time, will be ridden by Lyle Hewitson from a draw of 12 in the 16 horse field if the reserves come out.

Tarry said about the Kahal filly Kahula, who will be ridden by Hewitson from draw ten in the Mile, “She threw us a curve ball last time, it was a very disappointing run (in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes), but before that she hadn’t put a foot wrong.”

Her first three runs for a win and two thirds were over sprint distances, but being out of the Tarry-trained SA Oaks-winning Fort Wood mare Bedloe’s Island she should easily stay 1600m.

David Thiselton