VAAL CLASSIC, THURSDAY 10 MARCH

CnC 306 wrote:

I have a feeling that an old friend is back on ABC who will soon go back to his normal ways and be banned for an umpteenth time

Just watch what you are saying...

You got it 1000% wrong with Zain

Bob Brogan wrote:

CnC 306 wrote:

I have a feeling that an old friend is back on ABC who will soon go back to his normal ways and be banned for an umpteenth time

Just watch what you are saying...

You got it 1000% wrong with Zain

Did I mention any names? Also it’s impossible to get anything 1000% right or wrong.

Dave Mollet - Business Day

Jockeys David and Van der Merwe return after contrasting spells overseas

Two jockeys who had mixed fortunes overseas have returned to SA and will ride at Thursday’s meeting at the Vaal.

Benoni-born Derreck David and JP van der Merwe have been riding in Mauritius and Singapore. David had a hugely successful spell on the holiday island, but for Van der Merwe it was a disaster.

Before his departure, David enjoyed plenty of success here, notably his association with Piere Jourdan who he partnered to seven wins. Van der Merwe won the 2016 Cape Met on Smart Call.

Last September, Van der Merwe fell foul of the Singapore stewards after a race at Kranji racecourse and was slapped with a 12-month ban. This was reduced to six months on appeal.

David has five mounts at the Free State track and his best chance of success may lie with Paul Peter’s runner, Droghiere, in the sixth race. The son of Master Of My Fate won his maiden on his second start at Turffontein last month.

Droghiere beat Fulliautomatix at the city track and the gelding’s chance will be enhanced if Brett Webber’s three-year-old wins the fourth race.

Paul Peter also saddles Frontline Fighter — the mount of Warren Kennedy — but the gelding failed to justify favouritism on his last start.

Nevertheless, the Peter duo may be hard pressed to beat Gavin Lerena’s mount Esquevelle, who finished a close-up fourth in a race at the Vaal at the end of December.

David has an each-way chance on Pick A Lily who takes a drop in class in the eighth race. The two horses likely to attract most of the money in this 1,600m event are Speechmaker and Wikkel Spikkel. The latter has the advantage of pole position.

Van der Merwe has two booked rides — Black Burner (fourth race) and Mercer Girl in the seventh race. The first-named — a son of Red Ray whose son Red Saxon won last Saturday’s SA Classic — hasn’t been far away in his recent starts and could trouble the likely favourite, Maradiva.

Tuscan Winter will be an absentee in the fifth race which reduces the field to just six runners. The pick of the sextet looks to be Mufasa and Roy Magner’s three-time winner, Retallick.

Magner, who is now housing July and Met winner Kommetdieding, has booked Muzi Yeni to ride his son of Time Thief for the first time. It was a surprise that the popular jockey had only four mounts at last Saturday’s Classic meeting at Turffontein.

The big worry about Retallick is that the gelding is returning from a break. He hasn’t contested a race since last October.

As a member of the powerful Peter yard, Mufasa is likely to be sent off favourite. The son of What A Winter has won two of his five starts and looks like another good mount for Warren Kennedy.

The opening race — a Work Riders event over 1,450m — looks a match between Peter’s runner Lady Osier (Sam Mosia) and Paul Matchett’s Forgotten Time (Daniel Baase).

While Mosia is the more experienced of the two riders, Forgotten Time has run second to two useful sorts in Sound Of Hounds and Charge Down and it’s a good chance for the gelding to leave the maiden ranks.

SELECTIONS

1st Race: (1) Forgotten Time (9) Lady Osier (2) Count Pablo (4) Great Melody

2nd Race: No Selection

3rd Race: (1) Fashionigma (6) Oceans Pride (2) Arabian Sky (4) Mix The Magic

4th Race: (1) Maradiva (6) Black Burner (3) Fulliautomatix (5) Earl Of Cardigan

5th Race: (3) Retallick (2) Mufasa (1) Kings Road (6) Irfaans Boy

6th Race: (5) Esquevelle (7) Droghiere (6) On Cue (4) Frontline Fighter

7th Race: (2) Money Fighter (6) Hear The Trumpet (11) Allez Les Bleu (10) Edward Longshanks

8th Race: (3) Wikkel Spikkel (2) Speechmaker ( Petunia (5) Queen Bomi

9th Race: (11) Track Commander (10) Call Me Master ( Naval Guard (1) Arverni Warrior

CnC 306 wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote:

CnC 306 wrote:

I have a feeling that an old friend is back on ABC who will soon go back to his normal ways and be banned for an umpteenth time

Just watch what you are saying...

You got it 1000% wrong with Zain

Did I mention any names? Also it’s impossible to get anything 1000% right or wrong.

I see not much has changed with the clientele.😎

Deez's Selections, Thursday 10 March

#Vaal
R3 Fashionigma
R7 Imposing Angel

JACKPOT 6/4/1/5

Trust the Fire took ages to shed its maiden with some impressive runs. Plenty of times after a horse has done so lie Tryst the fire they come out and win straight away

Quietly confident that this could be the right P6 today:

13
124
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2345781113
1235891011

Frodo wrote:

A few value propositions to consider imo ...

R3: Mix the Magic - pole position and improved last time - may prefer this trip

R6: Twice as Splendid - ran to much stronger and looks well treated here; also Alex the Great has run well for this jock and does not deserve to be at the bottom of the boards

R8: Petunia well weighted here and should go close

R9: Naval Guard lightly-raced 4yr old, improving and should go close even with a slow start

Enjoy

Hi Frodo...with regards to PETUNIA. I recall when Hewitson was still an apprentice. He had a similar looking horse. It won a maiden at 1200, then its first handicap at 1400. Then it ran a 2000 handicap in the very next race and won. Hewitson said in the interview that they always felt it would stay the 2000. I recall thinking how difficult that was to know from pure form study and it frustrated me (and concerned me). Think I spent a month going back to that race and trying to look for what I missed.

That horse a decade ago, reminds me of Petunia. The only big difference is Petunia went Maiden to Maiden. Not Maiden to Handicap. Other than that very similar. One has to think after 40+ days there would be more to come after solid progress in about 20 days..but then you have the concerns of stepping up to handicap over further. Going to be very enjoyable to watch.

I punted Floreana Island at 8/1,so I’m talking out of ze pocket as my German friend would say.
NON TRIER and embarrassing

seemyvision e/way even@ 13/1 only 2 places i know,

Brian u biscuit..... you're the only jock for THIS HORSE.

I must admit to taking a BIT of 13/1 win...... was waiting for the driiiiift.....but couldn't wait any longer...... WENT OUT to 20's .... not complaining... 25/10 the place....... kaching...

ElvisisKing wrote:

Brian u biscuit..... you're the only jock for THIS HORSE.

I must admit to taking a BIT of 13/1 win...... was waiting for the driiiiift.....but couldn't wait any longer...... WENT OUT to 20's .... not complaining... 25/10 the place....... kaching...

Well done - has to give credit to the connections - her first win was on 14 March 2019 - her next win was more than 2 years later on 20 Jul 2021 - and of course she has not stopped since - patience being rewarded :huh: