A spate of exotic carryovers has not made things easy for punters recently. With a dip from the Met and Million Dollar razzmatazz to the daily grind of this week’s bread-and-butter fare, the chances of more dicey results looks very likely. At the Vaal on Thursday, where four maiden plates and five low-grade handicaps make up a programme that will only appeal to the most staunch fan.
As with most things in life, the racing programme is supposedly about a balance, and given our feat of high-class fare over the past six weeks, it is time to slow the bus down as it were, and catch the breath.
This is a diet week of note, with Flamingo Park on Monday, followed by a workriders meeting at the Vaal on Tuesday.
The topliner at the Vaal on Tuesday is a R92 000 MR 76 Fillies & Mares Handicap run over a mile and the fourteen runner field represents an exotic bet speed trap of note.
Mike De Kock
Mike de Kock’s yard is always a reliable starting point and they saddle the Wicklow Stud-bred 3yo Fort Wood filly, Gain Ground.
A lightly tried galloper, she won her maiden over the Scottsville mile at her third start, and has never run a bad race in her five subsequent starts.
Her only run over Thursday’s course and distance produced a 2,60 length fifth in a field of six behind the well-performed Pennington Sands.
She has had two run since a rest and last time out ran on over 1800m when beaten length by Cape Marigold.
The latter, a year older three-time winner, meets Gain Ground on the same weight terms and there should be little between them.
Sean Tarry
Sean Tarry trains the Dynasty three-time winner Escudo, who has been threatening to win again after a few decent recent efforts.
Her last two runs over the course and distance were decent efforts and she would not be winning out of turn.
The lightly raced Bajan Fantasy won over the course and distance at her last start and steps up a notch in class, bidding for her third win in eight starts.
The combination of Andrew Fortune and Gary Alexander have been in hot form and she must bhe included.
Piere Strydom sticks with recent maiden winner Bondi Blu, who won at her fourth start last time.
She drops 100m but has shown solid resolve at all her starts and could be better than rated.
St John Gray’s Jam Alley 3yo Angelic Appeal has won twice at the Vaal from just 8 runs.
She beat Kissimee in a similar class handicap at her penultimate start and then ran handily when fading to 3,85 lengths behind Frosty Friday over a 100m further in a higher ranking handicap last time.
Mike Azzie
Mike Azzie’s Polly Wolly Doodle made a sensational debut on the Vaal sand over 1800m in October last year and scooted home by over 11 lengths. That track is now history and the Judpot filly’s three subsequent turf runs have not provided any fireworks.
Topweight Mirror The Moon has decent form over the mile and beat the well-performed Pennington Sands at her third last start at Turffontein over the mile.
Her last two runs have been quieter efforts, but in this level of company she could find her feet again and may be of some value – if she does.
Uncle George Scott has a trio of runners, and the best mare may be the 6yo Malhub mare, Catch A Thief.
She has stayed on well at her last two starts and is capable of a big run in this company off a galloping 52kgs.
Gain Ground. Escudo and Angelic Appeal look like the right three in a tricky handicap – where exotic backers may want to go a little wider to aim for the one-ticket dream.
