The Vaal Classic track stages a nine race meeting on Thursday and there look to be a few opportunities for punters.

Resolute Captain in race 6 over 1700m looks to be a Pick 6 banker. This big, galloping sort only just failed to catch the winner last week over course and distance when drawn four. However, the lack of pace appeared to be his undoing. This time Captain Coyote could set a better pace or otherwise Resolute Captain could go to the front  himself from a plum draw of two. Trainer Alec Laird is in the middle of a purple patch and Gunther Wrogemann is an accomplished jockey. Resolute Captain was raised one point for last week’s effort, but it will not affect his weight here, so he is effectively half-a-kilogram well in.

Alec Laird

Copper Pot is due to improve in this race having been given another five point merit rating drop and he could be worth including in a swinger with Resolute Captain. Off an 18 point lower merit rating than his highest mark, he could bounce back to form if repeating the promising form of his penultimate run, which was over 1400m at the Vaal. In his three-year-old year he showed a good turn of foot on occasion so was probably ridden too handily last time over 1600m in a night race at Turffontein. That was a poor run, which is a concern, but Piere Strydom takes the ride again and he is once again drawn in pole position.

The first leg of the PA sees another galloping sort, Circle Of Latitude, having her first run out of the maidens. She looks to have talent and can rise above a merit rating of 77. She will relish the step up to 1700m as she was not stopping at the line in her maiden win over 1500m. The one drawback is her draw of seven in a nine horse field. Costa Da Sol is in good form and Gavin Lerena has jumped ship from Snowdonia to ride her. Snowdonia beat Costa Da Sol last time by 0,25 lengths, but is now 1,5kg worse off.

In the next race over 1500m the highly regarded Pietro Mascagni reappears. He jumped off at 11/2 in the prestigious Grade 2 Investec Dingaans last time and now runs in his first handicap off a mere 79 merit rating. The Dingaans was a postponed meeting, which can be the undoing of horses prepared to the minute for a big race, especially one who had to travel to the racecourse. The Silvano colt does have a wide draw of ten and still has a lot to prove. However, champion jockey Delpech is aboard again and if anything like as good as he is said to be Pietro Mascagni is the one to beat. Greek Fire is equally promising, but has to give Pietro Mascagni 5,5kg and is returning from a layoff. The consistent Tommy Waterdevil could be the main threat from the older horses over a likely ideal trip.

In race seven over 1700m Volcanic Sunset has his first run out of the maidens. However, he had some fine form against some good sorts before getting off the mark and appears to be improving with gelding too. He is the one to beat off an attractive opening handicap mark of 75 from a plum draw of two.

In the next race some were surprised last time to see Vicomte running in blinkers as he has run on well from off the pace over sprints. His finishing speed was duly blunted in that race after being handy throughout and he faded. The blinkers are now off, so he should be running on strongly in this MR 80 Handicap off an 82 merit rating. However, Marmook looks progressive and was undone by a tardy start last time. There are a number of other talented runners in this race, including Rebel’s Champ, Borya, Pillaroftheearth, Sir Spencer and the inconsistent Le Tigre.

In the last race over 1000m Jazalaah should be too good, although Melinda’s Garden is a striking looking horse and her breathing issue didn’t bother her last time so she could be dangerous over an ideal trip with first-time blinkers on.

By David Thiselton