Vaal 17 March 2011

I notice a few claims for 2 horses, anything else guys?

I really fancy Skyblade to break her maiden tomorrow, this 1000m on the sand should be ideal especially if its running fast.... 5/2 not a bad price imo.

Gregbucks my exact thought, was going to make it a win bet in the comp for tommorrow

I se rce 3 no 16 Detzkys Tao backed and tipped on competion line

Time Race Num Horse Full Claim ½ Claim New Price Amount Status
Wed 16 11:37:47 1 5 MADE OF STEEL 6/1 4/1 R 25000 Early
Wed 16 15:39:16 1 5 MADE OF STEEL 4/1 28/10 R 25000 Early
Tue 15 14:12:20 1 10 WINTER`S SONG 4/1 3/1 R 25000 Early
Wed 16 12:36:19 3 16 DETZKY`S TAO 100/1 50/1 R 25000 Early
Wed 16 12:50:27 3 16 DETZKY`S TAO 50/1 20/1 R 25000 Early
Wed 16 15:03:01 3 16 DETZKY`S TAO 20/1 12/1 R 25000 Early

Rads horse been backed there I see WW....:

That 3rd race is open imo, there are a few of them running on the sand for the first time, makes it a UNKNOWN factor for me... Does anyone know how the Rock of Gibraltars go on the sand.... I'm hoping Magic may be able to help me out with some stats?

I think Skyblade is a good thing

Looks a hard card nothing jumps out at me...

Speed ratings for main contenders with relatively recent Vaal Sand performances :

R2. Dulcimer Damsel 79, Skyblade 75, Aussie Diva 75, Danter 75, Tiger Strike 70.

R3. Black Aces 80, Crispian’s Day 77, Typical Man 76, Dallas Dancer 73, Byron 68.

R4. Bella Jet 105, Shuffles 102, Laughing River 97, Elania 93, Ubuhle 90.

R5. Sermon 100, Gold Game 100, Lochlorien 99, Durable Fire 92, Thick As Thieves 90.

R6. Worood 105, Raise the Bar 105, Xilomante 104, Bedloe’s Island 103, Prismatic Fire 103.

R7 Secret Life 111, Second World 103, Blue Nile 98, Beat Patrol 95.

R8 Memghar 97, Bermuda Triangle 89, Right Royal Man 87, Secret Flag 86.

At the last Vaal Sand race meeting an unprecedented 3 handicap races were won by ‘first time sand performers’. It has, in the past, often proven beneficial to ‘ignore’ such first timers, however this ‘pattern’ may be changing. Today Blue Spirit, Jamaican Dream, Give Me Five and Junk Yard Kid are priced up as main contenders, but as yet have to prove their liking for the Vaal sand.
Meanwhile here are some fancies that are considered ‘value’:-

R2 Aussie Diva
R3 Crispian’s Day
R4 Shuffles
R5 Sermon
R6 Xilomante
R7 Secret Life
R8 Memghar

Happy Horseplaying

gregbucks Wrote:

---

> Rads horse been backed there I see WW....:
>
> That 3rd race is open imo, there are a few of them
> running on the sand for the first time, makes it a
> UNKNOWN factor for me... Does anyone know how the
> Rock of Gibraltars go on the sand.... I'm hoping
> Magic may be able to help me out with some stats?

Can't think of any notable ones that have excelled on sand, off the top of my head. Not that my brain is working properly yet - lazy sod that I am, I'm waiting for someone else to make the coffee.()

Tough card, with quite a few unknown quantities on this surface. Skyblade looks to have found the right C&D, but I've thought that before and the fact that she's still a maiden tells you how wrong I was. Give Me Five could love the sand (as the Goldkeepers usually do), but the likes of Worood and Raise The Bar already have impressive sand form. Blue Spirit didn't stay last time and will be hard to beat if (big if) he takes to the sand. The fact that he usually races up front gives me hope that he will be okay on this track.

Jamaican Dream interests me a great deal. He is a really good horse when he's at the top of his game, and the Lizard Islands do have a reputation of working like bombs on sand, but he's inconsistent at the best of times and will need to have acclimatised. I give Bella Jet a good chance, while we have the first 2yo race of the season on the Vaal sand today and I bet a few shrewdies have been waiting patiently with horses that show good work on sand. I thought on grass form that it lies between Winter's Song and Made Of Steel, because although Acabar made a good debut I have reservations over that form.

Bay Of Gibraltar has won 4 on the sand, in Kimberley