The Vaal, Thursday 7 January

The Vaal stages Thursday`s local races, an eight race card with a 1:00pm start time.

TRACK CONDITIONS

Race Track: Turf. 3000m oval circuit. Races up to 1600m straight course; beyond 1600m clockwise round turn with 1000m run-in.

Best Draws: Low-number draws slightly favoured in 1700m races.

Pen - 26
Going - GOOD TO SOFT
False Rail - Zero back straight 6.5m on the bend with 6.5m spur at 600m mark

UNDERWAY AT

Race 1 - 13:00
Race 2 - 13:35
Race 3 - 14:15
Race 4 - 14:53
Race 5 - 15:23
Race 6 - 15:53
Race 7 - 16:23
Race 8 - 16:53

EXOTICS
Bi Pot (Races 1-6 )
P A (Races 2-8 )
Pick 6 (Races 3-8 )
Jackpot 1 (Races 4-7 )
Jackpot 2 (Races 5-8 )

BEST BET
Race 5 LORD MELBOURNE 33/10*

*Odds correct at time of posting

Money horses

Race 3: Manhattan Magic x Almalfi Coast

Race 7: Banha Bridge

Race 8: Royal Tiger x Light Without

Some to consider...

Race 3 - 1 Dancing Arabian, 3 Theatre of Dreams
Race 4 - 2 Sonny Quinn, 3 Stormy Seas
Race 5 - 1 Odd Rob
Race 6 - 2 Snow Palace, 6 Ballet Shoes
Race 8 - 2 Officer

All the best to all Clanners for today...stay safe and healthy...and avoid interaction with persons outside one's household...

Racing moved to Turffontein inside track...

Following gallops this morning, today's Vaal race meeting has been moved to the Turffontein Standside track. Distance change: Race 7 is nowover 1600m.

We have had plenty rain up North.

Looks a reasonable card, need some money for weekend.

Cold Fact
Magical Flight
Mezuzah
Ballet Shoes
Banha Bridge

Maybe some more scratchings.....

Good punting

Just confirm if you have taken early bets and check new betting.

Outside track sorry

Dave Scott wrote: We have had plenty rain up North.

Looks a reasonable card, need some money for weekend.

Cold Fact
Magical Flight
Mezuzah
Ballet Shoes
Banha Bridge

Maybe some more scratchings.....

Good punting

I see Noble Tune taken out in the 8th - 'no suitable jockey' - surely this can't be - just going through the list, I see Dicken, Greyling, Habib, Mjoka, Mxoli, Simons ?

Hi Frodo Humble Tune hopefully runs on Sunday, weather permitting.

We leave riding arrangements to trainer.

Will keep you all posted to his well being after being gelded, but horse is doing well .

3) 9 Broadway Babe e/w

Another meeting decimated by scratchings - also possible that the ground may turn up soft - thoughts:

R1: Cold Fact good first win beating Retallick who has since failed by a whisker; as a filly gets the 2.5 kgs from Rollwiththepunches, which should prove sufficient to see off that one; however there are 2 other fillies making their debuts getting 3 kgs from CF - so not cut and dried imo

R2: Did not think Magical Flight would run after winning on Tuesday; anyway seems held by Kay Tee Perry on a line through Castle Durrow; Diorama runs well for this jock so should easily secure 3rd

R3: Tricky; first timers on top of the boards, so who knows; I have been preaching Dancing Arabian, who has been disappointing to say the least - gets blinkers today, so may improve - however seems held by Theatre of Dreams who look good value at the odds; Broadway Babe another that seems over-priced, as she holds Amalfi Coast on the Timeforthat run

R4: Sonny Quinn overdue; Mezuzah got beat in a very weak field, but may have improvement to come; Varatti does not have to be a superstart to win this, while Just as Rich has run close to Sonny Quinn, so place chance

R5: Odd Rob for me very hard to beat; winner this track and trip; best in at the weights and will handle soft conditions should these materialize; Port Key probably the biggest danger with the consistent Captain Chorus; while French Leave seems best in of the others

R6: Only 4 runners :ohmy: Ballet Shoes surely much better than his last run - did finish in front of Kelpie at level weights in July, so does look very hard to oppose at these weights if running even close to his rating; Cornish Pomodoro looks clearly 2nd best, while Snow Palace could either run 2nd if she produces her best (3.5 lengths off Running Brave) or last of the 4 on her worst runs (40 and 50 lengths behind) - imo should have been suspended for inconsistent running a while back

R7: Competitive handicap; Grazinginthegrass another who is hard to predict, but could follow up here on his easy maiden win; Bartholomeus finished in front of Making a Scene last time and is only 0.5 kgs worse off, so should confirm that form; Banha Bridge back to a more appropriate trip imo - has dropped another 3 points in the ratings, and with Khumalo booked for the ride, I think a big run is expected; Oyster King another dropping in the ratings - not easy

R8: Some confusing form lines; at a push I'd be tempted to go for the filly Keepingthepeace, does get weight from the colts and ran only 3.5 lengths behind Magical Flight; Sunray seems to be a late maturing gelding, and in his first run in blinkers, he did produce a fair effort, so must have a chance here with Imperial Duke; Officer may surprise with a slightly more patient ride

Enjoy