RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2024.12.05
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: It could pay to watch the first-timers in the opening race of the day. All are well-bred but SPUMANTE DOLCE and GIMME PASSION could be the ones over this distance. WARNING SOUND was well-beaten on debut but she showed inexperience and can only improve. She is also well-related. THE MIGHTIEST was drawn wide in her first try round a bend last time. She hasn’t done badly and should be up there. KALIKAA is holding form and could be ready to turn in her career best performance. More with earning potential in it.
Selections:
#17 Warning Sound, #15 Spumante Dolce, #16 The Mightiest, #13 Gimme Passion
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R120.000, 13:10GMT+2
Race Summary: PIBE DE ORO has high class form having met some of the best around. He is overdue and should prefer the longer distance having matured. SATYAGRAHA ran a fair race on debut. He is also well-bred being by One World and he has drawn alongside PIBE DE ORO so it should be a great race. CHABAL was beaten as favourite in his last start but is still learning. He won’t be far off. GREEN CHERRY found 1000m a bit short on debut. He is a Gimmethegreenlight/Tiger Ridge cross and could make big improvement. More first-timers to consider.
Selections:
#4 Pibe De Oro, #18 Satyagraha, #11 Chabal, #14 Green Cherry
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R105.000, 13:45GMT+2
Race Summary: GLORIA MUNDI had CITY LIGHTS, REGINA MARIS and QUELLO CHE beat last time and could confirm. She has improved of late and could open her account. RISING RUSSIAN has been plagued with wide draws and is quite unlucky. If she gets luck in running she could be dangerous. EMPRESS WU has been steadily getting better with racing. She could get into the fight this time. CITY LIGHTS has had her chances but needs to be considered as she could get it right at any time. AFTERSHOCK has only had two starts and could show if seeing out the distance.
Selections:
#3 Gloria Mundi, #5 Rising Russian, #7 Empress Wu, #10 Aftershock
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R90.000, 14:20GMT+2
Race Summary: VAVA VEGAS only just failed over this distance a few starts back. He is holding form and may get a chance if the race is run to suit. FUTUREWOLFF hasn’t been too convincing but he has a 2,5kg apprentice claim as well as gate one and could get his confidence boosted. Watch out for UNDER THE RAINBOW who suddenly won in good style. He could be on the up and may make a successful handicap debut. CREPUSCOLO has run well in some strong races and is not one to take lightly even if racing after a fair break. SILENT TRIGGER improved again last time and could confirm.
Selections:
#5 Vava Vegas, #1 Futurewolff, #8 Under The Rainbow, #2 Crepuscolo
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R100.000, 14:53GMT+2
Race Summary: PEACE TREATY showed potential earlier and caught the eye over shorter after a rest. He could have a lot more to come. The same can be said for MUTARAZI who races for a stable in good form. He is also lightly raced and has wins to come. BAY EMPIRE, stablemate to PEACE TREATY, needs to be watched. He has also shown potential. KEY NEWS could be in the money with a bit of improvement. CALIDA is holding form well and would be deserving but along with GUERILLA WARFARE he needs to find more at the business end.
Selections:
#8 Peace Treaty, #3 Bay Empire, #9 Mutarazi, #2 Key News
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1475m, Turf, R160.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: A great prep race for the upcoming WSB Grand Heritage. Most have decent form and it looks a race to go wide in terms of the exotics. POMODORO’S JET ran a promising race on local debut and could make the required improvement. Another horse from the Western Cape, RADICCHIO, has sparkling form and he could be anything. JURY’S OUT wasn’t far off in a good race last time and had THE AFRICA HOUSE behind him so looks a big threat. THE AFRICA HOUSE was only beaten a neck in his next start and could turn the form around. WYZEACT, CAPTAINOFTHEGREEN and ARGO ALLEY must be considered.
Selections:
#2 Pomodoro’s Jet, #9 Radicchio, #6 Jury’s Out, #5 The Africa House
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R150.000, 16:07GMT+2
Race Summary: RAVEN BLACK is back. He was impressive in his last three and could make it to the top as he is lightly raced. But he is racing after a layoff and dropping slightly in distance. CHOCOLATE SOLDIER wasn’t disgraced in his comeback and stripping fitter could have every chance. KARANGETANG is in top form and is another that can’t be taken lightly. He did well after stumbling at the start and could have better luck this time. ADDRESS THE NATION is up in class and could be on the up. SWING UPON A STAR won’t be far off again.
Selections:
#2 Chocolate Soldier, #4 Raven Black, #3 Karangetang, #8 Address The Nation
Vaal, 05.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 16:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Trainer Fabian Habib has his string in hot form and he holds a strong hand. JOHN WICK has won two of his last three and the way he won his last suggests he could be ready for another fight. Stablemate BLAZE AWAY is a Gimmethegreenlight gelding with more to come. He wasn’t far off Karate Kid who was impressive recently. VELDSKOEN caught the eye with a decent run after a rest and can build on that and get closer. JOHNNY APPLESEED is very quick but needs to find more of a finish. TCHAIKOVSKY could be a threat back over his best distance.
Selections:
#4 Blaze A Way, #1 John Wick, #6 Veldskoen, #7 Johnny Appleseed
Best Win: #4 PIBE DE ORO
Best Value Bet: #2 POMODORO’S JET
Best Longshot: #2 POMODORO’S JET
