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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL CLASSIC@2025.01.28
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R105.000, 12:05GMT+2
Race Summary: UP THE ANTE made a fair local debut when only beaten 2.50 lengths. She can make good improvement with the only worry a wide gate. MAVERICK QUEEN has also shown potential. She can make amends from a decent draw after being beaten as favourite. TIPPERARY finished ahead of UP THE ANTE in her penultimate start and overall is overdue. She could get the race run to suit. DUCHESS OF SEVILLE and JILTED have shown enough to have decent claims. GREEN EXTREME could be the dark horse in her second start.
Selections: #8 Up The Ante, #7 Maverick Queen, #1 Tipperary, #6 Green Extreme
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 2000m, Turf, R120.000, 12:35GMT+2
Race Summary: SANTIAGO’S PRIDE was found to be not striding freely when downfield and had ALAKANANI and LIGHTINTHESTORM ahead of him. He is patently better than that and if bouncing back to best should have every chance in this. BAD MEDICINE holds quite a few on the ‘Serrano’ form line. He wasn’t disgraced on soft ground last time and can open his account. CASUS BELLI also showed he has no problem with the 2000m and has room for improvement so could now go close. THE MERCIFUL and stablemate LIGHTINTHESTORM aren’t without chances either.
Selections: #6 Bad Medicine, #7 Casus Belli, #5 Santiago’s Pride, #2 The Merciful
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R100.000, 13:07GMT+2
Race Summary: Almost all have claims in this lower division heat. FLAG BEARER is in good form and wasn’t disgraced when stepping up to the 2400m last time. It looks the right race for him to add another win to his tally. CREPUSCOLO has run against some decent sorts in the past and looks better than his overall record of one win from 12 starts. He ran a decent race after a rest and can only improve. Watch out for WHISPERS OF WAR whose merit rating has plummeted and has the ability to win well. He has been given the best of the draws. FUTUREWOLFF and VAVA VEGAS should be right there too.
Selections: #3 Crepuscolo, #5 Flag Bearer, #2 Whispers Of War, #7 Futurewolff
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R135.000, 13:40GMT+2
Race Summary: COCOMELON wasn’t beaten far in the Betway Mother Russia Stakes. She is getting better with racing and comes into the race with a light weight so can go close. But CEUTA could dictate matters again and prove hard to catch. She kept on well over 1400m but has also won over this longer distance. MISS HANNIGAN is quite consistent, has won over the distance and at this venue. She could notch up a win over the course and distance now. FROZEN FANTASY wasn’t disgraced over 1800m in a feature race last time. This could be more her cup of tea. AVOONTOAST is another that can be included.
Selections: #6 Cocomelon, #4 Ceuta, #1 Miss Hannigan, #3 Frozen Fantasy
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1600m, Turf, R105.000, 14:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Competitive fillies and mares contest and it could pay to go wide in exotic bets. A PLACE IN THE SUN is capable of a strong finish but may find it short. She has master rider Piere Strydom in the irons. BOOM BOOM got her confidence boosted over a sprint and has shown the versatility to win over this distance as well. PRETTY ANALIA has been knocking at the door and just needs to get the timing right it seems. Watch out for well-bred GIMME PASSION who looks to be getting better with each start. She could enjoy the trip. HONORABLE MEMBER could be in the right race too.
Selections: #9 Honorable Member, #5 Gimme Passion, #10 Pretty Analia, #2 Boom Boom
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1450m, Turf, R120.000, 14:55GMT+2
Race Summary: ROYAL FORCE could be anything after a sparkling debut win. He is headed for the upcoming Classics and if this race doesn’t come too soon, he could pass the test. POTBERRIE showed class when fourth in the Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes but as a result will need to fend them off with top weight. PALACE DANCER, like POTBERRIE, has also impressed as she too is getting stronger with time. The ultra-consistent sort has drawn alongside the promising males and could be tough to fend off. CAN YOU DANSE is bred to enjoy the extra and must be watched.
Selections: #2 Royal Force, #1 Potberrie, #5 Palace Dancer, #4 Can You Danse
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R135.000, 15:30GMT+2
Race Summary: COSMIC QUEEN stepped up on her debut second placing with an impressive win. She is racing after a rest but is no doubt the one to watch. This is a sterner test with it being a MR 94 Handicap. FOREVERINMYDREAMS looked dangerous when only just beaten by NIGHT VIGIL. She could turn it around but the latter was making her local debut and can make further progress. KIA KAHA was returning from a break when not far off in that same contest. She races for a stable in hot form. VIRGINIA BEACH is one of many with a fair money chance.
Selections: #6 Cosmic Queen, #4 Foreverinmydreams, #10 Kia Kaha, #2 Night Vigil
Vaal Classic, 28.01.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 16:10GMT+2
Race Summary: Nice race to end. ILHA DA ORANGE has a rematch with FLIGHT OF A CONDOR. The latter won immediately after the former beat her. Both are improving and it’s anybody’s guess as to which will finish in front this time. But it doesn’t end there. PHANTOM EXPRESS is in good nick and looks ready to notch up her next win. She looks to have drawn well too. QUASIKAT has steady form but room for good improvement. She should appreciate ground on pedigree. FAITHFUL NEO looks a lot better when held up for her dash and could suddenly show up strongly. More in it.
Selections: #7 Phantom Express, #5 Ilha Da Orange, #3 Flight Of A Condor, #4 Quasikat
Best Win: #2 ROYAL FORCE
Best Value Bet: #9 HONORABLE MEMBER
Best Longshot: #9 HONORABLE MEMBER
