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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.01.16
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R120.000, 11:35GMT+2
Race Summary: SPIRITO SELVAGGIO confirmed debut promise with a decent second place finish after a rest. He should come on with the run and could go one better. He does, however, have a wide draw to overcome. LEGENDARY has finished runner-up in his last two and jumping from a plum gate could be hard to catch. Watch out for improvement from recently gelded BLUE CRYSTAL, well-related GUN BARREL and PARABELLUM who should appreciate the drop in distance. SPY STORY, OKLAHOMA TWISTER, and PEAK PREDATOR all have money chances.
Selections:
#7 Spirito Selvaggio, #6 Legendary, #11 Gun Barrel, #10 Parabellum
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R105.000, 12:10GMT+2
Race Summary: MOUNTAIN HIGH can go one better after finishing runner-up in her last three. She was beaten at short odds last time and has been a bit disappointing. LADY BOMBER wasn’t far off in a strong maiden sprint. She could enjoy the extra but needs to overcome a wide gate. GIMME PASSION looked to have every chance but was found to be not striding freely. The well-bred individual could run a better race this time. SUMMER WINTER shows good pace and has the best of the draws. She could get away if allowed to. ASIAH’S TIARA and FLIGHTLIGHT need to be respected as well.
Selections:
#12 Lady Bomber, #3 Mountain High, #11 Gimme Passion, #5 Summer Winter
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R110.000, 12:45GMT+2
Race Summary: TODOQUE won well enough to suggest she has more to come. It could be the right race for her even if taking on males this time. GALLADORN is racing after a break but has decent form and could prefer this track and trip. KOTINOS needed his last run. He has dropped in ratings and could show up well in this type of company. FAST DUTY wasn’t beaten far after a rest last time and has won over the track and trip so must be included in all bets. THERE SHE GOES and OH MY GUCCI GIRL are weighted to have every chance and rate as value propositions.
Selections:
#2 Todoque, #1 Galladorn, #4 Kotinos, #5 Fast Duty
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R120.000, 13:20GMT+2
Race Summary: ORANGE COUNTY took a step up in class and wasn’t disgraced as that was his first run after a rest. Stripping fitter he should make more of a race of it. GUERILLA WARFARE should be right there as he finished ahead of ORANGE COUNTY in that race but he was a tad disappointing in his last start. SOVEREIGNS CALL caught the eye when running on well into second finishing ahead of LETS PLAY POKER who was on a hat trick. He could be on the up now fully matured and must be taken seriously. AMPERSAND won a nice race last time and can follow up. LAUGHING WILLIAM must have a say in this too.
Selections:
#2 Orange County, #8 Sovereigns Call, #4 Lets Play Poker, #1 Ampersand
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1500m, Turf, R200.000, 13:55GMT+2
Race Summary: MAIN DEFENDER didn’t disappoint his followers running out an easy winner and he could do so again even if having drawn widest. He is best weighted. MELECH and BARBARESCO are also high class and both are one from one at this venue. The former had a good prep when third in the Grade 3 New Turf Carriers Merchants and should be ready for a fight. BARBARESCO along with decent fillies GIMME A SHOT and VULCANITE are carded to run prior and those runs must be watched. MERCANTOUR is another useful sort that could be right there at the business end.
Selections:
#1 Main Defender, #3 Melech, #2 Barbaresco, #4 Gimme A Shot
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R100.000, 14:30GMT+2
Race Summary: SILVANO’S SONG has been a bit tough to follow as he has been costly in the past but he won a nice race last time and could confirm. He is meeting a few up and coming sorts. ONE MORE STAR, a beautifully bred son of smashing stallion One World, is coming along the right way. He could be headed for better things. ROBERT BROWNING showed above average ability when winning his penultimate despite things going wrong. He could relish the step up in distance. HAZLO GRANDE has run in some decent contests and could make it tough. GUY ALEXANDER must have a say too.
Selections:
#2 Silvano’s Song, #3 One More Star, #1 Hazlo Grande, #8 Robert Browning
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R90.000, 15:10GMT+2
Race Summary: One of the toughest races on the card and it could pay to go wide in exotics. CALL ME MASTER won better than the margin suggests last time and could follow up. The eight-year-old gelding has drawn wide, however. VAVA VEGAS showed good resolve to win his penultimate but had no finish when dropping in trip last time. He drops in class and should improve. GREAT BARRIER has the best of the draws and could give a good account of herself. KYLIE’S ANGEL is another dropping in merit ratings and she has a 4kg apprentice claim to boot. RED KNOT could come to hand over the shorter trip.
Selections:
#1 Vava Vegas, #2 Call Me Master, #5 Kylie’s Angel, #6 Red Knot
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R150.000, 15:45GMT+2
Race Summary: CYMRIC and SILVER TUDOR are carded to clash in a nice race on 11 January and both are expected to run well there. Those performances must be checked before making a final assessment. CYMRIC is knocking hard at the door but hasn’t drawn as well as SILVER TUDOR who is also at the top of his game. Watch out for BLACK EGRET who was taken to ply his trade in the Western Cape. He could make a successful return to the Highveld. ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES, CIAN THE CONQUEROR, and TSAR BOMBA are capable of putting in bold bids too.
Selections:
#5 Black Egret, #3 Cymric, #1 Silver Tudor, #6 Rollwiththepunches
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R110.000, 16:20GMT+2
Race Summary: HAMMIES HERO didn’t enjoy the 1600m last time. He ran a fair race just prior and back over the sprint could show what he is made of. BOOM BOOM had the best of the draws last time but ran a bit below par. She is holding form, however, and should also be as fit as can be. TAKE YOUR PLACE has run well over the distance and is knocking at the door. She should be right there. SAIL THE SKY ran a much improved race at this venue for a change and needs to be respected along with TIME FOR CHARITY who looks to have upset potential.
Selections:
#3 Hammies Hero, #2 Boom Boom, #4 Take Your Place, #5 Sail The Sky
Vaal Classic, 16.01.2025, Race 10, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R110.000, 16:55GMT+2
Race Summary: Trainer Barend Botes holds a strong hand with his pair NEERAH and MY ONE AND ONLY. Piere Strydom, who rode the latter, is now aboard the former and NEERAH could be hard to beat. MY ONE AND ONLY caught the eye finishing strongly just behind NEERAH rates a huge threat at the weights, however. LONELY AS A CLOUD won in fluent style and is open to good improvement. PHANTOM EXPRESS and PENDRAGON both caught the eye in their recent outings. Many more with earning potential.
Selections:
#6 Neerah, #4 My One And Only, #1 Lonely As A Cloud, #7 Phantom Express
Best Win: #1 MAIN DEFENDER
Best Value Bet: #5 BLACK EGRET
Best Longshot: #5 BLACK EGRET
