David Thiselton
PREVIEW FOR VAAL STRAIGHT COURSE THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4
David Thiselton
The Vaal straight course stages an eight race meeting today, where all races of 1600m and lower are down the straight, and it is a competitive card in which the exotic dividends should be rewarding.
In the first race over 1200m Goddess Of Light was outpaced and green on debut over 1000m in a workriders' event but produced a flying finish to be beaten just half-a-length so will have learnt from the experience and will enjoy the step up in trip. Dancing Dora showed good pace after a slow start on debut over 1160m and is a big runner here too because the time of that race was good and it was a decent field, although the low draw might be against her and she hasn't run for close to three months. Moonstrike ran on well from a good draw over the Turffontein Inside 1200m last time to finish a 1,75 length second and although it was an uninspiring field the rest of the field were spread out like the washing so it was not a bad performance. First-timer Five Fortunes is by Master Of My Fate and is a half-sister to Temp The Tiger, who won on debut in the strong centre of Cape Town at Kenilworth over 1000m although he failed to win another race. First-timer Full Royalty is by Louis The King out of a twice-winning Horse Chestnut mare over 1600m.
In the second race over 1200m Castle Of Glass is by Querari out of the smart Grade 2-winning Count Dubois sprinter Fairyinthewoods and he is a half-brother to three-time winning sprinter Lighthearted, so can improve on his debut when slowly away and staying on over 1000m. General Hancock showed some pace and stayed on over this trip from a good draw on the Vaal Classic track last time and has a chance in this uninspiring field. Fire Lord showed pace on debut before fading back in February when well beaten by Coming In Hot but being by Silvano and a half-brother to Grade 1-winning sprinter Guiness he should have strengthened and certainly has plenty of scope for improvement so should be included. Coming In Hot has never missed a cheque in eleven starts from 1000m to 1450m and should also be in the shake up. Obelix At Sea is by Vercingetorix and is out of seven-time winner from 1600m to 2400m Salwater Girl, who was Grade 2 placed.
In the third race over 1000m Seemyvision blitzed the field last time over this trip showing tremendous pace from the off and maintaining it to win by a comfortable 2,10 lengths. The form has been franked so she can follow up despite an eight point raise. Slalom Queen showed promise early in her career and could be a threat returning fresh from a layoff. Captain's Run was not disgraced last time when beaten four lengths by the promising speedster Lucy English and she could also be a threat. Muleta also has plenty of pace and could be involved. All Of Me and Desert Pride have been disappointing in their most recent starts but are certainly capable.
The fourth race over 1000m is ultra competitive and the suggestion is to go as wide as possible. On Cue could be the one to beat being ultra consistent and with a 4kg claimer up over an ideal trip. Waya Yire has shown promise and representing the flying Mike de Kock yard could also go close. Hear The Trumpet, Zodiac Princess, Alabama Anna, Verinova and Princess Queen make most appeal of the rest.
In the next race, a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m, Caralluma makes her reappearance. She was highly regarded from day one in the Sean Tarry yard and seemed to be backing it up when winning her first two starts in dominating fashion. Some might have considered her to have gone off the boil thereafter but she was facing top class opposition. This race will be her easiest task by a long way since those two wins so she could make a winning comeback over an ideal trip. Her low draw might be a bit of a concern. Lemon Delight, who is officially the best weighted runner here, reached a merit rating of 104 in the strong centre of Cape Town and could also be a contender following a layoff. The improving Top Drawer is drawn high and could pick up the pieces if the top two fail.
The sixth is a Graduation Plate over 1400m and Majestic Mozart, who was always just off the best in Cape Town, could score an overdue win as he is extremely well in at the weights and is distance suited. He comes off a decent fourth in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes over this trip. Rock The Globe has a win and a second in two starts over course and distance and has some class. Balouchi is promising and has scope for improvement and could be a threat in his third run after a layoff although he did not run all the way to the line over this trip last time and will need improvement on that run.
The seventh over 1600m is wide open and the field should be considered for the Pick 6 and Jackpots considering there are only seven runners. Fifth Of July has a high draw and is distance suited so should make a bold bid. Purple Panther impressed last time with his strong finish from off the pace so might be coming into his own now as one who always looked promising. However, he does have a three point raise and the potentially tricky number one draw to contend with. Theory Of Flight was almost brought down last time when finishing behind Ivalo's prince and had been caught wide in the running earlier on too, so a line can be drawn through that run and he is an interesting runner. Ivalo's Prince has honest form and will be thereabouts. Category Four has plenty of ability and can never be written off. Nordic Rebel and Ushuaia are also not out of it.
The last race over 1600m offers no respite as it is also wide open. Waqaas loves this course and distance but has to overcome a six point raise for his win over 1500m last time and even then is still 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner under the Classified Stakes conditions, although he does have a nice draw of nine. After Hours has the ability to be in the shake up but has a lot to do to reverse form with Waqaas. English Primrose can do better than in her handicap debut and is officially the best weighted runner. Big City Girl was not disgraced in her only try at this trip and she is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted runner. Global Approach brings some fair Cape Town form. Grand Escape had some fair form in Cape Town too and should have come on from his Highveld debut. Sergei lost to a promising sort last time over this trip but has to contend with the number one draw and is 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner.
Picture: CARALLUMA
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