There is an eight race meeting at the Vaal tomorrow and, as a dress rehearsal for the inaugural running of the Grand Heritage on October 1, the rail between the Inside and Outside racecourses will be removed to allow the whole track to be utilised.

Last week when this was done there was a spur on the outside from the 1600m mark to the 500m mark and low draws turned out to be favourable. However, this time there will be a five metre spur on the inside. Therefore, high drawn horses might gain an advantage by hugging the standside rail, as this strip is usually favourable on the Outside course.  However, low drawn horses will not have far to move off the spur to find the far rail, which has always been favourable on the Inside track. So there might not be any draw advantage at all, although a lot will depend on the jockeys’ perception of where the best going lies.

The highest rated race on the card is the sixth, a MR 91 Handicap over 1200m. The Mike Azzie-trained Angel’s Power, who returned from a short layoff and gelding at the beginning of this year, showed last time out he had come into his own when dropped out from a high draw in the Gr 3 Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside Track and running on strongly to finish 1,75 lengths behind the top class Kangaroo Jack. A significant aspect to that Handicap race was Kangaroo Jack likely ran off a capped merit rating, so Angel’s Power should be able to handle a one point merit rated raise. Third-placed Moofeed franked the form by finishing third again on Saturday in a Pinnacle Stakes event, despite being under sufferance over a 1450m trip which stretched his stamina reserves.

Angel’s Power has a high draw of eight and the powerful Azzie yard look cherry ripe to kick into top gear. The evergreen Dennis The Menace looks the main danger. He has a powerful finish, but is off a mark five points higher than his highest ever winning mark of 88, which is concerning as he is an eight-year-old. Call Kelly has also been thereabouts recently and is another threat, while Dreamuponadream has ability but can’t be relied on, while Vulcan has been competitive off his current mark.

The two best bets on the card come earlier.

In the third race, a Maiden over 1600m, Skynight is drawn on the outside fence and has Andrew Fortune up. This progressive four-year-old gelding by Argonaut has a lovely action and ran on strongly last time over 1450m. He finished just 0,5 lengths behind the winner in third and, although it wasn’t the strongest field, two winners have actually come out of the race. He will relish the step up in trip being a half-brother to the Gr 3 Betting World Algoa Cup winner Stonehenge. The danger will be Ramaas, who looks to have loads of ability but has tended to ruin his chances by pulling in the early stages, whether it be over 1950m or 1400m. If he settles he will be a huge runner, but he might need gelding.

In the next race, a fillies and mares maiden over 1000m, Lily Love might seem a surprising choice as a best bet, considering she has already had 12 runs without success. However, she looks to be packed with speed and will relish the step down in trip. Last time out she jumped slowly over 1200m but was soon in front, so if she jumps on terms in this race she will be hard to catch. Lady Of The World is the main danger having not been disgraced in a stronger race last time out after going close in a similar race to this the time before. At A Glance beat Lily Love over 1200m last time when making her debut and should improve, but over this trip Lily Love, as one with more natural pace, is preferred.

The hardest race on the card looks to be the seventh, a MR 73 Handicap over 1200m. The one to beat could be Sail For Joy, who proved himself up to this 81 merit rating last time out over this trip  when running on well after a slow start to be beaten only 0,75 lengths in a strong Novice Plate. The promising winner, British Royale, was merit rated 88 and the decent 93 merit rated four-year-old Roquebrune only managed fourth place, while and 86 merit rated three-year-old finished fifth. Sail For Joy could be a banker on paper now in a handicap, but it is never easy for a young three-year-old up against toughened older handicappers for the first time. Including the whole field might be the wisest choice for the Pick 6. William Nicol and and Gold Status are the pick of the older horses. Silver Kavalier is going the right way in his new yard, but looks held by Gold Status on paper. The three-year-old Cosmic Count beat a couple of fair sorts cosily in the maidens last time over this trip and the form has been franked. However, off an 81 merit rating first time in a handicap, it won’t be easy for this youngster.

Punters could get off to a good start in the first, a Maiden for three-year-old fillies over 1400m, with the beautifully bred Mike de Kock-trained Biblical Susan. This Australian-bred daughter of Bernadini is out of a USA-bred who won the Gr 2 Lake Placid Stakes over 1800m for fillies on the turf at Saratoga. Biblical Susan flew up for second from a tricky draw over 1000m on debut at Scottsville and will relish the step up in trip. She makes more appeal on form than My Friend Lee, another hard-knocker who will also appreciate the step up in trip.

David Thiselton