There are two MR84 Handicaps and one Assessment Plate in the eight race meeting on the Vaal Classic track tomorrow and these will be the key races in the exotics as they provide an opportunity to go thin.

The first of the MR84s is over 1000m and the three stand out horses are State Trooper, Copper Jay and Sugoi. State Trooper is an imposing Captain Al gelding who has plenty of substance and he enjoyed being held up last time over this trip before running on strongly to win narrowly. That was an Assessment Plate and he was raised just two points which will be manageable. Copper Jay is ultra consistent and has a win, a second and a third from three starts over this course and distance so has a chance despite carrying topweight. Sugoi is a progressive three-year-old gelding by Noordhoek Flyer. The latter has been a disappointing sire but this youngster looks just like him being a well muscled red chestnut and is getting better and better. He was raised three points for his last win but looks capable of winning off this 77 mark.

The second of the MR 84 handicaps is over 1800m and the one to beat will be Senor Lizard, who finished 3,9 lengths behind the subsequent Cape Derby winner Atyaab last time over this trip at level weights and he has another good draw. He will be a big runner in this easier race and can beat Come The Day, who is still well handicapped on a 78, considering he was considered good enough to be entered in the Summer Cup. He disappointed over 2400m last time but this trip will be right down his alley. Finchatton has a wide draw to overcome but is 4kg better off with Come The Day for a 2,10 length beating over 2000m and this trip is probably his optimum. Those three can get punters through.

The Assessment Plate over 1600m sees a banker possibility in Flying Fable, who is talented and well in at the weights according to official merit ratings and is distance suited. However, she does not come from an in-form yard and has a tricky draw of five in a seven horse field. Podcast has caught the eye before and this three-year-old’s only win was over this trip. He has his third run after gelding but does have a tricky draw. On The Double has shown ability and will relish this trip. She is only 3,5kg under sufferance with the first choice on official merit ratings and can still progress so can be included over an ideal trip and from a better draw than the other two.

Masaaqaat made a fine debut from a difficult draw over 1000m on debut and is hard to oppose in the first leg of the PA.

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 1200m Peppermint Tea has come into his own and was far from disgraced last time against the classy Prince Of Kahal. He is the one to beat and is a banker consideration. Electromagnetic is a nice type who showed some pace on debut when not far behind subsequent SA Nursery winner William The Silent so he is interesting here returning from a layoff over a drop in trip. Eurostorm made an eyecatching debut and starts off on a reasonable 79 merit rating. Those two make most appeal of the rest.

In the seventh race over 1600m there is one stand out formline and Jubilee Line, Combat Muster and To The Regiment all come from it and are hard to separate. Wildlife Safari and Ready To Strike also make appeal but are both widely drawn. O Lucky Man can’t be ignored as he is drawn in pole and is better than his last start when finishing lame.

The last race is a Maiden Plate over 1600m and should be fought out by Ideal Day, who will relish the step up in trip, and the hard-knocking Gold Lightning. Over Sharing ran well from a wide draw over 1400m in his first start after gelding and should also be included. 

The meeting starts with an interesting heat over 1000m as there are a trio of interesting first-timers. Green Laser makes most appeal on pedigree being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Parade Leader half-sister to Capetown Noir, who had speed and an exceptional turn of foot. Power Shot is a R220,000 colt by Bold Silvano out of the four-time winning Windrush mare Rushing Elf and the Spies yard have a fine record in two-year-old events. Winter In Ireland is by champion sprinter What A Winter out of a four time-winning full sister to Irish Flame and should also make her presence felt.

By David Thiselton