The Vaal Inside track stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow where the highest rated race is a MR 76 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1700m.

Piere Strydom

It looks to be a typically wide open female handicap. Snowdonia stayed on well for third in a stronger field than this over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track last time and Keagan de Melo keeps the ride. She now has a tough draw of 12 to contend with, but if finding a position in the running over an ideal trip she looks the one to beat. Waity Katie is a bit of an in and out sort, but should have benefitted from her last start over the too sharp 1200m, which was her first run for the David Kuit yard and her first run since April. The blinkers are off and she can run on into the money off an attractive merit rating.

Jo Mambo has a chance on the grounds of her third over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track on May 28. She ran on strongly that day after being dropped out and is better drawn here and off just a one point higher merit rating. She can turn for home handier from this draw and should be running on again. Polar Secret was caught wide from a wide draw over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track last time and eventually faded from a handy position. She has dropped another two points in the merit ratings and can be dangerous here with bottom weight, provided she has better luck in running from another wide draw. Leopard Lily is always dangerous as one who has a fine turn of foot on her day.

The last time Piere Strydom rode her she won going away over 1600m, so he is an eye-catching booking. On the evidence of that race she should stay the trip if it pans out well for her. On the downside she is still four points higher in the merit ratings than that last win and she has a wide daw to overcome. Return To Power makes most appeal of the rest as she was a facile winner the last time she ran over this course and distance and she has the identical draw of four. She ran below par over 2000m last time, so will likely appreciate the step back down to this trip. She does remain eight points higher in the merit ratings for that last win. The horses are selected in the order mentioned.

Strydom could win the second highest rated race on the card, the second, which is a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, with the Tiger Ridge filly Madam Secretary. She has struck as a bit of an under achiever as she has caught the eye on occasion and might start coming into her own with blinkers now fitted. This is her third run after a layoff, but on the downside her draw of six in a nine horse field could be tricky if they are all going to be diving for the inside, which is the favourable side by trends on this course. Embrasiatic therefore must be included in the Bipot as an in form horse jumping from the number one draw over a course and distance she enjoys.

Keagan De Melo (Nkosi Hlophe)

Houston Rocket, who runs in the first leg of the Pick 6, a MR 66 Handicap over 2000m, is chosen as the best bet of the day. He has always struck as a decent type and last time he looked dangerous when moving up over 2400m but then faded out so looked to not stay the trip. However, his 2000m form looks good, having thrashed Ali Bon Dubai over this trip in the maidens and then run close up to the hattrick horse Barbados Cruise. Furthermore, he has a plum draw of three and Piere Strydom remains aboard.

The first leg of the PA over 1400m could be fought out by Artax, who was run out of it late over 1600m on Saturday and now has the number one draw, and Swing Vote, who has hard knocking form and is drawn low over a suitable trip too.

In the first leg of the Jackpot, Inn A Million and Racing Socks might be enough to get punters through. The former proved he is off a competitive merit rating last time when an unlucky loser over 2400m and he was a cosy winner over this trip before that. Racing Socks went close to Barbados Cruise in his penultimate start over this course and distance and now has another plum draw.

Barbados Cruise is coming off a hattrick from 2000-2400m and appears in the eighth race over 1700m. The trip looks sharper than ideal, but the field is uninspiring and he could continue on his winning ways. Arlington has struck as an under achiever and off a much reduced merit rating could bounce back as he should be at his peak and looks to be distance suited. Jackman, St. Joseph and Tom Fool make most appeal of the others.

By David Thiselton