A nine race programme is offered at the Vaal today – first race off at 12h40. The going is officially listed as ‘good’.
The inside rail false rail is set at zero on the back straight and the bend with a 3m spur at the 600m
The outside rail false rail is set at 7m in from the 1600m to 400m mark.
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The Bipot starts in the second race at 13h10.
Tabnews reports that the seventh race looks another instance of Mike de Kock versus Sean Tarry as a pair of runners from their stables are weighted to fight out the finish of this Graduation Plate over 1400m up the straight.
Tarry saddles best-weighted runner, Rock The Globe, while De Kock sends out the filly Isle De France who is 1.5kg behind him based on merit ratings.
Although both are only one-time winners, Rock The Globe has run against the stronger opposition.
He has contested a number of feature races, including the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville as a two-year-old and the Cape Guineas, in which he faded out to finish at the back of the field.
However, he did qualify for the R2.5-million Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m at Kenilworth, and despite a wide draw, still managed to finish a 1.55-length fourth behind stable companion Pure Bliss. That gave him a very decent R150,000 payday.
He has not raced since the Cape Guineas last December so comes back from a 68-day layoff.
Isle De France scored a runaway victory over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track on her debut in October 2018 and could not have been more impressive, racing clear of the opposition to beat Vi Va Pi Pa by 4.10 lengths. She was well supported to follow up in the Gr3 Starling Stakes over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track but made a respiratory noise and ran sixth, beaten 6.90 lengths by Ronnie’s Candy.
She then ran in the Grade 3 Fillies Mile and this time finished one from back, 19.80 lengths off Ghaalla, again found to be making a respiratory noise.
That put her out of action for a year and she returned in a Graduation Plate to run nine lengths behind Ikigai. Considering Ikigai went on to win the Gauteng Guineas, it was a pretty decent comeback.
She continued to improve in her next two runs, finishing a three-length third behind Topmast in her penultimate start and then a decent 0.70-length second behind Rio’s Winter in a Graduation Plate for fillies and mares last time.
It is not easy to pick between the pair for this Graduation Plate but purely on the basis that Isle De France could be the fitter of the pair, she gets the nod. Cheekpieces have been added for this start, and Callan Murray gets the ride.Rock The Globe has apprentice Luke Ferraris in the irons.
First-timer / Rested horses comments:
2 13:10 – ALL TO COME MAIDEN PLATE (F & M)
8 APPLE ORCHID S G Tarry: Should need the experience
11 CHLOE GIRL F P Habib: Will need the run
12 FLYING VAR D N Stenger: Will need the run
14 MIND READER R R Magner: Nice filly, will need the run
3 13:40 – TAB PAYS THE FULL DIVIDEND, NO LIMITS MAIDEN PLATE
12 DRAFT DAY C Binda: Will need the run
14 FRESH FROM THE US S T Pettigrew: No comment given
16 WILD HERITAGE G Terzi: Looking for more distance
4 14:10 – RACING ASSOCIATION MAIDEN PLATE
13 DANCE TUNE C Binda: Will need the run
15 KINTALA A G Laird: No comment given
5 14:45 – GIN ‘N ROSES 2 MAY MAIDEN PLATE (F & M)
14 STORMY SKY D N Stenger: Will need the run
7 16:05 – JOIN US FOR THE JOBURG’S PRAWN FESTIVAL 4 APRIL GRADUATION PLATE
1 FORAFEWDOLLARSMORE S G Tarry: Should need the run
8 16:42 – BOOK FOR SA CLASSIC 7 MARCH MR 80 HANDICAP
15 CASCIANO B Warren: No comment given
9 17:15 – NEXT VAAL RACEMEETING TUESDAY 3 MARCH FM 74 HANDICAP (F & M)
12 THERECANBEONLYONE S G Tarry: Should need the run
- Comments by Phumelela Publishing
