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South Africa Express Form – 19 December
RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2024.12.19
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 1, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R120.000, 12:15GMT+2
Race Summary: SPY STORY went close over a similar trip last time and he needn’t improve much to open his account. KING OF QUEEN has the form and experience to fight out the finish but his 167-day absence after relocating from the Eastern Cape is a concern. DANUBE and PRIMAL QUEST are open to improvement so could get into the picture, though a bigger threat could come from newcomer STATUS who won’t have to be special to make his presence felt on debut. Watch the betting!
Selections:
#3 Spy Story, #10 Status, #1 King Of Queen, #6 Blue Crystal
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 2, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R105.000, 12:50GMT+2
Race Summary: MOUNTAIN HIGH has improved as a 3yo to finish 2nd in both starts this term, so she wouldn’t be winning out of turn. KALIKAA, SHES EVERYTHING and LUNAR RAINBOW have shown enough to pose a threat and they should acquit themselves competitively. RED SPARROW and LIKE A PRAYER are others to consider.
Selections:
#5 Mountain High, #1 Kalikaa, #8 Lunar Rainbow, #6 Shes Everything
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 3, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R135.000, 13:25GMT+2
Race Summary: Progressive HAPPY MO ran on to edge out DOITWITHDIAMONDS (2kg better off) in a similar contest last month and could make sufficient improvement to confirm her superiority, despite the weight turnaround. Familiar foes ELEMBEE and QUANTUM are weighted to get closer but have less scope to improve than their younger rivals. MISS HANNIGAN, back against female-only opposition, class-dropper JULIET TANGO, as well as unexposed fillies QUEEN OF LOVE and KISSING MACHINE ought to make their presence felt too.
Selections:
#2 Happy Mo, #4 Doitwithdiamonds, #5 Elembee, #6 Queen Of Love
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R105.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: PLAY WITH FIRE is carded to run at an earlier meeting so her participation must be monitored. She is competitive at this level off her current mark and should play a leading role if taking her place in the lineup. Last-start winner TRIED AND TRUE and runner-up PRETTY ANALIA (3.5kg better off) also have legitimate winning chances. GREAT BARRIER sparked improvement last time with blinkers fitted and she should have a say in the outcome with the headgear retained.
Selections:
#5 Play With Fire, #2 Tried And True, #8 Pretty Analia, #7 Great Barrier
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R120.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: GUERILLA WARFARE finished behind PEACE TREATY over 1400m earlier this month but is 2kg better off with that rival on these revised terms. However, the latter is relatively unexposed and he needn’t improve a great deal to uphold that form. Fellow lightly raced 3yo gelding ON TARGET and returning ORANGE COUNTY are also open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip, so they aren’t taken lightly. Hard-knocker PRINCEOFGREEN has the form, fitness and experience to play a role in the outcome.
Selections:
#5 Peace Treaty, #6 Guerilla Warfare, #1 Princeofgreen, #7 On Target
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R90.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Open. BLACK LIGHTNING took advantage of a drop in the ratings to finish a close-up 2nd over 1700m last time but carries a 2-point penalty for his efforts. SILENT TRIGGER finished 2 lengths adrift but is 1kg better off in his peak outing and this extended trip could be more to his liking. FUTUREWOLFF is closely matched on that form, as is slow-starter CALLABURN who need only jump on terms to play a leading role at the finish. Hard-knockers FLAG BEARER, FULL GO and CARNELO are in good form and will likely make their presence felt too.
Selections:
#3 Silent Trigger, #4 Black Lightning, #5 Flag Bearer, #7 Callaburn
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 7, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R150.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: Good race. Progressive last-start winners BACCHUS and WILD INTENT have had the form of their victories franked by subsequent winners from those respective races. Both improving 3yo geldings should have more to offer stepping up to this distance but the latter is slightly preferred as he gets 2kg from his contemporary. HAWKBILL, MAJESTIC PALACE and BIRTHRIGHT are other last-start scorers who should remain competitive, despite resultant penalties. IMPERIAL MASTER, TWO MILES WEST and SUPREME DANCE can fight out the minors.
Selections:
#10 Wild Intent, #7 Bacchus, #4 Hawkbill, #8 Birthright
Vaal Classic, 19.12.2024, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R125.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES and BOB’S YOUR UNCLE are closely matched on the form of a 1200m meeting on the straight course at this venue. The former is weighted to avenge that narrow defeat but it could pay to side with the latter whose record on the Classic track is encouraging and augers well for his chances. COMING IN HOT and THE NAVY LARK are consistent performers with solid form credentials, and they should acquit themselves competitively once more. Improving last-start maiden winner MONTANA LIGHTS shouldn’t be underestimated from an inside gate with just 53.5kg on her back.
Selections:
#2 Bob’s Your Uncle, #1 Rollwiththepunches, #8 Montana Lights, #5 Coming In Hot
Best Win: #5 MOUNTAIN HIGH
Best Value Bet: #3 SILENT TRIGGER
Best Longshot: #3 SILENT TRIGGER
