VAAL sand Saturday 29/8/15

The R250,000 G3 August Stakes over 1200m to be run on the Vaal sand this
Saturday 29 August has attracted a strong field and will be the highlight
of a day which also features the innovative “Racing To Jump” initiative, a
show jumping competition contested by 90 horses, many of them ex/retired
race horses. So the Vaal is the place to be for sports horse lovers on
Saturday, many of whom will have the hugely successful debut of “Racing To
Jump” at Turffontein in May fresh in their memories. Lovers of mechanical
horse-power will also be catered for, because BMW Vaalridge Auto will be
showcasing a range of their top vehicles on course. Culinary desires will
be met by a Food Market, while a Craft Market will also add to the fun and
festivities of the day.

The August Stakes forms the second leg of the Super Supreme Series. The
first leg, the Non-Black Type R135,000 World Sports Betting Sprint over
1000m at Flamingo Park, was run on August 8 having been postponed from
August 1 and was won by the Louis Goosen-trained Varbration. The final leg
is the Gr 2 R1 million Supreme Cup sponsored by SAP and to be run over
1450m on September 26.
The R500,000 bonus to be paid by World Sports Betting to any horse that
could win all three legs of the Super Supreme Series will not be won this
year because Varbration has been scratched from the August Stakes. However,
World Sports Betting have consequently put up a R100,000 bonus for any
horse who can win both of the remaining two legs.
Louis Goosen has a strong chance of still landing the August Stakes as he
has entered the ever improving Doing It For Dan, who won impressively over
1000m on the Vaal sand last time out and should be capable of seeing out
the 1200m. Piere Strydom has been booked for the ride on the 104
merit-rated horse.

One of the most intriguing August Stakes entries is the Alec Laird-trained
five-year-old Bouclette Top, who was thought to be a middle distance type
after finishing a close fourth in the GR 1 SA Classic over 1800m as a
three-year-old. However, blinkers have really livened this horse up and he
finished a three length second to the high class Ice Machine in the weight
for age Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Greyville earlier this
year. He has a well deserved merit rating of 108 and will likely be a big
runner in both the August Stakes and Supreme Cup, especially since champion
jockey Gavin Lerena has been booked for the ride in the former.

An interesting August Stakes entry is the nine-year-old Sean Tarry-trained
Across The Ice, who won this race in 2012. He is merit rated 104 but will
have to bounce back from a below par run over course and distance last time
out.
The highest merit-rated entry is the Corné Spies-trained Kiss Me Hardy on
111, who consequently carries topweight. He won the R100,000 Kimberley 1400
with topweight in February and was given a 113 merit rating but since then
has run poorly on the Vaal Sand twice, over 1450m and 1600m respectively,
so is another with a cloud hanging over his head.

The Ormond Ferraris-trained Captain Haddock won ever so easily over course
and distance last time and could be a big runner. He has a nice galloping
weight, but is unfortunately drawn wide and his jockey will carry 1kg
overweight. On the plus side this jockey is the world class Andrew Fortune.

Mike Azzie supplemented the classy Isphan for the race and he could have a
chance after being dropped three points to a merit rating of 99, having
lost to Doing It For Dan by one-and-a-half lengths over 1000m last time
out. Furthermore he has landed the pole position draw.
Mike de Kock’s runner Mootahadee will probably prefer the Supreme Cup
distance, but he will have benefitted from his last run and has a nice
galloping weight. Having Anthony Delpech in the irons will add to his
chances.

Gate open at 11am and entrance is free. For more information call: 011 681
1702
The full list of entries are below:

3 Kiss Me Hardy 61.5 111 A I Sturgeon Corne Spies
1

2 11 Bouclette Top 60 108 BA G Lerena Alec Laird
(ARG)

3 15 Across The Ice 58 104 TBA R Danielson Sean Tarry

4 7 Doing It For 58 104 T A P Strydom Louis
Dan Goosen

5 1 Isphan 55.5 99 BA S Khumalo Mike Azzie

6 5 Jade Vine 54.5 97 A M Sean Tarry
V'Rensburg

7 12 Mootahadee 54.5 97 TBA A Delpech Mike de
(AUS) Kock

8 13 Captain 54 96 A A Fortune Ormond
Haddock +1.0 Ferraris

9 14 Stavinsky 54 96 BA S Brown Leon
+1.0 Erasmus

10 2 Velvet Verona 53.5 95 A *C Murray Corne Spies

11 9 Green Rock 52.5 93 BA *R Munger Wallace
Tolmay

12 4 Roman Carnival 52 90 TBA C Maujean Stephen
Moffatt

13 6 Olympic Bolt 52 92 BA Reserve 1 Mike de
(BRZ) Kock

14 10 Duty Dance 52 88 BA Reserve 2 Paul
Matchett

15 8 Salute The Sun 52 86 A Reserve 3 Stanley
Ferreira

Same
Trainer
- Not
Coupled
on Tote

(1,10)
(3,6)
(7,13)



The horses competing in the “Racing To Jump” show include:

Charlies Island
Atonement
Confused.com
Desert Time
Los Colmos
Nacht Musiek (7 time winner and sire)
Tana
Sleigh Time
Victory Road
Fox River
All In The Family
Waltzing Home
Vandalucia
Charlies Island
Sky Thunder
Desert Time
Truganini
Military Band
Jupiter
Night Lyrics
St Remy
Powertrain
Arcellor
Truganini
Military Band
Hard Rock
Striking Novelty

ALIMONY is a late entry

be lucky bump

Not much interest in this meet.... :blush:

Speed ratings for main contenders with previous Vaal sand form.

Best VS rating ever achieved in brackets.

RACE 1
87…King of Cloth…12/1
84…First Sign…12/1
79…Magic…10/1
76…Fidelio…25/1
75…Cry of the Toreador…40/1
74…Gaisce Gold (82)…40/1

Currently prefer high drawn horses.
Market favours those who are having first race on sand yet the above speed ratings are competitive for this class of race and therefore look value. Swing 1+2.

RACE 2
72…Ginger Sioux…1/1
71…Susquehanna…14/10

Poor figures…6 lengths below the class standard. This makes it appear more open than the betting suggests.

RACE 3
74…Mystify Me…9/1
74…Stunning Angel…8/1
72…Fiesta de Espana…25/1
64…Bitabling…20/1

Again poor figures…+ 3 lengths behind class standard and the market favouring the Perfumed Lady form line. Swing 2+11.

RACE 4
82…Tearaway…9/1
81…Sir Price…25/1
80…Sweet Painted Lady…16/10

Very poor ratings for this class. Swing 5+8


Selections for rest of card –

RACE 5 Chief Sioux – Shine Tiger

RACE 6 Sarve – Royal Trip

RACE 7 Kiss me Hardy – Mootahadee

RACE 8 Shamal – Dalalaat



RACE 9 Disco Boy – Formal Request

Will Doing It For Dan get home today? on that surface it will be more like a 1300m race than a 1200m

Hi Guys,

Anybody going through to the course today? Thinking of going for an enjoyable afternoon... Bob will WSB have betting facilities on course?

Don't fancy the short prices today, think we in for a few shocks. Draw is so key on this track, massive advantage being drawn on the inside over 1200m and 1450m.

Have a good days racing gentlemen.

RACE 1 MAGIC
RACE 2 GINGER SIOUX
RACE 3 MYSTIFY ME
RACE 4 SWEET PAINTED LADY
RACE 5 TUTTA MAGEE
RACE 6 USISI
RACE 7 CAPTAIN HADDOCK
RACE 8 SHAMAL
RACE 9 FORMAL REQUEST

Not keen on anything and some are badly drawn and only selected because others have no decent form on the surface

La Strada
S'way
Doing It For Dan

Prosperous punting

Did a bit of study for a change (ok, only ywo races)... a lurker alert for a small eachway and include in exotics...Seven Kings in the first ...may get 100/1 later

TSants18 wrote: Hi Guys,

Anybody going through to the course today? Thinking of going for an enjoyable afternoon... Bob will WSB have betting facilities on course?

Don't fancy the short prices today, think we in for a few shocks. Draw is so key on this track, massive advantage being drawn on the inside over 1200m and 1450m.

Have a good days racing gentlemen.

The last time i been to the course i remember theres only one bookie at vaal
But many totes
Wsb could have some facilities on course since its their racing day

Fancy a bit of stavinsky to upset at a naaaaice price