The Vaal has an eight race card tomorrow on the Classic Track, where the seventh event is down the straight over 1000m and all of the other races from 1200m upward are around the turn.

In straight races here the high draws are favourable by trends. Around the turn the horses tend to make a bee line for the outside, meaning low draws are sometimes trapped on the unfavourable inside going. Therefore middle to outside draws tend to not be much of a disadvantageous, at least for horses who settle well.

The best bet on the card looks to be Querari Viking, who runs in the fifth race, a Maiden over 1450m. He was the victim of a well documented incorrect upheld objection last time out. Previously he was defeated by 1,25 lengths by Sabre Dance over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track, but the latter had the run of the race in an event which turned into a crawl-sprint affair. Querari Viking has a nice stride on him and in his first ride for the powerful Mike Azzie yard has the astute Anthony Delpech up, who should put him in a handy position from his draw of two from where he can find the better going in the straight.

An interesting runner here is the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Rebel Baron, who was outpaced on debut over 1200m before staying on well. He is drawn in pole and might be dropped to the rear before making his run up the outside rail. The other Houdalakis runner is Aristocat, who certainly fits the bill on looks. However, it is difficult to judge how this Var gelding will enjoy the step up in trip as his full-brother is a sprinter, whereas his half-brother by Captain Al has won over 2000m. Aristocat himself  has been a touch one-paced over 1200m. Sabre Dance is likely to give another honest account, but Querari Viking looks to have more scope and can reverse form with him.

The highest rated race on the card is the second, a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m. Myfunnyvalentine is a Gr 1 performer, having followed her excellent second in the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery with a close fourth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. In her seasonal reappearance she showed a fine turn of foot and won cosily over this trip on the Turffontein Inside track. Her class should be telling here.

An interesting runner is the four-year-old Horse Chestnut filly South Atlantic, whose Western Winter half-sister Hurricane Bertha won on debut over the weekend. South Atlantic won a fine race back in January when thrashing Runalong by 3,5 lengths over 1400m, in which she showed good pace coupled with a good turn of foot. Runalong went on to win her next four races, which puts the merit of that performance into perspective. As only a one-time winner South Atlantic gets 3kg from Hollie Point and 1kg from Myfunnyvalentine. However, she has only been accorded a 72 merit rating, so is officially 5kg under sufferance with the latter pair, who are the two best weighted horses in the race on official merit ratings. However, South Atlantic looks a sort who could rise above that merit rating.

The Mike de Kock yard always have them fit so she should get away with this 1200m trip returning from an eight month layoff. Another interesting runner is Hollie Point, who is 2kg better off with Myfunnyvalentine for a 2,5 length beating. Furthermore, she had to be dropped out that day from a wide draw before running on. She could get closer, but Myfunnyvalentine did win that race quite cosily and has probably come on from it too.

Champion trainer Sean Tarry rated Myfunnyvalentine as having an excellent chance. He added he expected a good run from De Nimes in the third, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, despite her returning from a layoff of about a year-and-a-half. However, he expected the De Kock-trained Ektifaa to be impossible to oppose in this event. The latter is likely the best bet on the card but has not been chosen as such because the odds will likely be prohibitive. Last time out in May she duelled for a long way down the straight with Seattle Singer before being pipped in the final strides. The latter went on to finish an excellent third in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion against the boys. Ektifaa looks to have plenty of scope and being from the De Kock yard should not be short of fitness.

The Tarry yard could also have a winner in the last race, a MR 68 Handicap over 2000m, with Wild Horizon, although this does look an event to go wide in. Furthermore, Wild Horizon has to carry topweight of 61,5kg. Tarry confirmed the tactics on Wild Horizon last time out, when used up early to overcome a wide draw over 1800m on the Inside Track, had not panned out well and added he had shown his best form when held up with cover. A return to those tactics with a 4kg claimer up could give him a shout, although it would likely be wise to go wide in the exotics.

The most intriguing race on the card could be the sixth, a MR 72 Handicap over 1450m. Crowd Pleaser looks a decent sort having dominated a 1900m event on the Greyville poly last time. However, he was a November foal, so is not actually three yet in real terms and another question is whether he will have the necessary pace to dominate over this shorter trip, His penultimate run over 1600m at Scottsville when not beaten far by the promising Legend, suggests he does have some pace and he will also be running fresh here. However, all things considered, the topweight Street Flyer is tipped to beat him, one reason being he has the wily Piere Strydom up.

Another reason is the blinkers are off after he over raced over this trip last time out. He still ran a fair race in the latter event and so should perform better if the removal of the blinkers duly sees him settling in the running. A Greater Power has a chance here too, although Tarry was concerned about his wide draw as one who tends to over race and thus needs cover. Cherokee Grey has some fair form and can’t be ignored. Neither can Woza Madoda, who like Street Flyer has a wide draw, but if they settle they should enter the straight in a favourable position.

David Thiselton