The Vaal, Tuesday 5th January

The Vaal hosts Tuesday`s local races, an eight race card with a 12:35pm start time.


TRACK DETAILS

Race Track: Turf. 3000m oval circuit. Races up to 1600m straight course; beyond 1600m clockwise round turn with 1000m run-in.

Best Draws: Low-number draws slightly favoured in 1700m races.

Pen - 24
Going - Good to Soft
False Rail - Zero back straight 3m on the bend with 4m spur at 600m mark

UNDERWAY AT

Race 1 - 12:35
Race 2 - 13:05
Race 3 - 13:35
Race 4 - 14:05
Race 5 - 14:45
Race 6 - 15:20
Race 7 - 16:00
Race 8 - 16:35

EXOTICS
Bi Pot (Races 1-6 )
P A (Races 2-8 )
Pick 6 (Races 3-8 )
Jackpot 1 (Races 4-7 )
Jackpot 2 (Races 5-8 )

BEST BET
Race 5 PHOENIX 2/1*

*Odds correct at time of posting

Money horses

Race 6: Western Dance x Mazari

Race 7: Mr Hugo x Capitiana

Solace

MASTER OF MY FATE - She's A Stunner by Toreador.

It's dam She's A Stunner produced some good sprint features over graded races:

1st:
2011 Strelitzia Stakes (SAF-G3,2yoF,1000m,Clairwood)

2nd:
2013 Sycamore Sprint (SAF-G3,F&M,1160m,Tuffontein)
2014 Lebelo Sprint (SAF-G3,1000m,Turffontein)

3rd:
2012 SA Fillies Sprint (SAF-G1,F&M,1200m,Scottsville)
2012 Poinsettia Stakes (SAF-G3,F&M,1200m,Clairwood)

Might be on my own with this one, like abit of Nabeela in Race 6: Blinkers Strike (Why does it take 20 runs to put them on?, Drop in Class from 83 to 76, Lyle Hewitson on Board. horse is 20/1).

IMPERIOUS MISS

MAMBO IN SEATTLE - Missy's Thunder by Thunder Gulch.

It's dam Missy's Thunder also produced a hard knocker catside slew who was trained by Glen Kotzen. This horse ran some good merit rated races, finishing third behind Silicone Valley winner of the World Sports Betting Cape Merchants (Grade 2) (Merit Rated Handicap)

Neon wrote: Might be on my own with this one, like abit of Nabeela in Race 6: Blinkers Strike (Why does it take 20 runs to put them on?, Drop in Class from 83 to 76, Lyle Hewitson on Board. horse is 20/1).

Also gets a tongue-tie and the only time that Hewitson was on top, she won by 5 lengths; MR still a bit high maybe, and the last 3 runs were very poor - but not to be ignored - imo will be hard pressed to beat Fire Flower (won in a common canter last time)

Bebop

WHAT A WINTER - Percussion by Baroon.

It's dam Percussion also produced Grade 1 Vodacom Durban July winner Heavy Metal.

I fancy Great Stratz R2, down in trip, blinkers come back on, good jock...

Calvin Habib to open and close the card today!!

Supreme Dance/Heart Of A Legend

Meeting decimated by lots of scratchings and many jockey changes - not making it much easier - thoughts :

R1: Supreme Dance good debut - should be better over more ground, but in this shallow field should go close; Eyes on Tiger should make him run though; Lazy Guy gets blinkers fitted, so may improve, while Solace and the filly Orange Justice could easily run into the money

R2: Right Choice not running, which makes it a lot more difficult to survive the BP; Ancestral Prayer does not seem to be finding that much betting support - but obviously needs inclusion in this field; Meet the Captain, Incognito and Signed and Sealed look moderate but should be good enough to feature here; Hewitson takes the ride on Because I Can, so improvement possible

R3: Mode ran well when giving weight away in a Maiden Handicap last time, so sure to go close here; Rosaprima tries 1600 - interesting that the apprentice takes the ride on Mode; Traveling Wilbury only other one with form, while Offsides may improve

R4: Competitive field - any of the five can win imo

R5: Un Deux Trois on her last run should take a lot of beating; imo Tartan Dancer the biggest danger; others like Kayla's Dream, Kapama, Phoenix and Sole of Wit not to be ignored

R6: Fire Flower ran them into the ground last time and looks hard to beat again despite getting the maximum of 8 points; if she fails it is wide open; The Sash may not have enjoyed the soft going in her last 2 starts and could challenge here; Twice the Act may prefer this trip and could surprise with Nabeela

R7: Classified Stakes that looks very tough; Capitiana has come down in the ratings, so should prove competitive here; the Binda runners very hard to predict, Claremorris and stable mate Alex the Great have chances as well with Ramsay who seems to be improving

R8: Top 3 in the betting - Brooklyn Bridge, Heart of a Legend and Dogliotti look the right ones; Shortstop often thereabouts; both Lets Talk and NumberNinetyNine get top jocks, so could place

Enjoy

Supreme Dance - Jockey Declared: C Habib

My selections
R1 eyes on tiger
R2 meet the captain
R3 purple shadow
R4 magical flight
R5 kaylas dream
R6 whatever you like
R7 touch of fate
R8 let's talk

Equal stakes for wins.
Goodluck.