David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track has an eight-race meeting and exotic punters might be able to afford fairly low cost permutations.

In the first race over 1800m, Monsoon Kenny looks to be a Bi-Pot banker. He finished second when stepped up to this trip last time and looks to have scope for improvement. He does have a tricky draw of six out of six but the good and experienced workrider Joe Gwingwizha should be able to work out a winning strategy. Invincible Wall plodded on last time and finished third, just 1,50 lengths behind Monsoon Kenny, and there is now a reversal in draw fortunes so the risk averse might want to include him too. 

In the second race over the same trip, Ontheverge ran on well over 1500m last time and she should enjoy the trip. She is by Where’s That Tiger who has produced some useful stayers and her dam, who is by Toreador and was a sprinter, is a half-sister to SA Derby winner Irish Flame. She does have a tricky draw of five out of six though, so might have to be dropped out. Shikuru has scope and from a fair draw of three out of six can confirm form with Stunning Kitten and After Me. Hewitson takes over the ride from apprentice Kyle Strydom and Shikuru could be one to include for the risk averse. 

In the third race over 1450, Gilda Gray should relish the step back down to 1450m and has very little to beat so from a fair draw will only have to repeat the form of her penultimate start over 1400m. The first-timer English Primrose is well drawn and this Flower Alley filly is a half-sister to Magogo, an Ideal World filly who won first time out over this same trip, although she has never placed in any of her subsequent nine starts. English Primrose could nevertheless be her chief danger in this uninspiring contest.

In the fourth over 1450m, the filly Golden Aspen takes on the boys but gets 3kg and is the one to beat. She is enjoying the current fast conditions, as she has good gate speed and runs from the front before staying on, and this looks to be her optimum trip. Timbavati River should stay on resolutely like he did last time and can place again. With Pleasure has faced good fields over sprints and should enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree so is an interesting runner. The first-timer Corapi is by Elusive Fort and is a half-brother to twice winner Fromheretoeternity. Lincoln County is by Call To Combat and is a half-brother to four-time winner Lad and comes from the yard of Chris Jonker whose small string earn cheques consistently.

In the fifth race over 1000m, the consistent Sweet Sensation is the best in at the weights under the Graduation Plate conditions and will take a lot of beating having won twice and placed eight times in 12 starts over this trip. Alabama Anna will be a threat as among the vanquished in her easy maiden win over 1200m was Mike’s Chick, who recently bolted in by 7,75 lengths over 1600m. Naarah won her first two starts over this 800m and 1000m respectively before stepping up to feature company and now in this class she could be a contender.

In the sixth race over 1000m, Master Archie will take a power of beating as he beat the classy Dyce last time by a comfortable 2,50 lengths over this trip. Retallick looks to have scope for further improvement and this big horse could be the chief danger. Captain Morisco has ability and could earn. The filly Captain’s Run is second best in at the weights and can also be considered. Phinda Mzala has a lot of pace and will enjoy being back on the Highveld on this fast ground.

In the seventh race over 1600m, Ballet Shoes returns from a layoff of six months but is 6.5kg better off than any other horse and has returned from such a layoff before to run well. Eliud also returns from a layoff and has always struck as one who will come on as a four-year-old and he has already displayed class so it will be no surprise to see him winning. Paton’s Tears has plenty of ability and can also win if not losing many lengths at the start like he did last time. 

The last race is a Classified Stakes event over 1200m and looks wide open so as many as possible must be included. Flower Of Scotland is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted Midnight Gem and should have benefited from her decent comeback run last time so is the one to beat from a fair draw.