VAAL THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER 2023

# Vaal Thursday 21 December 2023 – Comments by David Thiselton
RACE 1       10 MISS PLATINA wasn’t disgraced on debut and will appreciate the step up in trip. 1 THE WORK OF LIFE is usually thereabouts and has a form chance. 9 KAKIEBOS made a fair debut and should improve for the experience and enjoy the step up in trip. (David Thiselton 4-10-9)

RACE 2       Preview: 2 MASTER CHRISTMAS has run two good races over 1600m and 1800m in last two and could be the one to beat. 1 WILLIAMSON returns from a layoff and had shown ability. 3 EIGER SANCTION is usually thereabouts and should be again. 12 GLOBAL REEF was not disgraced on debut and is well drawn over a step up in trip which should suit on pedigree (2-1-3-12)

RACE 3       Preview: 6 DARLING HARBOUR has fair form and is well drawn over a step up in trip she should enjoy 4 CRIMSON FOREST ran an improved second with second time blinkers when stepped up to this trip. 5 OUTER DIMENSION has a form chance over a suitable trip. 7 PLAY WITH FIRE has run two fair races over middle distances. (David Thiselton 6-4-5-7)

RACE 4       Preview: 2 UNIVERSAL LOVE is knocking on the door and on pedigree should relish this trip. 1 CORAPI has done well in both his last two attempts at staying trips. 5 AL BAYREG has enjoyed steps up in trip and should do so again. 3 FIERY CLIFFS has a chance of staying the trip for a yard that are doing well with limited runners. (David Thiselton 2-1-5-3)

RACE 5       Preview: 5 LITTLE MIZ SWAGGER has been highly tried and can find her feet back in this company off a reasonable 84 merit rating. 8 SOLO DIVA is distance suited and well drawn and this is an easier task than her last start. 4 BRONZE SWORD is coming to hand but does have a tricky draw. (David Thiselton 5-8-4)

RACE 6       6 LADY FALLON has always struck as a decent sort and could be ready to deliver. 4 MARY’S GREENLIGHT goes for a hattrick and looks progressive so could do it 3 GLOBAL CHOICE was false long odds last time having shown signs of ability against stronger and could turn out to be a fair sort. 10 MY LADY SOUL was not disgraced in a Gr 3 last time and has a chance back in this company. (David Thiselton 6-4-3-10)

RACE 7       Preview: 6 KING OF VENUS was not drawn on the right side last time and has a good form chance. 2 TAYOOBA made a good comeback and should have come on from the run. 3 SUPER AGRA is now off a competitive merit rating. 8 BEADED GOWN has the ability to pop up in race like this. (David Thiselton 6-2-3-8 )

RACE 8       Preview: 16 WRITTEN IN STONE has a lot of ability and gets a good opportunity in this uninspiring field 15 ZOOMBOMBER has dropped to an attractive merit rating. 8 NEVER TO CLEVER can be involved if repeating his last run. 2 KING RAHUL has the ability to go close here. (David Thiselton 16-15-8-2)

Used to follow Lucky at Xmas time, always seemed to get Christmas money

I had a bet on Eiger Sanction race 2

KAKIEBOS MASTER CHRISTMAS sw with GLOBAL REEF(is place value- could win) OUTER DIMENSION should go first 2 LIBECCIO e/w MISS HANNIGAN into quartets - place perhaps- KING RAHUL ew

Either Alistair or the guy from Weighted to Win is going to go out after the 6th - or maybe both 

Must be the Christmas Spirit - but I like this card (apart from the last where that Pin will come in handy)

R1: I'm guessing this is the day that the Soma stable will turn - so I do like Head Turner a bit - obviously needs to put her last run (when in season) behind her; on her penultimate though finished 2 lengths behind Mizzen Sail, who finished more than 4 lengths in front of Kakiebos; Kakiebos bound to improve on her debut, but at the odds Head Turner is the value - especially as The Work of Life seems moderate while the other runner in the betting Miss Platina drifted to 33/1 on debut - and being out of a Var mare, I'm of the opinion that 1600 will be a stretch

R2: Does seem to lie between Master Christmas and Officer in Command, but there is not much between OiC and Global Reef (who was on debut) on form behind Just Nuisance, so GR is the value imo; Eiger Sanction should hold Commander of All again - but ES is drifting alarmingly

R3: Seems a shallow Maiden Fillies; Outer Dimension currently at odds on, but I'm not too sure she will start at that price, as Darling Harbour finished only 6 lengths behind Gimme A Nother (even though that was in a Maiden) and that does look stronger form imo; Perform has changed stables and tries racing without blinkers and no tongue-tie, so with Bling in the irons may improve

R4: Universal Love seems to be crying out for this trip and is a worthy favorite imo; Al Bayreg still a maiden, and should also prefer the step up in trip, but may have something to find at the weights (receiving only 2 kgs from UL); Brotherhoodofmagic probably next best as his rating is dropping and he gets another 1,5 kgs courtesy of the apprentice - but imo may be better over 2000

R5: Classified Stakes, so the females have an advantage at the weights, but their form imo not that great, which makes for an interesting contest; so it might be a wise move to go FIELD in the P6 and JP as all of Bronze Sword (seems cherry ripe), Mariachi Madness (good maiden win) and even Libeccio have chances in this 

R6:  Race of the day; as pointed out by some, My Lady Soul comes in very well in here, as she ran at least 10 points above her rating behind Gimme A Nother last time - and also has her apparent main rival Lady Fallon held on the run behind Mrs Geriatrix; so I think the betting is wrong; I think Que Ceo Azul (despite her odds) is worth throwing in to trifectas and definitely quartets, as in her penultimate start she ran only 4.75 lengths behind Gimme A Nother (giving that one 3 kgs); Heart Peaks also boasts strong form imo and could prove better than rated, while Miss Hannigan tries 1600 so an unknown quantity - did run well behind Mrs Geriatrix as a juvenile; still imo My Lady Soul rates the one to beat

R7: Tayooba is overdue for her next win,, while the main danger King of Venus is said to be in need of the run (but stranger things have happened) - others to consider imo includes Pendragon, Var Park and Lang's Gold who is improving in this stable and has come down in ratings from 86 to 54 

R8: Guessing game - I'm guessing that Dark Tide will improve over 1400 

Enjoy 

Bob Brogan wrote:

Used to follow Lucky at Xmas time, always seemed to get Christmas money

You are 100% correct Bob,   this was the case in years gone by -  COULD  MASTER CHRISTMAS  in R 2 -    be our "Lucky "pressie for the year ?

Time will tell !!! 

 

Kakiebos... The pick to post
Rebels Princess...I liked this one... Not as good but possible places
The Work Of Life
Boxed

THE WORK OF LIFE ........ is going to be NO champion... but she sure races against the BLIND SCHOOL HERE........ never get an easier chance to crack that maiden !