David Thiselton 

TODAY’S Vaal straight course hosts a leg of the Workrider’s Challenge and there look to be some good opportunities for punters.

In the first race over 1000m Sonny Quinn is knocking on the door and gets a good opportunity to get off the mark in an uninspiring field. He has finished in the first three in five of seven starts and the Dorrie Sham yard are in good form at present. However, he always seems to find one or two better so can’t be regarded as a strong choice.

Grappler has substance and might have benefited from a seven month layoff after a fair debut over 1160m in a strong maiden. Of the first-timers Cephas is by Querari and is a full brother to Psychedelic who won third time out over 1000m at Kenilworth. Scottish Flower is by Rebel King and is a half-brother to the speedy two-time winner South East and Chamu Mabaya is an eyecatching booking. Wisden is by Willow Magic out of a three-time winning Var mare who is a half-sister to the useful Copper Mountain.

In the second race over 1000m Ruby Woo stayed on nicely on debut over this trip in September and has scope for improvement. Furthermore, seven winners have come out of that race. Princess Sabrina has run some fair sprints and after failing over 1400m last time can be a contender over the minimum trip. Jam Fancy improved when just failing to lead from start to finish over this trip third time out and is a contender too. Rollawaytackler, who is by Captain Al out of a Trippi mare whose only win was a runaway one by over six lengths at Scottsville over 1000m, makes most appeal of the first-timers. Sudden Break by Sudden Storm is also interesting being by Sudden Storm out of a Brazilian mare who won three times from 1000m to 1600m.

The best of the day, Golden Spoon, runs in the third over 1200m. She caught the eye running on strongly on debut over 1000m and being by the current boom sire Vercingetorix out of the Listed Scarlet Lady winner Captain’s Daughter she should not only improve but she should relish the extra 200m. Aberdare is a full-sister to Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe (1400m) winner Forest Indigo but despite having a miler-to-middle distance looking pedigree, she might enjoy the step down in trip as she showed a good turn of foot from off the pace over 1400m last time before finding no extra. Sheltering Sky could earn and the two first-timers Lee Express (Vercingetorix) and Moobheera (Var) have eyecatching rider bookings, Sam Mosia and Joe Gwingwizha.

In the fourth over 1200m Differentiate packs a strong finish over this trip and doesn’t face inspiring opposition. Inherit The Rain should also be involved and the first-timer Flying Bull is interesting being by Soft Falling Rain out of a Judpot mare who won on debut in a workrider’s maiden over 1400m.    

In the fifth over 1700m Ushuaia found himself in front last time and could only plug on for a 3,10 length fifth. However, that was only his second start and he does come out better than the rest on formlines. So with improvement and perhaps a more conservative ride he is the one to beat. Irish Rain and Major Winter are still capable of further improvement. Parallax can also be considered and Extravert must also be considering his good form in 2019 before being sidelined for a long time. 

In the sixth race over 1700m the hard-knocking Lotus is the obvious choice and she has a good draw too. Senescence looks ideally distance suited so could bounce back. Princess Thiana plugged on over 1400m in a fair field on debut and being a full-sister to Legal Eagle she can improve and should also enjoy the step up in trip. Lyrical Dance has not caught the eye in two runs to date but was staying on over 1160m second time out and being by Vercingetorix and a half-sister to the like of Summer Cup winner Liege she can still improve. Bold Leah, who is out of a four time winning Right Approach mare, was plugging on over 1400m last time and could possibly appreciate the step up in trip being by Pomodoro.

Chenopod is the one to beat on form in the seventh over 2000m. The only danger looks to be Bend Not Break, who doesn’t come out as well as the former on formlines, but is capable of improvement especially if she settles better than she did last time.

In the last race over 2000m, Leading Lad over-raced with first-time blinkers on last time and now reverts to cheekpieces so can recapture his hard-knocking form. He should stay this trip. Masaaken strikes as one who is looking for this trip so will be a big threat if able to overcome a tricky draw. Track Commander looks capable of improvement and has a shout if staying this trip on pedigree. Ball Rolling is consistent and also has a chance. Captain Cupid beat Ball Rolling over this trip last month but will have to bounce back from two subsequent below par efforts.   

David Thiselton

JUSTIN SNAITH has decided to target the Cape Town Met with his three highest rated middle distance horses only, Belgarion, Do It Again and African Night Sky, mindful that an unplaced run for lesser horses could still see them raised in the merit ratings.

Sachdev and Nexus have thus come out and he avoided the race completely for a three-year-old he views as his “July horse”,  Gatekeeper.

His said about his Met runners, “They put in their last big workouts and I am very happy with all of them. I will be very surprised if Belgarion and Do It Again don’t both finish in the first four. Belgarion’s performance in the Green Point was brilliant but he was running fresh and before that I had never believed him to be a Queen’s Plate horse as it is over a mile and he is by Silvano. We were hoping, make no mistake, but the pace in the Queen’s Plate turned out to be on the slow side and he was shown to not be a miler. There were a number of three-year-olds I could have run in the Queen’s Plate but opted for Jet Dark for just one reason and that is he is very strong over a mile. He had been very unlucky in the Cape Guineas in which he had a shocking draw and in a slow run race he flew from last in the running.”

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate pace thus suited Jet Dark whereas Belgarion could only run on in vain for a strong-finishing third.

Do It Again ran a sterling fourth and looks-wise struck as being back to his imposing best.

Snaith said, “It was a massive run. He was unlucky. It was a slow run race and he came from last and couldn’t get a clear run, the gap closed and he had to be switched. He is in a good space. He has come on a lot from that run and so has Belgarion.”

African Night Sky was also unlucky in the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy when squeezed out on the rail by Golden Ducat and Sachdev and then running on for a 0,95 length third after being switched.

Snaith said, “He should have won, no doubt. He has come on from the run but he has a very hard ask at level weights so we are just hoping for a positive run.”

In other yard news stable jockey Richard Fourie has opted to ride Erik The Red in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship and this has left Snaith with a predicament as no out of province jockeys will be allowed to travel to ride Kasimir.

Snaith said, “Richard just feels that 1000m is a bit short for Kasimir, although on the other had Kasimir doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”

Meanwhile, the yard’s Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Captain’s Ransom put up a good gallop at Kenilworth on Saturday ahead of her engagement in the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes, where she has been priced up as favourite by bookmakers despite the presence of Queen Supreme, Clouds Unfold and Celtic Sea.

Snaith said, “Everything has gone to plan. She is very easy to train and is spot on.”

Snaith felt his easy Grade 3 Chairman’s Cup winner, Silver Host, would be hard to beat in the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2800m.

He is also looking forward to High Hosanna’s run in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes. This Drakenstein Stud-bred Trippi filly is out of a half-sister to Oh Susanna and she won comfortably on debut. 

Snaith is also expecting good runs from Mach Four and Hoedspruit in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes. Mach Four is an up-and-coming sort who has won his last two and Fourie has opted for him. Snaith felt Hoedspruit was unlucky in the Cape Guineas when left near the back after a slow start and Gavin Lerena rides. 

DAVID THISELTON

THE Vaal stages a competitive meeting today and this is illustrated ho how tough most legs of the Pick 6 are.

In the first leg over 1400m Dawn Of A New Era has a nice big action and can get off the mark in his fifth start. He is a possible banker in and uninspiring field in which the chief danger looks to be Blue Spark.

In the second leg over 1400m Wisteria Walk is the best weighted and runs over an ideal trip. In this small field down the straight she will be closer to the pace than she was when dropped out and running unplaced last time out in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m. She has not run since that event on October 3 so is unlikely to be at her peak, but her class could pull her through. Sidonie likely went a touch too fast early last time out over 1600m but she still stayed on for a fair fourth in a good field. She could appreciate the drop in trip and will be dangerous if able to dictate. Querari Ferrari’s run on Saturday over this trip heralded a form return and she is second best in it the weights so will be a threat. Empress Josephine ran on well last time out over this course and distance and is right up with Querari Ferrari at the weights. Invisible was beaten 1,75 lengths when receiving 1kg from Wisteria Walk over 1450m last September but now has to face her at level weights. Those five make most appeal.

In the next race over 1100m Persica has a shout if able to find a nice position with cover as she has a good turn of foot. The Fifth Waves chances were compromised by a low draw last time over 1160m and she has a shout here. May Queen disappointed last time over 1200m but on her best form there is nothing between her and Persica at the weights and she will enjoy this trip. Those three make most appeal but it is a wide open race and more can be included.

In the seventh race Eden Roc has a fine chance on the form of his Merchants runner up finish last time. He would probably prefer 1200m but has never actually tried this trip before and is versatile and classy so should go close. Bold Ransom  is a progressive sprinters who was beaten a head by Eden Roc in the Merchants and is now 1.5kg worse off so he looks held but is nevertheless the chief threat.

In the eighth Dubawi Princess has always had promise and was not disgraced last time from an unfavourable draw. Bella Black, who is much improved, was just behind her from an equally disadvantageous draw. Desert Pride is better than her last run and must also be included. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking hard and is 3kg better off with Desert Pride for a 2,75 length beating. Laetitia’s Angel drops down to the trip of her last win. 

The last race is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. Olivia S has run well in both of her Gauteng starts since moving from Kimberley and 

now has he third run after an eight month layoff. The well bed Frankel filly Lagertha is still a maiden but comes off two good 1000m runs against the boys and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Royal Lily has fallen to an attractive merit rating and although she has become disappointing the yard are in form and an up turn in her form here should see her go close. Hear The Trumpet is none to consistent but if reproducing her penultimate run over course and distance she can be involved. The Villa Grand is also an interesting runner stepped back up to this trip. Her previous two runs over this distance were against much stronger opposition. Samoa and Emerald Crest have to be considered too.

David Thiselton

The Vaal stages a competitive meeting today and this is illustrated by how tough most legs of the Pick 6 are.

In the first leg over 1400m, Wisteria Walk is the best weighted and runs over an ideal trip. In this small field down the straight she will be closer to the pace than she was when dropped out and running unplaced last time out in the Grade 2 Joburg Fillies and Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m.

She has not run since that event on October 3 so is unlikely to be at her peak, but her class could pull her through. Sidonie likely went a touch too fast early last time out over 1600m but she still stayed on for a fair fourth in a good field. She could appreciate the drop in trip and will be dangerous if able to dictate.

Querari Ferrari’s run on Saturday over this trip heralded a form return and she is second best in it the weights so will be a threat. Empress Josephine ran on well last time out over this course and distance and is right up with Querari Ferrari at the weights. Invisible was beaten 1,75 lengths when receiving 1kg from Wisteria Walk over 1450m last September but now has to face her at level weights. Those five make most appeal.

In the next race over 1100m, Persica has a shout if able to find a nice position with cover as she has a good turn of foot. The Fifth Wave’s chances were compromised by a low draw last time over 1160m and she has a shout here. May Queen disappointed last time over 1200m but on her best form there is nothing between her and Persica at the weights and she will enjoy this trip. Those three make most appeal but it is a wide open race and more can be included.

In the seventh race Eden Roc has a fine chance on the form of his Merchants runner-up finish last time. He would probably prefer 1200m but has never actually tried this trip before and is versatile and classy so should go close. Bold Ransom is a progressive sprinter who was beaten a head by Eden Roc in the Merchants and is now 1.5kg worse off so he looks held but is nevertheless the chief threat.

In the eighth Dubawi Princess has always had promise and was not disgraced last time from an unfavourable draw. Bella Black, who is much improved, was just behind her from an equally disadvantageous draw. Desert Pride is better than her last run and must also be included. Brooklyn Bridge is knocking hard and is 3kg better off with Desert Pride for a 2,75 length beating. Laetitia’s Angel drops down to the trip of her last win. 

The last race is a competitive fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. Olivia S has run well in both of her Gauteng starts since moving from Kimberley and now has her third run after an eight-month layoff. The well bed Frankel filly Lagertha is still a maiden but comes off two good 1000m runs against the boys and she should appreciate the step up in trip. Royal Lily has fallen to an attractive merit rating and although she has become disappointing the yard are in form and an up turn in her form here should see her go close. Hear The Trumpet is none to consistent but if reproducing her penultimate run over course and distance she can be involved. The Villa Grand is also an interesting runner stepped back up to this trip. Her previous two runs over this distance were against much stronger opposition. Samoa and Emerald Crest have to be considered too.

Andrew Harrison

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE Monday poly meetings with reduced stakes were introduced to give displaced Kimberley trainers time to find their feet and to assess where their horses fitted into the new environment.

They started off well enough with Cliffie Miller and Tinie Prinsloo coming good and starting to hold their own but two KZN casualties have been Jarett Rug and Sarel Von Willingh Smit.

Rug pointed out that most of his string were already KZN ‘chuck-outs’ and were not competitive. Added to that was the current state of racing and the country in general, so new owners were hard to come by. Rug has since pulled up his grub stake, cut his losses and moved to Port Elizabeth.

Justin Snaith has no such problems and Silver Palace can get punters off to a good start at today’s meeting.

Silver Palace has been coming along nicely and although he has not been out since November last year the form of his last race has panned out. With the best of the draw he must have a strong chance. Alfredo is struggling to win but has good recent form over course and distance. He is quick on his day and can make all.

The second sees a seriously moderate line-up but Stone Of Destiny has only had three starts and appears to be coming along the right way. Given further improvement he should make a bold bid in this company. Morse finished just behind Stone Of Destiny when they last met. He battled in the Cape but this is his third run for Garth Puller.

Emerald Palace and Diamonds And Toads look the principal runners in the third. Emerald Palace has been costly to follow but she has been running consistently. Nathan Kotzen has booked a 2.5kg claimer in Thabiso Gumede and she gets another chance. Mike Miller is having a good run of late and Diamonds And Toads has only twice not earned a cheque. The blinkers go on for the first time and she rates the biggest threat to Emerald Palace.

Santa Vittoria is long overdue and Glen Kotzen’s mare should make a bold bid in the fourth. She meets a modest field that includes the luckless Bell Jar. She appears handicapped by her diminutive size but now has the best of the draw and a useful claimer up. Veterans Pina Colada and Skyfire both have chances in this company if anywhere near their best form.

The fifth has a rematch between Dream Destiny and Ontopoftheworld. Dream Destiny was run out of it late by Ontopoftheworld when starting favourite but the former is 3.5kg better off including her apprentice allowance. The latter surprised but appears to have come to form and has a chance again. Mrs Hotline has been up against stronger at recent outings and goes well this course and distance.

The sixth has ‘upset’ written all over it. Paul and Beth Gadsby’s runner Rain Dance did not feature on the turf last run but had put in two improved efforts on the poly before that. A Whole New World appears to be finding his feet and was close-up from a wide draw last time and should have a decent chance in this company. Racing in first-time blinkers, Proud Warrior made no show over much further last start. His two best recent efforts have been on the poly and the blinkers stay on. Perfectly Putt is another to consider after finding marker support last run when dropping in class. He goes the extra furlong here.

In the seventh, Hot Money does not have the best of draws but has been in good form of late and enjoys the poly. To The Max was a narrow winner last start but the drop in trip should suit while Gingerspathtoglory only has 48kh to shoulder form a good draw. She had a tough gate last run. Not Now Pussycat is better than her last run. She goes well on the poly and has improved with her new stable.

The last is another minefield. Bravo Zulu has been a soldier for Louis Goosen and is always game but while one can dice, slice and dissect the form of this race, the betting could prove your most reliable guide.