VAAL SAND - Thursday 6th JUNE

Speed ratings for main contenders with previous Vaal Sand form –

R1 MDN-F 1000m
68…Favourite Daughter
67…Copper Gaia
61…For Your Eyes Only
??…Apple Tart
??…Tell My Star
The dam Apple Fair has produced some useful sand performers in the past and Apple Tart appeals here in this very moderate field. Favourite Daughter has been consistent enough on sand to be the confident banker in quartets. Dare I say anything about Mrs.Pip…know nothing! (except full sister has run 4 good races over VS 1000m).

R2 MR84F 1800m
96…Shattered Image
95…Rivulet
94…Lucky Hand
87…Elegant Bay
85… Aloha Bay
Tricky race with fluctuating recent form for most of the contestants.
Shattered Image has been very consistent over the last few years and is the selection here in spite of disappointing lto. Rivulet’s win in the Queen o/t Sand was incredible yet I think tactics/pace set it up and doubtful that it will apply again today. Respect STP runners on the sand yet difficult to assess…guess Lucky Hand is the one.

R3 MDN 1800m
81…Sir Swarovski
76…Perfect Vision
74…Atlas Grove
72…Noble Wind
59…Lead by Approval
58…Giro Jet
??…Greystone
Sir Swarovski is looking the PA banker and probably ‘value’ as many may find Greystone attractive. Perfection Vision and Atlas Grove improved lto and repeat performances should see them feature again here ( think the African Flame form line is superior to that of Cockney Tiger).

R4 MDN-F 1450
??…Water Bird
75…Cerise Silk
72…Shirla
61…Inn on the Square
30…Razzmatazz
MGA runners always interesting on the sand, especially in a weak field.
Although Cerise Silk ran her best race lto think Shirla could be a better proposition in the PA. Think the Melli Mou form line of 4th April is solid and possibly Razzmatazz can get into the quartet.

R5 MR63F 1450m
90…Olympic Spring
80…Perfect Winter
80…Lady Julia
79…Spiritofamphitrite
75…Set to Strike
75…Miravar
75…Dying Thunder
75…Sucha Wonder
Whilst Olympic Spring has all the credentials to do well again here the race has ‘upset’ written all over it! Think Lady Julia was flattered in her last race.
Leaning towards Set to Strike and expect some good ‘value’ in the betting markets.

R6 MR80 1450m
92…Authenticated
90…Sermon
88…Rockingandrolling
85…National Road
84…Decameron
84…Senechal
??…Selborne Supremacy
??…Panjo
Another tricky race with chances to many!
Think Sermon can feature here, yet cannot leave out the MGA and SGT couplings in the P6, (even though SGT has been very disappointing with his sand runners the last 3 meetings). Authenticated has shown good recent form and is an obvious contender.

R7 MR82F 1200m
96…Georgia on my Mind
92…Dalalaat
91…To Remember
90…Delta Lioness
86…Cante Libre
86…Mexican Glory
86…Hotel Royale
Taking a chance and throwing out those drawn above 7 (at least in P6+JP)…bye bye Georgia on my Mind, Amazing Grace and Cante Libre.
Hello Dalalaat and Delta Lioness. Have previously expressed feelings that Mexican Glory can make it back into the winners box…showed ‘sign of life’ lto.

R8 MR67F 1200m
86…Velvet Jar
85…Melli Mou
84…Weekend Special
83…Beautiful Dawn
83…Hard to Resist
79…Kailani
74…Tacit Tiger
??…Hlatikulu
Shapes up as the most open race of the day.
Throwing out those drawn above 7 again…except Melli Mou because the form looks strong and STP/MvR often do well from poor draws. Bye bye Velvet Jar, Beatiful Dawn and Hard to Resist. Weekend Special and Kailani are legitimate contenders and Ask Me shall be included in some bets (stated on 9th May as well as Bareback-ouch!).

Interesting for me to get it out before the betting!

Well done buddy.
Thanks!

Top work as ever THH, thanks for passing on the "fruits" of your labours yet again, much appreciated (tu)

Thanks again thh

Ta THH much appreci8d

Got a spare 10 minutes? Then I'll begin... some tough races to try and decipher and won't be surprised if my selections are way off the mark, but where there's life... - Slightly different "style" of writing today and have not let THH influence me (yet ) <

R1 Tell My Star... decent sand sire and trainer, is likely to take to the surface and has a chance. Favourite Daughter... runs consistently but unfortunately always seems to be a few lengths short of good enough. 50% top 3 record on course, 66% c and d. Shreya's Angel... by Mogok. From debut sand run the 2nd, 3rd and 4th have all subsequently won, SA was 6 lengths behind the 4th though. The 6th, For Your Eyes Only (0.25l back) has run 3rd since, 1.25l behind Copper Gaia on the latter's sand debut. FYEO... the horse mentioned above, is now 1.5kgs better off with both SA and CG, only one top 3 finish in 8 course visits. Sky Chase... if takes to the sand, and there is a little in the breeding to suggest he might, could surprise at a huge price but a history of slow starts. Apple Tart... first timer, another from the SJG yard and breeding suggests he might like the surface. Mrs Pip... debut runner from inform Louis G yard. Patrone... sand debutant from inform Kenny yard and received a little market support over this distance last run. The remainder... no obvious reason to me why they should not be "also rans". Selection... Tell My Star x Fav Daughter x Copper Gaia or Sky Brave

R2 Shattered Image... rarely runs a bad race, she has 3 wins in a total of 10/17 top 3 course finishes. Tries trip for the first time. Did finish 2.5l infront of Rivulet (now 2.5kgs worse off) in March over 1600 (Top Talent race) but last time out over the same distance was beaten over 3l by Rivulet. The latter, who now also gets the 1 box, has two wins in a 5/6 top 3 course record, is 4/6 top 3 at the distance and is yet to be out of the top 3 in 3 c and d runs. Pintari, ran at Bingo again on Monday where previously won by 12l on sand debut. Course debut today but running consistently well recently and has one gold and two silvers from 3 distance runs, represents the strong Spies/Chambers combination. Forward Cover, course debut and second run after a 21 week rest, represents the GVZ stable and if takes to the surface should be thereabouts. Was over 3l behind Pintari on last turf run but should have come on for the run. Lucky Hand... last two runs were poor including when finishing behind SI, Aloha Bay and Elegant Bay last time over 1450, but won only other course visit by 12 lengths and has a win and a third in 3 distance runs. EB ran close to SI and AB last time out when returning from a rest and may improve for the run if not suffering 2nd run after a rest syndrome, previously won course debut (1450 maiden) by over 4ls and the 2nd, 3rd,5th, 6th and 9th have all won a race since but is unplaced in 2 distance attempts. AB, last run documented and has been well beaten last 3 occasions over this distance or further. Selection... Rivulet x Shattered Image x Forward Cover

R3 Greystone... could well win but, although trained by de Kock, there is nothing that says he will take to the course, has a wide draw and is short-priced, not for me. Giro Jet... failed to perform on his only visit to the course and although possibly slow away that day and the trainer form good, there is no real evidence to suggest there will be a big improvement. Sir Swarovski... although seemingly not the strongest of fields, SS ran second on his sand debut over 1450 from a poor draw and if staying the distance should be thereabouts but, again, the draw could be better. Maybe Baby... has one silver and 6 bronze in 17 course visits but recent form very poor and will need considerable improvement to feature. Noble Wind... has one bronze in 5 visits but has run decently on the surface on occasion and given the poor nature of the field must have something of a chance from a good draw. Nothing else really has any obvious appeal for me but I would not be surprised if one comes out and runs far beyond expectations and takes the spoils. Selection... Sir Swarovski x Noble Wind x Greystone

R4 Cerise Silk... is 3/4 for top 3 finishes over c and d and from an ok draw has a chance. Shirla... seemed to improve on sand debut last time out, inform appie takes weight off again and has had some market support in recent runs. Not drawn well but another who must have a chance. Razzmatazz... shown little including on course debut (1000) but being by Spectrum could improve over more ground from a good draw at a big price. Water Bird... inform Azzie/Fradd combine and could well win but again the price is too short for me to be interested. Selection... Cerise Silk x Shirla x Razzmatazz

R5 Lady Julia... has a win and a third from 2 c and d runs but is drawn very wide here and may struggle to get position. Perfect Winter... has 3 top 3 finishes in 9 course visits but form on the sand has not been inspiring of late and can be slowly away. That said, it was possibly the wrong decision to remove the blinkers last time and has a decent draw here which has not always been the case recently. Olympic Spring... last two have been decent and this is third run after a rest. Draw is not good but has won from poor draws previously. Spiritofamphritite... has 3 thirds in 5 course runs but no places in 4 distance runs, poor draw. Burning Embers... if coming on from the last run and not suffering 2nd run after a rest then possibly has a chance at a big price. Drawn well in 3, and has 3 3rds in 5 course runs, including one at the distance which may suit him best. Dying Thunder... a fair effort to run 5th beaten 3ls from a poor draw on sand debut last time out over 1200 but is drawn badly again. Miravar... represents the Azzie/Fradd combination from an ok draw and recent turf runs have been good but too short in the market for me for a horse that has one silver in 4 course runs and has not won at the distance though placed 4/6. Some of the others have course form in their past and a big shock would not be a major surprise. Selection... Olympic Spring x Perfect Winter x Lady Julia

R6 National Road... third on only course attempt over 1000 but is 0/4 top 3 at the distance and does tend to weaken and shoulders a big mass. Selbourne Supremacy... good chance on breeding of enjoying the sand and ran a decent third first time over the distance last time out. Has a big mass but well drawn and Striker rides. Seneschal... ran second on debut over this c and d and has been consistent on the turf since. Not the best draw but won with this jockey last time and has a good chance. Decameron... Azzie/Fradd, well drawn and some ok turf form but was soundly beaten only course attempt and would need to do better on the surface before I would support. Rockingandrolling... 4 course wins in 19 runs but none at the distance and recent form not the best. Sermon... has a 4-1-2 c and d record in 18 runs but another whose recent form has perhaps not seen him at his best. Authenticated... 2nd run after a rest but if that is not an issue then not without a chance. 3rd twice in 3 c and d runs and has a decent draw. Panjo... seemingly well bred for the surface and thus must have a chance, especially with the appie taking weight off but drawn badly. Ligeti... breeding suggests he may take to the surface, if he does then with a very light weight and a good draw he could well be thereabouts at a decent price. Selection... Selbourne Supremacy x Seneschal x Ligeti

R7 Amazing Grace... was in a competitive line up when beaten just under 6ls on her only sand run over 1000. Has won last twice on second run after a 10 week or longer break and has a chance but not the best of draws. Dalalaat... has a win and two bronze from 5 course visits, 1-0-1 at c and d, running from poll with PS up must have a chance. Mexican Glory... has 3 wins and 3 seconds from 19 course runs but only one silver in 9 distance runs, seems inconsistent and is not one I would chance unless a huge price becomes available. Hotel Royale... one third in 8 c and d runs and from a wide draw, not for me. Cante Libre... 2 wins in 7 c and d runs but has not seemed in the best of form recently, looks held by Georgia On My Mind and runs from a wide draw. To Remember... a win and second in 5 c and d runs but another who does not seem to be in the best form of late. Georgia OMM... 5 top 3 finishes in 7 course runs with a 1st, 2nd and 4th in 3 c and d runs. Consistent form and must still have a chance despite a poor draw. Stamford Bridge... good draw and low weight and could surprise but form since rest has been poor, dreadful name too! Delta Lioness... 1st and 3rd in 5 c and d runs and beaten 1.5ls by GOMM last time out. Only 0.5kgs better off but importantly goes from the 12 box to the 2 box while GOMM goes from 4 to 9. Some conflicting formlines also involved but possibly best to stay with those with good runs in recent times... selection... Delta Lioness x Dalalaat x GOMM

R8 Hard To Resist... two good runs over this c and d, 5th beaten under 4ls when returning from an 11 week break and then, following 2 poor efforts over further, returned to win well from a poor draw last time out and same appie is on again, trainer in very good form and though goes from a similar draw today, must have a big chance. Tacit Tiger... a first and second from only 2 course runs both over this distance must give her a chance but coming out the maidens and is drawn badly. Udomo... breeding suggests she may improve on her first sand effort but will be difficult today from a poor draw following a 14 week rest. Melli Mou... two good runs, winning maiden last time out here over 1000 but another who may find it tough coming out of the maidens from a poor draw. Velvet Jar... won over c and d last time but poor draw and not convinced that form is strong. Ask Me... poor recent form (over further) but does have 3 silvers in 6 c and d runs and at a big price she could be be worth a nibble from an ok draw. Beautiful Dawn... poor draw and no obvious reason why she should reverse form with VJ. Feel the Surge... decent draw and 3rd run after a rest but well beaten on only sand run over 1000. Weekend Special... has the 1 box and likely to reverse form with VJ with the change in draws. Also has a decent draw change on the form with HTR behind Zephyr Breeze in Feb but HTR was coming off a break and finished 4.5ls ahead with no change to the weights. Summer Sari... overall record of 1-1-1 in 5 c and d runs but seemingly very poor of late... a sudden return to form could see some furious punters! Kailani... another potential joker, seemingly well held by a few from the VJ race but was drawn 12 that day on sand debut and is drawn 2 today, breeding also suggests that she could be a sand performer. Selection... Hard To Resist x Ask Me x Kailani

Be(s)t of luck to all (tu)

10 mins my arse English .... Cheers

Not often that I say this on sand racing ..................but I really don't like this card At a push I'd go for an each way treble Cerise Silk on to Dalalaat on to Hard To Resist

Have a feeling the form may be a bit suspect t'morrow.........but"patterns" suggest that the Matchett stable may well have positioned themselves to take home a fair share of the stakes.................I will include in all exotics throughout the card!

Everytime I read these posts on this site I am astounded how much work goes into them..this has to be the best racing site on the planet

Agreed Oscar this guys don't fark around

I was about to say the same thing Oscar. Why would you ever want to pay for tips when you can read the learned opinions of so many on here???

The only thing we need now is a rep in each province to go speak to the trainers....then we are in the pound seats.

PS: Don't forget to ask about vaccinations and AHS injections

But for now, David T is doing a GREAT job!!!