The Vaal, Thursday 21 January

The Vaal hosts Thursday`s South African races, an eight race card with a 13:25pm start time.

TRACK INFORMATION

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 - 21
Going - Good
False Rail - Inside rails: Zero back straight and bend with 2m spur at 800m mark. Outside rails: 8m in from 1200m to 400m mark

UNDERWAY AT

Race 1 - 13:25
Race 2 - 14:00
Race 3 - 14:40
Race 4 - 15:15
Race 5 - 15:45
Race 6 - 16:15
Race 7 - 16:45
Race 8 - 17:15

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 1 SONNY QUINN 17/10*

*Odds correct at time of posting

Money horses

Race 1: Racing man x Lazy Guy

Race 2: Midnight Gem x Rollawaytackler

Race 5: Irish Rain

Some to consider...

Race 1 - 1 Sonny Quinn, 5 Arran, 2 Lazy Guy
Race 2 - 2 Jam Fancy, 1 Princess Sabrina
Race 3 - 3 Meet The Captain, 1 Sheltering Sky
Race 4 - 13 Differentiate, 11 Largo Bay
Race 5 - 2 Irish Rain, 9 Extravert, 7 Parallax
Race 6 - 1 Senescence, 2 Lotus
Race 7 - 4 Chenopod, 1 Wishonaire
Race 8 - 1 Leading Lad

All the best to Clanners...stay safe and healthy...enjoy...

Workrider Maidens :ohmy: - most races look fairly straight-forward; interesting to see that one C.J Maree has a runner (I thought he had given it up some time ago ) - a 5yr old entire by Skitt Skizzle - boggles the mind :dry:

I don't know what yhe weather report is for Vaal but with tje southeaster we had here Tuesday and Wednesday I am pretty damn sure there will be electrical storms this afternoon

Magi wrote: I don't know what yhe weather report is for Vaal but with tje southeaster we had here Tuesday and Wednesday I am pretty damn sure there will be electrical storms this afternoon

Don't think rain is expected

Hot today but only the weather

Good Punting

On the interbet podcast, Mr Goodman has tipped 7 favourites and 1 second favourite (Senescence). if only racing was that easy.

Thoughts ... still not sure about the Tarry stable - they had 2 narrow wins on Tuesday and most of their other runners did not fair too badly, so jury is still out I guess

R1: Sonny Quinn is overdue - disappointing last run, so tries cheek pieces - not sure about the jock, but at least he has had 3 wins from 16 tries - not bad - so if the cheek pieces have the desired effect, he should be the one to beat; if he fluffs his lines again, it becomes wide open; first-timer Cephas has found market support and has the stable's regular work rider on top; Grappler did finish quite a way back on debut, but that was a strong race, so could improve here and has also found market support; Lazy Guy improved last time, but is held by Racing Man, who also had fair form before a rest; then Mosia has taken the ride on the first-timer Wisden, who is out of Var mare - so either take a chance with Sonny Quinn in the BP - or go wide

R2: Another iffy sort of race; Ruby Woo comes off a rest, but ran less than 4 lengths behind subsequent multiple winners Flower of Scotland and May Queen, so must have a good chance IF repeating that effort; the rest look really moderate; Jam Fancy has suddenly improved last time and a repeat of that run, could also see her close up; of the others, only Princess Sabrina and Broadway Babe make any appeal, while Amalfi Coast tries blinkers, so might improve

R3: Golden Spoon made a fair debut and could appreciate the extra 200m (take note of how Jam Fancy goes in the previous race); first-timers Moobheera and Lee Express are both in the betting and needs consideration for the BP and PA; the rest seem moderate - Transfixed tries blinkers and may improve, but is friendless in the market for now

R4: I think Differentiate is best this trip and could take some beating if the outside draw is not too much of a disadvantage - on Tuesday most seem to prefer the inside, but in the last race, both the winner and 3rd placed runner were drawn on the outside, so I think the going is ok all over; Inherit the Rain seems moderate but I don't think there is much to beat here, so could be 2nd best; the debutante from the Peter stable Flying Bull seems to be finding some support in the market, but the stable rider is on Durban Boy, who tries blinkers and may be the joker in the pack

R5: Smaller field where there are 4 runners in the betting; Ushuaia disappointed last time, but made a fair debut and can go real close on that as he finished just behind subsequent winner Euro Cent (who has beaten Irish Rain by 8 lengths in his next start); Major Winter improving with racing probably the only real danger; while Parallax is held by Irish Rain, but could still improve

R6: Lotus tries again after finding one too good in her previous 4 starts; obviously should be right there again; Senescence disappointed last time, but had excuses and must rate the biggest danger; DuchessBurnadette improved on the Poly last time, but needs to show on the turf - could improve over the trip, as could Lyrical Dance

R7: Chenopod for me looks hard to beat - holds most bar Bend not Break which is the obvious danger trying 2000; roughie could be Winston's Nanny, who should finish ahead of Grace Lu, and there was not a lot between Bend Not Break and Grace Lu in their last meeting

R8: Leading Lad overdue - gets cheek pieces again after trying blinkers in his last start; in his penultimate was beaten by Savannah Storm, who has since won again - should prefer the 2000 and also holds Rockpaperscissors, so only danger seem to be the filly Masaaken, who also tries 2000 and whose form has been franked by Mode; Track Commander probably 3rd best

Enjoy

My only real interest today is in race 5 where I will be shouting for Major Winter. Clearly a very different type to speedball half sister Sarah (great to see her regain form with a sparkling effort on Tuesday). Was running on stoutly last time where a short head separated 2nd,3rd,4th and should have more scope for improvement today if he enjoys the step up in trip.

At least we know all the jockeys will be trying today.
Even if told by the trainer to give it an 'easy' ride they will probably still go out for the best result as they all want to beat each other and they ride so seldom that they won't be worried to get shipped off the horse the next mount if they didn't listen to instructions.

Wonderful ride and interview 👍