Vaal Sand - Thursday 11th July

Speed ratings for main contenders with previous Vaal Sand form –

R1 MDN-F 1600m
73…Cynara 10/1
71…Shirla 18/10
51…Hunt the Stars 33/1
??….Scarlet Berry 13/10
??….Royal Denise 28/10
Fair run last week by Cynara and SWK stable in great ‘sand’ form lately, good price and therefore quartet banker. Shirla is good enough to place again here but lousy price. A lot shall depend on how the MGA first timer Scarlet Berry performs and the 13/10 looks justified by the trainers record. The KZN raider Royal Denise does not need to be extra special to feature here (steps up to 1600m on the sand?), skinny price.

R2 MDN 1000m
82…Salute the Sun 7/2
65…Zeerust 16/1
63…Wild Thing 7/2
61…Global Talk 25/1
60…Scientist 33/1
59…Sans Limites 10/1
Whilst Salute the Sun is well clear in the ratings there are many ‘maybes’ here…whilst StS looks a decent price and should be in the PA does not seem a race to banker in! Zeerust can surprise even at this distance.

R3 MDN-F 1200m
75…Tell My Star 28/10
70…Five Rings 9/2
69…Black Magic Women 25/1
68…Irish Lace 28/10
62…Sweet Lyrics 25/1
61…Inn on the Square
Some erratic sand form from a lot of the runners. Think Tell My Star is better than last run and can feature. However, Five Rings, Inn on the Square and Sweet Lyrics all have ‘better ’ historical sand form than current, the latter (an MGA runner at these odds with a C&D 2nd) to be included in P6…all I all a tricky race.

R4 COND-F 1200m
.92…Aloha Bay SP
.92…Weekend Special 14/1
.91…Malaga Belle 8/1
.90…Rebel Queen 14/1
.90…All in the Mind 11/2
The scratching of Solarium now gives this race a very open feel. Raise the Bar and Rebel Queen have some ‘classy’ sand history, whilst the rest, frankly do not look up to this class. Lower draws (1- still an advantage here.

R5 MR72 1450m
101…Panjo 9/2
.92…Croke Park 7/2
.90…Sermon 14/1
.86…Passion Pleaser 12/1
.86…Opening Salvo 20/1
.??…Irish Gift 5/1
.??…Devil’s Dollar 20/1
Think the Panjo run last week was even better than his win on the 6th June and that he can go on from here even with an unfavourable draw…PA banker? STP runners do pretty well on sand debuts, therefore Devil’s Dollar will be included in quartets. An interesting runner is Irish Gift from the OAF stable who have not had sand runners for a very long time, (now 3 today). OAF+DEF used to be very successful on the sand despite the ‘many complaints/chirps’ about the course/surface.

R6 MR90 1800m
107…Henry Higgins 11/10
..98…Rivulet 4/1
..94…Hunter Valley 7/1
..93…Silver Specialist 8/1
..91…Caryl’s Law 33/1
..87…Dragon Vein 8/1
..87…D G’s Boy (OAF) 10/1
Henry Higgins certainly has been consistent and progressive on the sand and looks the business again today. Dragon Vein has shown her class yet has struggled last two runs…would expect MGA to get her back into top form soon.

R7 MR70 1800m
89…Kudos 12/1
88…King’s Joy 33/10
88…Kruger Gold 16/1
87…Ushkadel 12/1
86…Sugar Ray 16/1
86…Blue Concorde 16/1
.??…Atrochen (OAF) 8/1
Most competitive race of the day…very tricky. Kudos looks value at 12/1.

R8 MR80 1000m
100…Pinot Noir 10/1
100…Shine Tiger 8/1
..99…Gabronza 28/10
..96…Maji Moto 10/1
..92…Takaamul 12/1
..92…Power Jet 12/1
Another tricky event with the top 3 all having recent wins. Gabronza could well make it an outstanding day for the Azzie stable with Pinot Noir the main challenger.

thanks THH (tu)

Playing the double tomorrow, Panjo (despite wide draw) and Henry Higgins.

Hoping Elvis' Silver Specialist with a postage stamp on his back can run a big race, taking swingers and exacta's with Henry Higgins. (tu)

Just got back from a few days break at the coast - thankfully some of the costs covered by a win bet on Heavy Metal and places on Run For It and No Worries- to find my best bet for tomorrow at an incredible 16/1 and 2.33 / 1 a place - Baron Zemo surely very good value at those odds; others I fancy for places at least include Dalalaat, Silver Specialist and Maji Moto.

Dis'llbetheday tries his luck on the sand - I'm not convinced that he will like the surface, but we live in hope (tu)

Sorry, all the best for tomorrow, hopefully Dis'llbetheday. (tu)

Frodo Wrote:

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> Just got back from a few days break at the coast -
> thankfully some of the costs covered by a win bet
> on Heavy Metal and places on Run For It and No
> Worries- to find my best bet for tomorrow at an
> incredible 16/1 and 2.33 / 1 a place - Baron Zemo
> surely very good value at those odds; others I
> fancy for places at least include Dalalaat, Silver
> Specialist and Maji Moto.
>
> Dis'llbetheday tries his luck on the sand - I'm
> not convinced that he will like the surface, but
> we live in hope (tu)

i hope for you as i too like the Baron and with Roy being in such hot form I'm sure Dis will improve a street

Nice write up once again THH....(tu) I'm not a sandman.... but I side with you on Cynara and Panjo....(tu)

PS is Madji Motor....JWB....?(

Scarlet Berry must be something....first time out over 1600m on sand and Robbie Fradd possibly had choice...

I fancy Mauri Blue for a bit of an upset R2

Pirhobeta Wrote:

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> Scarlet Berry must be something....first time out
> over 1600m on sand and Robbie Fradd possibly had
> choice...


with you here also like tayba in r4

dashing Wrote:

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> Pirhobeta Wrote:
>

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>

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> > Scarlet Berry must be something....first time
> out
> > over 1600m on sand and Robbie Fradd possibly
> had
> > choice...
>
>
> with you here also like tayba in r4

won like a good thing last time out....(tu)

Pirhobeta Wrote:

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> dashing Wrote:
>

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>

---

> > Pirhobeta Wrote:
> >
>

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>
> >

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> > > Scarlet Berry must be something....first time
> > out
> > > over 1600m on sand and Robbie Fradd possibly
> > had
> > > choice...
> >
> >
> > with you here also like tayba in r4
>
> won like a good thing last time out....(tu)


Weighted to win well. If Tabya takes to the surface should be hard to beat. (tu)