VAAL CLASSIC TUESDAY 16 JANUARY 2024

# Vaal Classic Tuesday 16 January 2024 – Comments by David Thiselton

RACE 1
5 GOLDEN CHANDELIER 14 YOU BRING ME JOY 4 FORCE EIGHT 2 BELLISSIVAR
Preview: 5 GOLDEN CHANDELIER made a fair debut over 800m on Summer Cup day and the form has worked out well and he looks to be the yard elect 14 YOU BRING ME JOY was beaten by the first choice on debut and by Force Eight and Bellissivar, but ran well second time out and can progress again. 4 FORCE EIGHT made a fair debut on Summer Cup day when beaten just 1,35 lengths by Golden Chandelier 2 BELLISSIVAR was just a short-head in front of Force Eight in the aforementioned race and can also improve (5-14-4-2)

RACE 2
4 PROCEED 3 PISTOL PETE 1 GUERILLA WARFARE 5 READY SET FIRE
Preview: 4 PROCEED finished a fine second on debut over 800m on Summer Cup day considering it was too sharp and he will enjoy this step up to this 1000m. 3 PISTOL PETE is by Buffalo Bill Cody out of Tiger Ridge mare who won five times over sprint trips 1 GUERILLA WARFARE was beaten 2,75 lengths by Proceed on debut and followed up with a fair third over 800m and now runs over a more suitable trip 5 READY SET FIRE was beaten half-a-length by Guerilla Warfare on debut and then improved second time out over the same 800m trip to run a close second and he should enjoy this trip too. (4-3-1-5)

RACE 3
7 MONDIAL 13 PLAYER 6 TWIN TURBO 9 MARDI GRAS
Preview: 7 MONDIAL has a lot of promise and can handle a six point raise over this suitable trip from a good draw. 13 PLAYER beat Mondial by 5,30 lengths in his penultimate start and was outclassed last time, so now from a good draw over a suitable trip he has a chance 6 TWIN TURBO is an honest sort and is 4kg better off with Mondial for a 2,25 length beating so has a chance on paper. 9 MARDI GRAS did well in the step up to 1800m last time which opens up new career possibilities for this once classy nine-year-old. (7-13-6-9)
RACE 4
3 TAEGAN’S CHAMP 2 GUY GIBSON 8 STORM BRASCO 1 EAST COAST
Preview: 3 TAEGAN’S CHAMP is full of promise and can remain unbeaten from a fair draw over a suitable step up in trip 2 GUY GIBSON has plenty of class and has never been disgraced against the best of his contemporaries but he has a tricky draw 8 STORM BRASCO won by over seven lengths when stepped up to this trip and the form was franked. 1 EAST COAST is well weighted in this Graduation Plate and could show what he is made of. (3-2-8-1)
RACE 5
3 MIGHTY GODDESS 8 CERULEAN DANCER 1 WOODLAND GLADE
Preview: 3 MIGHTY GODDESS comes off a good run over 1600m after the blinkers were re-applied and she now has another fair draw over a suitable trip for an in form yard 8 CERULEAN DANCER is in hard knocking form and should enjoy this trip although the draw of 8 is tricky 1 WOODLAND GLADE can do better than last time and Piere Strydom is an eye-catching booking 7 RUN FOR ISLA is by Futura so might well enjoy the step up in trip (3-8-1)
RACE 6
7 PRESLEY 9 FORGIVENESS 11 POCKET WATCH 3 RATTLE BAG
Preview: 7 PRESLEY looks to be full of promise and can progress again. 9 FORGIVENESS won well in the maidens and has a reasonable merit rating 11 POCKET WATCH wasn’t disgraced first time out the maidens and the form has worked out well 3 RATTLE BAG is distance suited and well drawn (7-9-11-3)
RACE 7
5 LINKIN NAVIGATOR 2 RICHARD THE FIRST 4 REAL RELIEF 9 TURBO POWER
Preview: 5 LINKIN NAVIGATOR was beaten by a good sort last time and will prefer this 1200m trip. 2 RICHARD THE FIRST is best suited to this trip according to his form 4 REAL RELIEF has a tricky draw but is interesting dropped to a sprint trip which brought him his only win 9 TURBO POWER should enjoy this trip and has a nice galloping weight (5-2-4-9)
RACE 8
1 DOLCEZZA 5 SIGRID SWING 2 BERENGARIA 6 DIVINE MOONLIGHT (1-5-2-6)
Preview: 1 DOLCEZZA has some class and could well enjoy the step down in trip from a good draw 5 SIGRID SWING is in fine form and should be in the shake up 2 BERENGARIA ran well last time and can earn again with a repeat 6 DIVINE MOONLIGHT has the form to be a contender but has to overcome a wide draw (1-5-2-6)

Pistol Pete Race 2 . 1st Buffalo Bill Cody, Baby. BBC was a sunning looker so canna wait to see what the baby in parade ring.

Won't help anyone - but I thought a very tough card 

Cheers all 

Will have a look at Pistol Pete 

Taegans Champ could be something special 🤔 

Expect big exotics 

Frodo wrote:

Won't help anyone - but I thought a very tough card 

 

We need you on days like this

I LIKE TC

Any weather concerns ? 

Threats of thunder showers - so not sure if they will get through the meeting - chances are there will me a delay (or two ?) at some stage - thoughts ....

R1: Juveniles Fillies - hard to predict - best form Golden Chandelier (and Fire Attack who finished 1/2 a length in front of GC, and ran a close 2nd subsequently) - so that form may stand up - GC also beat You Bring Me Joy (who also finished 2nd in her next start) in that run; so those 2 as per the betting look the main contenders - bar a first-timer (Radiant Heat a half-sister to Oriental Bouquet - so who knows ?)

R2: Might learn something from the first race - Proceed beat Golden Chandelier by more that 4 lengths giving the filly weight - so that form looks pretty strong - Proceed should hold Guerilla Warfare who should hold Ready Set Fire - again the first-timers could be dangerous (looking at the market especially Pistol Pete and Hair Trigger) - but I'm leaning towards Proceed

R3: Very open imo; Mondial has it all to do here at the weights; stable companions Twin Turbo and Mardi Gras have obvious credentials on their last runs, where they are both weighted to beat the favorite; Player disappointed in his last run, but that was a strong field, and on collateral form with Mondial, looks a shoe-in; Duke of Sussex is a course specialist (but does seem held at the weights), while Terra Time, George Handel and Supreme Dance are also not chanceless; Flashy Apache is said to need the run, but i well weighted and could upset at best

R4: Much vaunted Teagan's Champ will be put to the test here; if he can win this, he could go for the Guineas next - however has it all to do imo especially going over 1600 (being out of Var mare) and also Wyzeact has not franked the form - so beatable imo; 2nd favorite Strom Brasco imo also has plenty to do despite winning his Maiden by a big margin; I do think that all of Guy Gibson, Pure Predator and Laguna Verde (blinkers back on) have chances here, as well as the filly My Soul Mate  

R5: Another open contest imo; Mighty Goddess probably deserved favorite, but even the outsider Bad Hair Day has a chance at the weights - even if drawn poorly; none of the others can be entirely discounted - Della's Sword looks better over shorter, but has pole position. Risky Business good run after a rest, and also has a good draw

R6: With Presley a non-runner, Forgiveness is my first choice - beat subsequent winner Regal Daughter by more than 4 lengths in the Maidens, so must have a chance of following up; much of a muchness imo between Willow Express (finally back in form), Pocket Watch (fair run last after a Maiden win), Rattle Bag (good draw and consistent form) and Care Taker (poor last effort in the wet, but has pole position); Slinky Mapimpi also not without a chance

R7: Linkin Navigator from pole position probably a deserved favorite, seeing that Real Relief has an iffy draw and looks held at the weights by Turbo Power (tries blinkers); real roughie to consider for the places, could be Ode to the Ocean (down from a rating of 95 to 77 - said to need the run, but who knows ?)

R8: I give up - best of luck finding the winner here 

I have my trusty dartboard and I'm still coming out with 5 horses per PA leg and that is outside my R10 budget...

Best of luck fellow Clanners...going to be a tough day if the whole card is run...

TURBO POWER in the 7th