The Vaal Outside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow. The draw bias used to favour high drawn horses here but this seems to have evened out and the jockeys were tending to stick to the middle and inside last week.
The highlight of the meeting will be the return to action of the unbeaten Mawshoof, who hails from the flying Mike de Kock yard and runs in the sixth race, a MR 83 Handicap over 1200m. This three-year-old Trippi colt beat a moderate workrider’s maiden field by 4,75 lengths on debut over 1000m and was accorded only a 76 merit rating by the handicappers. However, second time out he showed much improvement and stormed to victory full of running to win by 2,75 lengths. The handicappers could only raise him a maximum of eight points to an 84, but he gave the impression he could rise well above that mark. He carries a nice galloping weight of 55,5kg, although on the evidence of last Thursday’s racing the connections might have preferred him to be drawn lower than seven out of nine.
The main danger could be Arabian Beat, who was a classy sort as a two-year-old for this yard and won the Grade 1 SA Nursery. He does have breathing issues these days but having won by 2,25 lengths over this trip last time he can do well again with Keagan de Melo retaining the ride. Another classy sort in the field is the three-year-old Laurent Du Var, who beat the like of the useful So Var comfortably over 1000m at level weights as a two-year-old in March. He could run well fresh after a 107 day layoff, having been found to not be striding out in his last start in August. Mujallad is another speedy and classy three-year-old and he was only caught late by the useful sprinters Exquisite Touch and The Thinker over 1000m last time, although off a 92 merit rating he has to give Mawshoof 4kg and Laurent Du Var 3kg. Torre Del Oro has the ability to be in the shake up too.
Lauren Of Rochelle (JC Photographics)
The best bet on the card could be Star Of Joburg, who looks hard to beat in a drop in trip to 1000m in the second race. He showed exceptional pace over 1160m last time and was only overtaken by two classy sorts with the rest of the field beaten by 5,75 lengths.
Fans will be hoping to see the Sean Tarry yard bouncing back to form before the Sansui Summer Cup meeting and he could win the first race over 1600m with Piaget Prince. He showed pace over 1400m in his penultimate start and was then not striding out over 1600m last time. This Philanthropist colt should enjoy the 1600m trip on pedigree and does not have a lot to beat. The main danger could be the well-bred first-timer Circle The Sun, who is by Await The Dawn out of Fisani, a Kahal mare who won the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She later won another Grade 2 over 2000m and a Grade 3 over 1800m.
Tarry could also win the last race on the card over 1600m with Pachuco. This horse was flying at the finish last Thursday over 1400m when a close sixth and should relish the step up in trip.
The third race is the first leg of the PA and in this uninspiring affair Mizshowbiz and Ultimate Shamrock should fight it out.
In the next race there is a very interesting debutant, the R1,2 million Captain Al filly Penny Royal, who is a half-sister to the brilliant champion sprint-miler Princess Victoria and she does not have a lot to beat in this 1200m maiden. Kitty Coo makes the most appeal of those to have raced.
In the fifth race Lake Kinneret is interesting dropped in trip to 1200m with blinkers on as he fared well in a string Progress Plate last time over 1450m.
The seventh also produces an interesting runner in Lauren Of Rochelle as he was not far off them last time after a tardy start. Weichong Marwing has stayed aboard and this horse has now dropped three points since his handicap debut.
In the eighth over 1000m Ilha Da Var improved to win his maiden comfortably and could follow up. He could beat home the consistent Osculation and the honest little mare Celtic Lady.
By David Thiselton
