Vaal Sand... Thursday 6th February

Race 1 – I think BLAZING AL will go close but my outsider is GEMS A PLENTY who is worth a medium place bet.
Race 2 - SIAMESE FIGHTER has the draw and if that is used by Fradd then I think he’ll win – I’ll take my chances and banker Bi-pot – The fav sw with SIROCCO BAY might also be a play.
Race 3 - VELVET FINISH is my gamble for the day – I’ll take the places as she’s back over the trip of her best run – she runs on which might not suite today but as I hope her rider has her in the race early and then I think she could surprise. This race could produce a result.
Race 4 – SET TO STRIKE and the outsider is GENTLE DESIRE(not a race to get involved in)
Race 5 – I’m going E/w with SPRINTING QUEEN
Race 6 – MISS OCTOBER will win if she enjoys the sand – I’ll cover in the Bi Pot with proven sandster TIGER’s QUEST
Race 7 - TIGER TERRITORY my e/w
Race 8 - DUAL ALLIANCE should win as this is his playgound – I like the sw with AJUBA
Race 9 – In a field where pace will be a concern I think DUBLIN DUBE is the placer with BIG CAT DIARY, FLAMING FORGE, PERFECT TRIP etc the dangers – I’ll stay out here and put in a few in the PA

R1 - Gems A Plenty .... 3x4x6x9...

Already done my thoughts on race 1, my thoughts on a couple more

R2 With Alberto out I think it could be very close. Sirocco Bay was only 1.5l behind Alberto in the latter's only sand run, and was eased late, and has had two decent efforts since, SJG stable seems to be a little in/out but are going a little better again of late and SB is definitely not without a chance. In his penultimate run he was 0.75l behind Siamese Fighter over 1000 with both running on. SF has the 1 draw here which may give him a big advantage. Brasilia was only 1.25l behind SF lto over c/d when returning from a 19 week break and must also enter calculations. On lines through Selezar then Amour De La Conte certainly can't be overlooked, and though he was 3l adrift of Alberto over 1200, he was reported making late headway from a slow start. Hard to see good reason why any of the others should feature. The exception is another SJG representive, though seemingly not stable elect, Ngiyashisa imo should also not be discounted. Poor runs in his latest two on turf but they were both over 1600 and, prior to that, first time with the blinkers, he showed great improvement on the sand, going down by 0,75l to Shepherd's Song over 1200 with SF 6.25l behind. Fair to say SF may have improved since then but if Ngiyashisa can reproduce that effort over 250 further then he must have a serious chance. Could easily be a case of first or no return for connections but I'll chance a small e/w. NGIYASHISA x SIROCCO BAY x SIAMESE FIGHTER

R3 Sausalito Bay was much better lto than his previous effort when returning from a break and if taking to the surface is an obvious contender. But, for a sand debutant from a wide draw, he is too short in the market for me to be interested. So, off looking for an idiot I landed on Feline Eyes from the JJVV stable. Turf form has been poor but he is on second run after a rest and the breeding suggests a fair chance of improving on this surface. Lerena is up and the 7 draw is not a disaster. The price has taken a serious dent though with the scratchings. Another that should not be discounted imo is Lucky Bid and may be worth a miniscule e/w based on the Pettigrew/MVR combo, a good draw in 2 and a little in the breeding indicating he may improve on the sand. His two runs appear very poor but worth noting that he stumbled lto and on debut, although disappointing, he was backed from 25s into 6/1. Chancey but... FELINE EYES x LUCKY BID x SAUSALITO BAY

R4 Thoughts were dessimated by scratchings lol, going now with SET TO STRIKE

R5 WEEKEND SPECIAL x SOLS GOLD x BEAUTIFUL DAWN

R6 SHIVER N SHAKE x CLUB CAPTAIN x CANTE LIBRE

R7 TIGER TERRITORY x NICE STRIDE x BE ASSURED (as a semi-idiot DEVON GOLD will receive an e/w interest)

R8 NIGHTINGALE GREY x KEAGAN'S JET x AJUBA (potential idiot GOLDEN ORB)

R9 DUBLIN DUDE X FLAMING FORGE X DIVINE INTERVENTION (very open race!)


With all the rain and no track conditions reported as usual, treading a little carefully today

Be(s)t of luck to all (tu)

Gems a Plenty only second time on this surface but bred to like it - each way .

Looks like the he rain is holding off (any update LG?) so I might as well post some thoughts:

R1: Global Talk looks the right one, but the value (especially first 4) is Royal Stock - money for the Tarry trained Blazing Al - draw may be the decider :S

R2: From pole position Siamese Fighter looks the right one, but again value wise I like the chances of Ngiyashisa - fair draw and was running on nicely in his from his one try on the sand (over 1200) finishing more than 6 lengths in front of SF - the other Gray runner tries blinkers and should also be thereabouts with Brasillia fighting out 4th with Amour de la Bonte

R3: Coud be a train smash if Sausolita Bay does not perform on the sand - although by Trippi, she could do so, but also has a wide draw to overcome; Feline Eyes get the allumites today and should improve on the sand, so not to be ignored imo; Lady Casey was running on when 3rd behind Sophia Grace (not the strongest looking form :S) but must have chance from pole position and Lucky Bid also has a nice draw and could improve on the sand

R4: Very tough race - favorite Set to Strike does not look any value being a one-time winner from 24 starts - a lot of the main competition is drawn wide, so anyone's guess as to whether they would be able to overcome those draws. For some roughies I am including Five Rings (probably better over 1200, but at least has nice draw) and Gentle Desire who tries the sand and also has a nice draw - but I'm not confident on anything here

R5: I really like Sols Gold from pole position - her course and distance form is very good and I think she will be too good on the sand for the in-form Weekend Special; Sprinting Queen could improve on the sand, but the way she has been running lately suggest that she likes to come off them, which is not always the bets idea here - not much else catches my eye

R6: Summer Speedsters where Miss October will canter in IF she can reproduce her turf form on the sand; however the Woodruf stable has had one or two 'disappointments' recently up in Gauteng, so to be safe I am including Club Captain (who is ideally suited to this trip and also should hold Shiver 'n Shake on their last meeting); S&S has an obvious chance as well - don't really fancy Tiger Quest on the sand especialy at these weights

R7: Competitve sprint; first choice has to be the in-form Velvet Verona, main opposition imo could come from Tiger Territory, bit VV and TT are ideally suited to this trip and stand out herer for me; the Naidoo coupling could feature at best, but I think the stable has been a little off the boil recently; others to consider for minor positions are Nice Stride and Hang Fire

R8: Very open - I have Nightingale Grey running above her rating in her last (and first) visit to the sand and if she can repeat that effort, she will make the boys run; not a lot between all of Keagan's Jet, Boy oh Boy, Dual Alliance, Tilman and Ajuba on their last meeting (won by KJ) and Aces High could also feature if he can repeat his last effort - load up

R9: Probably the toughest race on the card, due to the inconsitency of most of these; Flaming Forge disappointed last time behind Aces High and on that is held by Shadow Mode, but he holds SM on the run behind Sugar Ray; Dublin Dude also rates a chance on hos last effort behind Aces High, but may prefer a touch further; Divine Invitation looks the most consitent of these, and as such is a definite PA inclusion; Paintyourface has a nice draw and could also feature with Big Cat Diary, Golden Dollar and Silver Specialist (break a leg, Elvis) who does seem to need dry conditions to put up his best

Enjoy (tu)

mr hawaii Wrote:

---

> Race 1 – I think BLAZING AL will go close but my
> outsider is GEMS A PLENTY who is worth a medium
> place bet.
> Race 2 - SIAMESE FIGHTER has the draw and if that
> is used by Fradd then I think he’ll win –
> I’ll take my chances and banker Bi-pot – The
> fav sw with SIROCCO BAY might also be a play.
> Race 3 - VELVET FINISH is my gamble for the day
> – I’ll take the places as she’s back over
> the trip of her best run – she runs on which
> might not suite today but as I hope her rider has
> her in the race early and then I think she could
> surprise. This race could produce a result.
> Race 4 – SET TO STRIKE and the outsider is
> GENTLE DESIRE(not a race to get involved in)
> Race 5 – I’m going E/w with SPRINTING QUEEN
> Race 6 – MISS OCTOBER will win if she enjoys the
> sand – I’ll cover in the Bi Pot with proven
> sandster TIGER’s QUEST
> Race 7 - TIGER TERRITORY my e/w
> Race 8 - DUAL ALLIANCE should win as this is his
> playgound – I like the sw with AJUBA
> Race 9 – In a field where pace will be a concern
> I think DUBLIN DUBE is the placer with BIG CAT
> DIARY, FLAMING FORGE, PERFECT TRIP etc the dangers
> – I’ll stay out here and put in a few in the
> PA

I think BLAZING AL will go close:)-D

Got to love Molly..
He said "there doesn't seem to be any money for Blazing Al"
Err. 14/1 into 7/1

nice one mr h(tu)

Well done to the Blazing Al (and Gems a Plenty) boys (tu)

thanx englander for your comments. as i saidbefore, cannot post my fancies here, cause too busy reading all yours!
but really: often one minute before race decide because of all what ive read or not. now i had the winner, but really 20 seconds before start only ..

what concerns bookmaekrs: yes, its unfair. but people, advertising with big wins and never really let u win, they are unfair from the bginning, so nothing to surpprise about (td)

have a good day

Well done in the 1st chaps...

Well done Mr H on those 2 calls...i lost the qrt with that GAP of urs....needless to say i was swearing him lol