The Vaal Classic track stages a low key eight race card tomorrow and the highest merit rated race is a MR 80 Handicap over 1500m which could be won by Sail For Joy, although it is an ultra-competitive handicap in which all nine of the runners have a chance.

The four-year-old Argonaut gelding Sail For Joy had to be used up to a certain extent over 1600m last time when overcoming a wide draw to go to the front, so he did well to hang on for a close third to the well regarded Jubilee Line. He now has a much better draw of three and will enjoy the step down in trip, considering his last two wins have both been over 1400m. He has only been given a one point raise for his two close finishes to Jubilee Line so is competitive off this mark. Polar Ice had a cracking win over 1700m with first time blinkers on and has another good draw. He is only two points higher in the merit ratings and is 4,5kg better off with Silver God for a 3,3 length beating in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes last time, which was over an 1800m trip which probably stretched him from a wide draw.

Front Rank

Front Rank is an enigmatic sort but is capable and can never be ignored. He has Tommy Waterdevil beaten on paper on the form of their meeting in November as he has dropped to a competitive merit rating. His last two runs don’t look good at first sight, but he spread a shoe in the second of them and was hopelessly out at the weights in the other in a Pinnacle event. Silver God was not disgraced in the Dingaans, finishing just 6,5 lengths back, and followed with a fair effort in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m when 5,65 lengths behind the promising Majestic Mambo. This is his first attempt at a handicap and he has to run off an 85 merit rating from a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field. Tommy Waterdevil is a consistent sort despite often making breathing noises. He is better drawn than last time when not disgraced in fifth behind the classy three-year-old Pietro Mascagni over this course and distance. Pietro Mascagni was comfortably beaten by Silver God in the Dingaans, but a line can be drawn through that run.

There is not much between Tokyo Drift and Sail For Joy and Tommy Waterdevil on recent form. Tokyo Drift was running on from off the pace last time over 1600m on this course from a similar draw to this one. Trip To Troy is 1kg better off with Sail For Joy for a 1,4 length beating over 1600m so there is not much in it. Machismo is 1kg better off with Front Rank for a mere short-head beating over 1400m, although his last two runs have been uninspiring. Trading Profit returns from a layoff over a suitable trip and has Strydom up from pole position. He reeled off a hattrick between June and August before being well beaten in the Grand Heritage. It would probably be advisable to include the whole field in the exotics.

Pinfanta is selected as the Pick 6 banker in the last race over 1700m. This promising daughter of Captain Al had to set sail for home early when finding herself in front down the straight over 1600m last time and did well to finish second. Muzi Yeni does not have an easy draw of six to overcome and Pinfanta has also been given a three point raise. However, the Houdalakis yard bring them on slowly but surely and this horse looks promising. The stablemate Braxton from pole position could be the main danger but it is significant Yeni sticks with Pinfanta having been the regular pilot of Braxton too.  Azkur is another one to consider, but she does have a tough draw to overcome.

The previous race could be won by Crazy Vision, who is only two points higher than his fast-finishing win over this 1700m course and distance last time. However, they did all finish on top of each other in that race so the form could be suspect. He does have another good draw and is taken to beat Cosmic Count and Shogun.

Carmalita is an interesting runner in race five over 1000m as she won her maiden from start to finish over this trip and the form has been franked. Off just a 72 mark she has a fine chance.

The previous race is a competitive maiden in which the expensive Mardi Gras is taken to win as he finished strongly on debut, although he would likely prefer further so can’t be bankered. Copper Jay did beat him in that last race, while That’s Life was backed then but over raced before fading. They will be threats and Crassus and Singfonico can’t be ignored either.

The first leg of the Pick should be fought out by the two form choices Eleni and Flying Feather.

Corné Spies has been in his usual devastating form in two-year-old races and his pair of first-timers in the first two races could give him yet another juvenile double as they are reasonably well bred and don’t have a lot to beat.

By David Thiselton