VAAL CLASSIC THURSDAY 02 APRIL

COMPUTAFORM: aztabstorage.blob.core.windows.net/tabon.../VAAL@2026.04.02.pdf

Amazingly we find 22 scratchings from 90+ runners (almost 25%) 

Thoughts ... in the last race on Tuesday over 1200 down the straight, Romilly won from draw 2 - but I think this is a different straight on the Classic track and that the draws will favor those to the stand's side ...

R1: Will find out about the draws in the very first, as the de Kock-trained Sosoru (draw 1) is odds-on - I will not take those odds - perhaps the first-timer Steel Spring who is much better drawn will make him run; Scorpio is not the most reliable of runners, but had excuses in most runs, so maybe he can feature with the advantage of 1.5 kgs - he did run at this track 3 starts ago and finished just 0,5 lengths behind Rock Music (and beat subsequent easy winner King Redoute by 4 lengths) 

R2: Again an odss-on shot in Wings of Kildra who again is drawn 1 - same reservations - but maybe Sosoru will romp home in the first and obviously WoK will win, as she is easily on form the best filly in the race - holding Master's Lady, who in turn holds Power of Tiger; I thought that Chericherilady would turn out much better (being by Vercengetorix) - she has made 2 starts in KZN and now has joined the Webber yard and on her best effort in May she ran a short-head behind ML - and also is drawn on the stand's side - so must have a chance at best 

R3: Decimated by scratched runners leaving only 3 to compete - again any of the 3 can win - Gunboat ran a distance behind last week (vet did not detect anything obvious), but on his best run (Computaform Speed Rating 27 - just ran a length behind multiple winner Trail Runner) holds the odds-on favorite and filly Purple Rain (who only recorded a Computaform SR of 7) - and Hat's Mambo ran behind very capable Splittheeights and form shows that he finished just behind Highwayman Harry and Wings of Kildra

R4: Only 6 runners including first-timer Devious Looks and another odds-on favorite; only the formless Memphis looks without a chance (even though she has been rested and has joined another stable, but looks nicely bred); for me I think Without Remorse will not get beat - should improve over the 1450m; biggest danger bar the first-timer imo is Savara's Princess, who ran her best race at this track over 1500m 

R5: Competititve handicap; Jabari Thimba holds Oklahoma Smokeshow - but OS has since improved a lot - at the weights with the allowance looks to be the right one, but all the others rates a chance at best

R6: Another real competitive handicap; even Princess Ilaria as a 6-time winner rates well-weighted

R7: It does not get any easier - at least the top 4 in the betting needs to be considered; also Sheet and Goggles and Far Reaching (drawn wide though) have chances

R8: Grad Plate, but over 1000m the weights imo does not have that a significant impact; still it is open and only Biofarmer on recent from seems held

R9: I believe the first time this year that a 2-yr old gets measured against older and more experienced horses; I do think that the juvenile is well handicapped, but only the race will show; main danger imo is Time for Charity, but most others have chances 

Enjoy 

Got to say some very average riding by some of the jockeys in race 1.

im going to take some evens on without remorse

I see that 240 shows a pre-view of Champions Day - - somebody got their wires mixed up 

GOLDEN OPERATOR

Pirhobeta wrote:

GOLDEN OPERATOR

Good call
 

FAR REACHING... Upset place

Race 8 I fancy lead the charge

ORIENTAL BOUQUET

Kaalvoet winning time very rapid. 1.4 and 1,8 sec faster than race 1 and race. 0.7 outside of course record