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RACE BY RACE PREVIEWS: VAAL@2025.04.15
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 1, Gallops, 1700m, Turf, R130.000, 11:45GMT+2
Race Summary: IDEAL SUMMER had several re-opposing rivals well behind when finishing 2nd over 1600m last month and needn’t improve much – if at all – over this extended trip to open his account. Fillies BOLD ACTION and ETHICAL are others likely to improve for this sterner test of stamina and could make life difficult for the selection from whom they receive a 3kg sex allowance.
Selections: #3 Ideal Summer, #5 Ethical, #4 Bold Action, #8 Lady Noir
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 2, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R120.000, 12:20GMT+2
Race Summary: INSPECTOR JAMES and ALESIAN BEAU appeal most of the raced runners and should play leading roles if building on improved recent performances. MISS TAKES, PANNING SILVER and SYLVAN WARRIOR have earning potential too, though a bigger threat to the principals will likely come from newcomers FORCE PUBLIQUE and stablemate WOENSDAG KOERANT – riding arrangements suggest the latter is preferred.
Selections: #1 Inspector James, #12 Woensdag Koerant, #2 Alesian Beau, #9 Force Publique
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 3, Gallops, 1000m, Turf, R105.000, 12:55GMT+2
Race Summary: DESERT CLOUD would not be winning out of turn and with improvement expected after a much-needed comeback outing, gets the nod ahead of likely improvers QUIET WINTER, CAPTAIN SELVIE and EIGHT HATS. Those 2yo rivals would have come on appreciably from encouraging introductory outings and also receive 3kg from the selection.
Selections: #1 Desert Cloud, #10 Quiet Winter, #8 Captain Selvie, #9 Eight Hats
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 4, Gallops, 1200m, Turf, R200.000, 13:30GMT+2
Race Summary: Best-weighted COUSIN CASEY is a versatile, high-class performer but returns from a lengthy layoff and is untried over this distance. READY TO CHARGE is also weighted to be competitive but best watched for now on his reappearance from a 227-day absence. QUANTUM THEORY and PASSAGE OF POWER are fit and in good form, so they should play leading roles. Distance-suited DANTONFROMSANDTON ought to make his presence felt too.
Selections: #3 Quantum Theory, #1 Cousin Casey, #6 Passage Of Power, #5 Dantonfromsandton
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 5, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R120.000, 14:05GMT+2
Race Summary: GIFT OF ROYAL, BLURRED VISION and filly LUNAR RAINBOW all have the form and experience to acquit themselves competitively but vulnerable to unexposed likely improvers. FUTURE KING and INCLUSION fit that profile and should progress over this extended trip. The latter fared better in a recent 1400m meeting between the pair but is 2.5kg worse off. BRIGHAM is another open to improvement stretching out to this distance with first-time blinkers fitted.
Selections: #8 Future King, #9 Inclusion, #1 Gift Of Royal, #3 Brigham
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 6, Gallops, 1800m, Turf, R150.000, 14:40GMT+2
Race Summary: Minefield – include as many as the budget allows in exotic bets. LA MOOHAL and stablemate FLASHY APACHE make half of a competitive 4-pronged attack for Tyrone Zackey and both will be competitive on the evidence of recent performances. Last-start winners KING’S EXPRESS, PLAYER and KUDZU ought to remain competitive too under resultant penalties. STAR COIN, TWO MILES WEST, top-weight MASTER CHRISTMAS and the latter’s stablemate, course specialist TOTAL SURRENDER, are others with genuine winning chances. However, it could pay to side with MOUNT DRAWIN after an eye-catching (fast-finishing) return.
Selections: #13 Mount Darwin, #15 Total Surrender, #2 La Moohal, #6 King’s Express
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 7, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R135.000, 15:15GMT+2
Race Summary: Maturing SONIC JET is unbeaten over this track and trip so a 4-point penalty for her last-start success may not be enough to prevent her from winning again. Fellow 3yo filly DESTINY OF FIRE is improving and likely to pose a threat in receipt of 2.5kg. POINTER acquitted herself well in a similar contest last time and should have a role to play on the evidence of that performance. Returning SCARS OF WAR is dangerous to discount.
Selections: #5 Sonic Jet, #9 Destiny Of Fire, #7 Pointer, #10 Scars Of War
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 8, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 15:50GMT+2
Race Summary: BLIND AMBITION was outrun late when 2nd over 1600m on her handicap debut, conceding 6kg to the winner. She will appreciate this shorter trip and could resume winning ways off a 3-point higher mark. Class-dropper MOUNTAIN HIGH and fellow 3yo ROAMING SPIRIT fit a similar profile and should have more to offer over this distance. SHEETS AND GOGGLES made no impression over a shorter trip but has the means to make her presence felt at this distance over which she won her maiden. LAST CAR TO PASS and STORMY SUNDAY are others open to improvement after respective absences so aren’t taken lightly.
Selections: #1 Blind Ambition, #2 Mountain High, #6 Roaming Spirit, #10 Sheets And Goggles
Vaal, 15.04.2025, Race 9, Gallops, 1400m, Turf, R105.000, 16:25GMT+2
Race Summary: PEARL IN HER CROWN improved to finish a game-in-defeat 3rd over 1800m in her second start after a layoff and on the evidence of that performance and frontrunning style, this shorter trip off a 2-point lower mark in her peak outing should suit. Familiar foe SIGRID SWING is closely matched on the form of their meeting in a race won by Hierkommiebokkie earlier this year, so that rival should have a role to play. Unexposed SAIGON SUZIE, improving last-start winner TANA MAREE, hard-knockers MOCHA MACAROON and hat-trick seeking PRINCESS ILARIA, as well as BOOM BOOM, are also capable of having a say.
Selections: #5 Pearl In Her Crown, #7 Sigrid Swing, #8 Saigon Suzie, #10 Mocha Macaroon
Best Win: #3 IDEAL SUMMER
Best Value Bet: #13 MOUNT DARWIN
Best Longshot: #13 MOUNT DARWIN
