David Thiselton
The Vaal Classic track stages an interesting meeting comprising of eight maiden races today.
The first over 1000m Lulu’s Boy showed fine gatespeed and early pace last time when having a tough low draw over 1160m at Turffontein. He then stayed on well to finish second, beaten one length by the hard-knocking Who’s That Star, with the rest of the field 3,50 lengths further back. He should enjoy the step down to 1000m and he has placed five times over this trip before. Kaptein Martiens was 1,55 lengths behind him the last time they met over this trip but has plenty of scope and could improve enough to be a threat. Frontline Fighter showed pace last time over 1000m but found no extra late so will be vulnerable in the closing stages, although the current fast conditions will make him dangerous. Maraca Ginger has only a quarter of a length to make up on Frontline Fighter. Stepintospring is by King Chapel and is a full-brother to the competitive four-time winning sprinter Pillaroftheearth but there has been no significant market support for him yet.
In the second over 1000m Abalus will be suited to this trip having shown pace over 1200m last time before being run out of it. She has finished second in her last five starts including twice over this trip. Mary Kate is an interesting first-timer and could chase Abalus home. She is by Global View and is a half-sister to the five-time-winning Eastern Cape sprinter Mary O’Reilly. Quick Run and Smelting have good enough form to be threats. Stolen Kiss beat Abalus when the latter made her debut but has not run since May 8 so might need this.
The first-timers might dominate the third race over 1200m. Cosmic Rush is by Wylie Hall out of Cape four-time-winning sprinter to 1400m mare Cosmic Flower (National Emblem). Magnum P I is by Elusive Fort and is a half-brother to seven-time winning handicapper Battle Creek. Rafanetti, a half-brother to the Grade 3-winning stayer Masai Warrior, is by Futura out of an unplaced Jallad maiden who is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Natural Selection. The best of the raced runners are Coming In Hot and Samuel Salt and the former can be included in the PA alongside Cosmic Rush and Magnum P I, whilst the best way to play the Pick 6 could be just to include all four of the raced runners.
Icy Night has some pace in the context of the next race over 1200m and jumps from a plum draw. Namibsroos and Amazon Orchid have the potential to show more and can be included as raced horses in the Pick 6. The first-timers do not make a lot of appeal. Hydrangea is by Gimmethegreenlight out of a three-time-winning USA-bred Dixieland Band mare who has not produced a winner from two runners to date. Tripplethetigress is by Where’s That Tiger and is a half-sister to a What A Lover who won second time out over 1000m at Kenilworth having finished third behind Missisippi Burning on debut.
In the next race over 1700m Nice Move caught the eye on debut as a big, rangy sort with plenty of scope. He is by Visionaire out of the Grade 1-winning sprint-miler On Her Toes so he should enjoy this trip up on pedigree too. He looks to be a banker in all exotics.
In the sixth race over 1700m Joe Harman has been knocking on the door over 1800m and gets a good opportunity to record a win. Secret Link is an interesting runner as he was not at all disgraced last time in a fair field over 1400m and he should enjoy this step up in trip on pedigree being by Galileo stallion Global View and a half-brother to 2000m winner Interstate. Bit Of Fun is also an interesting runner as he took a good hold in front over 2000m last time before finishing a well beaten third and he should enjoy the step down in trip. Those three should be enough to get through the exotics and for wider Mister Blue Sky and Passing Shot can be considered.
In the seventh over 1500m Lingamore looks to have plenty of scope and can build on her 1400m fifth where she had no cover throughout. She does have a tricky draw but if finding cover should mow them down in the closing stages. There are two interesting first-timers. Dame Of Flames is by Futura out of a four-time winning Listed runner up by Jet Master and Hewitson is an interesting booking. Miss Otis is by Judpot and is thus a three-parts sister to Grade 1 winner Along Came Polly (Judpot), who is a half-sister to Miss Otis’s one-time winning Gimmethegreenlight dam. Ontheverge is the early favourite but will have to improve on her moderate third over 1200m last time and the jury will be out on her stamina capacity as she is by miler Where’s That Tiger out of a Toreador sprinter. Eshraaq is interesting as he is big and rangy and was outpaced over 1200m on debut and will relish this step up on trip, so he can be included in wider exotics.
In the last race over 1500m the hard-knocking Flinders Range is proving moderate but has a shout in this uninspiring field. Leeson looks to have scope for improvement after staying on from a tough low draw over 1200m on debut. JP Two Thousand made a fair debut, although not a convincing one, and he will be suited to this step up in trip on pedigree being by Elusive Fort and a half-brother to a couple of winners over 1600m. First-timer Rosso Corsa is by Querari out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and is a half-brother to the like of winners Imperial Ruby and Ragoon. Twosidestoastory has shown enough to also be considered here.
