David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track meeting could be kicked off by the tried and tested combination of Mike de Kock and Chamu Mabaya with the Danon Platina filly Great Notion.

This filly showed improvement last time and faces an uninspiring field over a step up in trip she should manage, although a wide draw makes it tougher. Lacewing has shown glimpses of ability and could earn. Lady Sabrina ran a fair third when stepped up to this trip last time and is well drawn.

In the second race over 1600m Dylan’s Champ has been backed and gone close in his last two starts and now has another good draw over the same trip category so should go close again. Flight Engineer wasn’t disgraced against a top class prospect last time and from a good draw over a step up trip he could handle he has a chance. Pioneer Square went close when stepped up to this trip last time and Lerena stays aboard, but he does have a wide draw to overcome. Beynac has been going close over 1400m and with Strydom staying aboard tries a step up in trip and as this Querari gelding’s Var dam won over 1600m he could get it. Asiah’s Tiara is the only filly in the race, but has the form to earn.

In race 3 over 2000m Towers Of Gold faced a top sort in Heather’s Boy last time and back in this company from pole position over a suitable trip he could go close. Guy Alexander has come into his own, but has to overcome a four point raise for his latest win and has a tricky draw, although it is an ideal trip. Whispers Of War is always thereabouts and should enjoy the further step up in trip. Romeo’s Magic disappointed last time over this trip, but is off a competitive mark and can do better over a suitable trip. Japanese Maple has been dropped five points and if bouncing back could be in the shake up.

In Race 4 over 2000m Fetching Flyer has relished the step up to this trip and goes for a hattrick, albeit off a merit rating increased by seven points. Mount Etna won well last time and could do well over a further step up in trip from draw two being by Erupt out of a Dynasty mare. Kadizora is hard knocking and distance suited and has a chance being 1,5kg better off with Mount Etna for a 0,75 length beating, but has a tough draw. Hat’s Queen is drawn in pole and is in good form so should be thereabouts over a suitable trip with Lerena up. A Place In The Sun is capable of better than recent.

In race 5 over 2000m Flamboyant Flyer has bounced back with cheekpieces on and has a good draw off just a three point higher mark after a win over 1800m last time. He should get the extra trip being by Erupt out of a Silvano mare. Play With Fire is in consistent form and from a good draw over a suitable trip should be staying on as usual. Cartagena has looked to be one with ability and proved it last time, so can continue to improve and will likely not be as big a price as last time. Stormy Sunday has shown ability and should enjoy the course and distance but has a tough draw. Have A Party should be right there over a suitable trip if able to overcome a wide draw.

In race 6 over 1500m Ombudsman ran well against a most promising sort in Confederate last time, but does have a tough draw, although Calvin Habib is back aboard. Twelve OClock High won well in the maidens over 1450m, so will enjoy this trip and can do well with Lerena up albeit off quite a tough  86 merit rating.  Princess Iliara is well drawn and a repeat of her last start could see her go close. 

In race 7 over 1450m Francilien’s dam by Var won over this trip so this What A Winter mare will enjoy the step up to this trip. The form of her last start has been well franked and she represents one of the most in form yards in the country, albeit from a tricky draw. Honorable Member has a form chance here over an ideal trip. However, she has a wide draw to overcome. Cocomelon looks to be a talented three-year-old and faces her easiest task since her first win and it is from a good draw over a suitable trip. It’s Her Way has a wide draw but has shown good ability before and could surprise. Accept Cookies is well drawn and drops back to her winning trip.

In race 8 over 1200m Sail The Sky ran well last time and is at home over this trip and well drawn. Written In Stone is likely to be given another fine ride by Louis Nhlapo and can earn again despite a tricky draw. Midnight Fusion has the ability to go close from a good draw. Call Me Master has a wide draw, but has the form to go close and has Lerena up. Pendragon is capable of producing a strong finish and has the advantage of a plum draw of two.

RACE 1     

3 GREAT NOTION 1 DEVILISHLYGORGEOUS 4 LACEWING 8 LADY SABRINA

Preview: 3 GREAT NOTION is on the up and has a good work rider aboard but does have a tricky draw over a step up in trip he will enjoy. 1 DEVILISHLYGORGEOUS is improving and has a good rider aboard over a suitable trip but does have a tricky draw. 4 LACEWING has shown glimpses of ability and could earn. 8 LADY SABRINA ran a fair third when stepped up to this trip last time and is well drawn. (David Thiselton 3-4-8)

RACE 2     

7 DYLAN’S CHAMP 8 FLIGHT ENGINEER 5 PIONEER SQUARE 6 BEYNAC

Preview: 7 DYLAN’S CHAMP is knocking on the door and is well drawn over a suitable trip. 8 FLIGHT ENGINEER wasn’t disgraced against a top class prospect last time and from a good draw has a shout. 5 PIONEER SQUARE went close when stepped up to this trip last time and Lerena stays aboard, but he does have a wide draw to overcome. 6 BEYNAC has been going close over 1400m and with Strydom staying aboard tries a step up in trip and as this Querari gelding’s Var dam won over 1600m he could get it. (David Thiselton 7-8-5-6)

RACE 3     

3 TOWERS OF GOLD 2 GUY ALEXANDER 4 WHISPERS OF WAR 5 ROMEO’S MAGIC

Preview: 3 TOWERS OF GOLD faced a top sort last time and back in this company from pole position over a suitable trip he could go close. 2 GUY ALEXANDER has come into his own but has to overcome a four point raise for his latest win and has a tricky draw. 4 WHISPERS OF WAR is always thereabouts and should enjoy the further step up in trip. 5 ROMEO’S MAGIC disappointed last time over this trip but can do better. (David Thiselton 3-2-4-5)

RACE 4     

6 FETCHING FLYER 1 MOUNT ETNA 8 KADIZORA 9 HAT’S QUEEN

Preview: 6 FETCHING FLYER has relished the step up to this trip and goes for a hattrick albeit off a merit rating increased by seven points. 1 MOUNT ETNA won well last time and could do well over a further step up in trip from draw two. 8 KADIZORA is hard knocking and distance suited but has a tough draw. 9 HAT’S QUEEN is drawn in pole and is in good form so should be thereabouts over a suitable trip with Lerena up. (David Thiselton 6-1-8-9)

RACE 5     

1 FLAMBOYANT FLYER 3 PLAY WITH FIRE 10 CARTAGENA 2 STORMY SUNDAY

Preview: 1 FLAMBOYANT FLYER has bounced back with cheekpieces and has a good draw off just a three point higher mark after a win over 1800m last time and he should get the extra trip. 3 PLAY WITH FIRE is in consistent form and from a good draw over a suitable trip can be involved. 10 CARTAGENA has looked to be one with ability and proved it last time so can continue to improve. 2 STORMY SUNDAY has shown ability and should enjoy the course and distance but has a tough draw. (David Thiselton 1-3-10-2)

RACE 6     

3 OMBUDSMAN 4 TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH 7 PRINCESS ILARIA

Preview: 3 OMBUDSMAN ran well against a most promising sort last time but does have a tough draw. 4 TWELVE OCLOCK HIGH won well in the maidens over 1450m so will enjoy this trip and can do well with Lerena up albeit off quite a tough  86 merit rating.  7 PRINCESS ILARIA is well drawn and a repeat of her last start could see her go close. (David Thiselton 3-4-7)

RACE 7     

1 FRANCILIEN 7 HONORABLE MEMBER 6 COCOMELON 9 IT’S HER WAY

Preview: 1 FRANCILIEN is in fine form and progressive but does have to overcome a tricky draw in this suitable step up in trip. 7 HONORABLE MEMBER also has good form and is distance suited but has a wide draw. 6 COCOMELON has a good draw and has an easier task than her last two starts. 9 IT’S HER WAY has shown ability and can earn if able to overcome a wide draw. (David Thiselton 1-7-6-9)

RACE 8     

8 SAIL THE SKY 10 WRITTEN IN STONE 1 MIDNIGHT FUSION 7 CALL ME MASTER

Preview: 8 SAIL THE SKY ran well last time and is at home over this trip and well drawn. 10 WRITTEN IN STONE has a fine record under Louis Nhlapo and can earn again or even win albeit from a tricky draw. 1 MIDNIGHT FUSION has the ability to go close from a good draw. 7 CALL ME MASTER has a wide draw but has the form to go close and has Lerena up. (David Thiselton 8-10-1-7)

David Thiselton

Oriental Charm has gone top of the WSB Met ante-post betting market after his eye-catching win in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes, although on paper this means he would have had to have improved considerably since his Hollywoodbets Durban July win.

Meanwhile, the leading female horse in the Met betting, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Red Palace, comes under the hammer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth after racing on Wednesday in order to dissolve a partnership.

Oriental Charm was 5kg better off than weight for age with the topweight See It Again when winning the July and only beat him by 1,80 lengths. 

That is not to mention that he hampered See It Again as well and the latter would have otherwise finished considerably closer.

The Met is run on weight for age terms so it means that Oriental Charm would have needed to have improved by 4kg to 5kg since the July to reverse form with See It Again.

The latter was slightly disappointing in the Betway Summer Cup in the views of most pundits, but jockey Piere Strydom did not see it that way.

He said, “He beat Royal Victory and they sort of ran to form. Always giving away weight when there are young horses coming through is not easy and is not ideal for him. Maybe he will race fresh in the King’s Plate and then go for the Met, where he will be well handicapped (he will be the highest rated horse under weight for age conditions).

See It Again had a nightmare in last year’s Met when odds on favourite.

However, he was not himself in either that race or the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

However, he has since been gelded and the Met will provide an ideal opportunity for him to show how good he is.

Some members of the racing pubic have become a bit tired of him losing as favourite and could well abandon him.

However, they might then be doing it at the wrong time when considering his two Gr 1 victories have both been over 2000m and his only defeats over that trip have been when below par in last year’s Met and when having to give weight away in the Summer Cup.

Oriental Charm is currently a 33/10 shot for the Met and See It Again is 11/2.

The third favourite is Green With Envy, who is under a cloud after finishing tailed off last in Saturday’s WSB Green Point Stakes.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer said, “He was coughing after the race, but pulled up sound. I had four runners on Saturday who coughed after the race and am busy now with lung washes and blood counts.”

If Green With Envy is able to bounce back he will become one of the horses to beat again in the Met considering his impressive win in last season’s Splashout Cape Derby, which he followed with good wins in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas and Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Dave The King also has a cloud over his head following disappointing runs in his last two starts and the Met trip will stretch him.

However, his Mike de Kock-trained three-year-olds stablemates Heather’s Boy and Greaterix are both interesting Met entries. Heather’s Boy is unbeaten in three starts and as a big scopey sort should continue to improve and Greaterix is better than his last run in the Betway Dingaans when finding himself in front, which was unlikely to be ideal.

Snow Pilot has come into his own this season, but odds of 10/1 are too skinny for a horse who has stamina doubts.

Gimme A Prince has never been this far either and is a twice Gr 1 winner over sprint trips so is also a risky play at 16/1.

Red Palace is better value at 16/1 as she has class and will see out the trip. 

Frances Ethel is also a fascinating runner at 25/1 as she is definitely better than her Summer Cup effort, although she will have a harder task at the weights in the Met.

Eight On Eighteen is a highly regarded three-year-old whose 20/1 odds include a doubt he will even line up.

Silver Sanctuary did not scope well after her last place finish in the Summer Cup and could bounce back.

Rascallion can never be ignored as he proved last year when a narrow runner up.

Without Question was third last year and is capable, so his odds of 67/1 look to be fair value.

Meanwhile, Flag Man has been scratched from the Met and will be out for the season as he requires surgery to a fetlock.

David Thiselton

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Winter Course meeting today is headlined by a Class 2 event over 1400m and the Justin Snaith-trained Underworld could be the one to side with.

Grant van Niekerk has been in good form for the Snaith yard and rides Underworld, a scopey four-year-old Querari gelding who has his easiest task for some time. He was up against the like of Snow Pilot and One Stripe last time out over this trip and was not disgraced, finishing 8,50 lengths back, and before that he was beaten 4,70 length by subsequent Matchem Stakes winner Questioning. The last time he ran in this sort of class he finished two successive narrow seconds over this trip behind decent sorts Silver Operator and At My Command. This will be his third run of the season, so he should be cherry ripe, and he has a plum draw of two off a merit rating which has come down from a high of 105 to 99, meaning he carries a nice galloping weight of 55kg. His talented stablemate Get Impressed also has scope for improvement and will be effective over this trip, but is drawn seven of seven and has to carry 58,5kg off a 106 merit rating in his second run of the season. Another stablemate, the Gold Rush winner Rapidash, also has claims over a trip he should enjoy dropping down to and Richard Fourie is aboard this 109-rated galloper, who is racing fit and carries 60kg from draw five. San Pedro was ahead of get Impressed when they last met but the latter probably needed it and San Pedro has to bounce back from a disappointing subsequent run. The talented The Real Prince is a full brother to Gimme A Prince and Gimmie’s Countess and tries a step up in trip in his second run after a layoff. It would be no great surprise if he popped up although the yard is going through a bit of a bleak spell.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Rahhabba ran a cracker second time out over 1250m and the form has worked out very well. She is by Vercingetorix and is a half-sister to Master Of My Fate gelding Greeting My Master, who won the Gr 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, so she will relish this step up to 1600m. Anthony Andrews rides which suggests Diamond Bomber, who has Aldo Domeyer up, is the yard elect. The latter comes off a good second over 1600m from a wide draw and has a middle draw this time. Blossoming Mind has a lot to find on Rahhabba on formlines, but will relish the step up in trip being by Vercingetorix out of Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom and she is drawn well.   

In the fifth race over 1000m Barney McGrew is knocking on the door and remaining on his competitive merit rating of 72 is the one to beat. Fort Red should finish on top of the first choice on formlines and Bluff On Bluff should be competitive off a three point higher merit rating after his win last time at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. William West can do better than last time and Major Apollo should also be respected back at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

In the seventh over 1400m I’m The Buzz is 3kg better off for a 3,60 length beating by Tres Chic and has Richard Fourie up and she has a better draw this time too. She had earlier beaten Tres Chic comfortably on 1kg terms worse terms than here. Tres Chic just failed last time over this trip from a wide draw and  now has plum draw of two off the same merit rating. Black Path has landed pole position and can convert his hard knocking form into another cheque. 

in the eighth over 1800m Bela Vista was only 2,15 lengths behind Scarlet Macaw last time over 1400m and was only receiving 1kg and the latter went on to finish second in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. She is by Gimmethegreenlight out of Dynasty champion Bela-Bela, so should enjoy the step up in trip and Fourie is up, albeit from a tricky draw. However, Grant van Niekerk is aboard Lickety Split, who has won two of her last three over this trip and is only three points higher for her win last time.  

In the last race over 1800m Ardabil enjoyed the step up to this trip last time and can build on that effort. Bombers In The Sky is knocking hard and has a fair draw over an ideal trip.  Wood World was only 1,25 lengths behind Ardabil last time and has a relatively better draw, although the draw is still tricky.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1200m Look Forward was beaten 3,65 lengths when last running in an open maiden and is down by six points in the merit ratings since then after running in Handicaps, so she should be in the shake up. Scottish Kiss ran well against a well regarded sort last time in a maiden, but now has to carry topweight. Golden Ideal wasn’t disgraced in a maiden last time and only has to carry 52.5kg.

In the first leg of the PA Boundless Love was not disgraced in a strong maiden whose form has worked out well and he now carries 56kg against battlers. Tripping Thunder and Masterofthedesert both carry topweight but have reasonable form. 

In the first race over 1000m Heritage Ridge found one better last time and could make amends with Richard Fourie up as she has ability and has now got the hang of it.