Vaal Sand Thursday 23/7/15

Wont Wait to make the quartet pay...not feeling that cosy with Teagan's Boy!

Where is my bud Shrek? Havent seen him post in a while?

Did a win patent

Guest Lodge X Precursor X Trip to Rio

Two of my three selections has already been mentioned above as to why it is preferred.

Precursor is a distance specialist in this race and i think this might be a bit far for Trip Tease. Prepared to take it on anyway and may have egg on my face.

PeeKay wrote: Where is my bud Shrek? Havent seen him post in a while?

Phone Turn and Tender, leave a message and he will get back to you after lunch....

Across the Ice to turn it on TT, big draw swing from their last run & the extra 200m!

malcolm dixon wrote: Wont Wait to make the quartet pay...not feeling that cosy with Teagan's Boy!

my best place bet on the card

Why does everyone fancy Guest Lodge, seems pretty moderate or is it the right distance today??

gregbucks wrote:

PeeKay wrote: Where is my bud Shrek? Havent seen him post in a while?

Phone Turn and Tender, leave a message and he will get back to you after lunch....

Greg, which branch of Turn and Tender is that?......Illovo?

Tricky card imo.

Pa for interest sake.

1,8,14
6,11
2,9,10
1,3,11
3
5
3
R54

Some interesting runners, Battle born I think is a nice e/w price at around 5/1. Distance should suit perfectly and if they win from the front in the first it will make me more confident. Yukon Gold if holding form is a nice place bet price, didn't get penalized too heavily for the last win and can go close imo. Trip to rio I agree with earlier posts, this one will take some beating. Red Scimitar nice draw and good jock could be one of Khumalos better rides and at 7/1 nice e/w price. Beautiful dawn in the last runs fairly well from good draws and gets another today with Gav in the irons and again at 7/1 nice e/w value.

Small stakes for me as the surface is uncertain whether they will be able to come from off the pace or whether being handy is a necessity so play carefully.

All the best.

Rob, i think Shrek hangs at the Bassonia TnT...

While doubts exist about the coastal meetings this weekend, I'll try my luck on the Vaal sand - where there also seems to be a chance of rain :huh:

R1: Bellevue looks the part - on a line through Ginger Sioux holds many of these - only dangers the 2 sand debutantes Spurwing Summer and Icy Breeze

R2: This does not look easy - Battle Born improved with blinkers - still not convinced about the form of that race, but has a nice draw and should hold Battle of Arcole; does not seem to be a lot between BoA, Marsden (poor draw), Walkabout and Wont Wait - of these WW has the advantage of a better draw. The juvenile Teagan's Boy could also be a factor with the year older stable companion Il Duce - who knows?

R3: I think another tough race; not convinced about Guest Lodge - only a length in front of roughie Shankly Gates in the run behind News Filter. Watch for improvement from the Matchett inmate Avatara, who tries the sand after a rest. Seventh Heiress also tries the sand, so could improve from a nice draw; of the rest A Love Supreme seems to hold a few and could improve with blinkers

R4: Usisi very short in the betting, but does look the part - sand MR has dropped a point after a fair run behind Quawaasem and is holding her form very well. I make the danger Winter Darling - has her 2nd run for the Peter stable and could make Usisi run. Benbow looks better suited to 1200 these days, and the rest is really either past their best or very moderate - so I make this a 2 horse race

R5: Will Trip Tease get the trip :ohmy: Wide draw is not going to help; so both Precursor (although worse off at the weights) and the c&d specialist Across the Ice (6 wins and 5 2nds from 14 tries this trip) must have chances. I think these will run 1,2,3, not sure in which order though - Duty Dance or Stavinsky for the quartet

R6: Hopefully another race where only a few can win - both Roman Carnival and American Tiger come off good last runs on this surface and both have been upped by the handicapper - however I think both have improvement to come and should fight it out; only other one that I give a chance to, is Trip to Rio, who needs improvement on his 2 runs this year, but does look capable and may enjoy the sand

R7: Very challenging - have a look at Battle Born and American Tiger's runs earlier, to try and judge the strength of Perfect End and Taciturn; both should have claims in this tough handicap - for the rest I think anything bar the 2 66/1 shots could pop up

R8: Toughest race on the card - Connemara Black and Seattle Fairy both won by huge margins over this trip, so must be contenders - I think this may be the swan song for Miss K, so also an inclusion with Beautiful Dawn; Chocolate Éclair best of the rest for me.

Enjoy

It's a problem when going described as "Standard" can mean ............" best for weeks" or "close to a jockeys protest" :evil: