The Vaal Inside track has an eight race meeting today and punters might be tempted to put one or two bankers in their exotics.

By trends on this track low draws are favourable, but at the last meeting here two winners jumped from high draws.

The two plate races in the Pick 6 each have a stand out horse on paper, but closer inspection reduces confidence.

In the first of them, race five, which is a Graduation Plate over 1400m, the twice Gr 1 runner up Negroamara is officially 7kg better off with any other horse in the field. However, this is her first outing since running second to Equus Champion three-year-old Bela-Bela in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on May 28. The trip is short of her best, but her class could pull her through, and she does have the normally favourable draw of one. Randall Simons rides for the first time. Negroamara is trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren and he could get the quartet here as he has four of the six runners.

The biggest threat to Negroamara could be Silver Class, whose recent form suggests this trip will be ideal. She has always been well regarded and being by Silvano will be blossoming as a five-year-old. She is in good form and also has the advantage of recent runs under the belt as well as a plum draw of two and top class jockey Gavin Lerena aboard. On the downside, after winning her first two career starts, she has not won since August 28 two years ago.

Another stablemate Girl On A Run has only raced six times but being by Silvano should now be coming into her own as a four-year-old. This sentiment is strengthened when considering her last run as a three-year-old on May 18 yielded a facile 3,25 length win over 2000m on the Greyville polytrack. Tomorrow’s trip will be too sharp, but she might enjoy it running fresh. However, she is officially 12,5kg under sufferance with Negroamara. The other stablemate is Seattle Lady, who is 10kg under sufferance, but is of some interest because it is the first time she will be tried beyond sprints. She is by Sail From Seattle out of a Fort Wood mare who won once over 1300m. Her victories over 1000m include a three length defeat of Silver Class in a Graduation Plate. The Paul Peter-trained filly Caribbean Queen is officially 14,5kg under sufferance but is still unexposed and on the up and she should handle this trip. Some punters might decide to risk bankering Negroamara, but including Silver Class could be wise.

The second of the plate races, a Novice Plate over 1200m, might see the handicappers being proven wrong. Roquebrune is officially 8kg better off with any other horse, but the alarm bells begin ringing when seeing he earned this rating by winning an early season 800m event as a two-year-old. It was 18 months before he raced again and he was far from disgraced in finishing 7,5 lengths behind the top class Trip Tease. He showed good pace before fading, not surprisingly as he no doubt needed the run. As a classy looking type he has to be included, although he might be vulnerable to the up and coming sorts.

The Janse van Vuuren-trained British Royale could be the one to beat as he will likely relish a return to faster ground and he has a favourable draw. Last time out he was used up early to overcome a wide draw in the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes and did well to stay on for a five length fifth considering winners in the testing conditions on the day were coming from off the pace. A horse who also has to be seriously considered is Rebuked, despite only having had one run and returning from an eight month layoff. On Sansui Summer Cup day this Albert Hall colt jumped from draw one over 1160m and won at long odds. The win looked more and more meritorious as the day progressed as low draws proved to be particularly unfavourable.

Tour Of Duty is another one who is hard to ignore having won his maiden over 1160m easing up by 4,3 lengths and Gavin Lerena is now aboard, although the high draw might make it tough.

Goodness Me could get punters off to a good start in race one over 1200m, despite it being competitive. This Noordhoek Flyer filly was caught wide of runners from an unfavourable draw over course and distance last time after being bumped at the start. She did well to stay on for a 3,6 length third. It was an eyecatching run and she now has a better draw.

The second is a competitive sprint handicap and the whole field might has to be considered, although the three who make most appeal are Rafa, Manx Park and All Night Flight.

In the third the most eyecatching horse is Speed Monitor.  However, he has over raced twice over 1400m, which is a concern considering he is now going over 1700m. On the positive side the good hands of Andrew Fortune might be able to settle him from a good draw. Tafteesh is an interesting debutant being by Tiger Ridge out of Summer Cup winner Flirtation. Sabre Dance makes most appeal of the rest.

The fourth is weak staying maiden and Reminiscence should start coming into his own being by Ideal World out of a Gr 2-winning Fort Wood mare over 2000m. Yours And Mine at last gets a good draw over a suitable trip and could surprise. Wall Of Ice has a lot in his favour too.

The seventh is a competitive sprint. The transformed Paree won well again on Saturday and goes for a hattrick if she takes her place. One Yesterday, Our Miracle, Bally Swiss, Patty Cake, Nitrogen and Embrasiatic have to be considered.

The last over 2000m could be won by Banking April, although Tobesuretobesure relished front running tactics over 2200m last time and has to be included, while Parisienne Chic, Over It and Indzaba have to be considered too.

David Thiselton