The Vaal Outside track stages a competitive nine race meeting on Thursday and exotic dividends should be handsome.
The fifth, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap over 1200m, is the highest rated race. Bella Sonata hasn’t raced since going close in October’s Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m and from a plum outside draw with a 4kg claimer up she should do well over a trip she is effective over.
However, the choice to beat her is Swift Sarah, whose speed should help her find a good strip of going early on. She will be fit and the champion combination of Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo are in fine form. The one who could trouble these two is the progressive Captain’s Girl, who has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.
The second race is a Novice Plate for fillies and mares and the officially best weighted horse Secret Star looks the one to beat. She has speed and the ability to find extra in the closing stages. Water Lily Lake is second best in at the weights and she can maybe bounce back to form in her third run after a layoff.
However, Khumalo is aboard the three-year-old stablemate Yellow Metal, who is by Global One and is a half-sister to VDJ winner Heavy Metal. She is officially 4,5kg under sufferance but this is only her second start so she could still be anything and will have to be included in all bets. The enigmatic Winter Al is only 1kg out at the weights and often performs above her merit rating when tried in plate or conditions races and this is her best trip. Queenie is a talented horse but will still likely need this.
If Yellow Metal does win then Aimee Sweet will have a good chance in the next race over 1000m having finished a 2,8 length third to her last time over this 1000m trip. Hard-knocking Osculation will have a good chance here too. However, there are many first-timers here and the one who makes appeal is Successfilly, who is by Var and is a half-sister to the useful Frosty Friday. She has a high draw which is advantageous by trends on this track.
Gunship and Hear The Storm could fight out the next race over 1000m.
In the sixth race, Burundi Bush is better than her last start and is now off a competitive merit rating and drawn well. The Tarry-Khumalo combination must be considered with Seeking Venus, who has her third run after a layoff and is drawn well off a reduced merit rating. However, it’s an ultra competitive race and going wide might be the best option.
In the seventh, impressive debut winner Brigtnumbersix could beat Movie Award and The Smell Of Rain, although back in form Paree must be considered and so must Pool Party.
The eighth is another tough race although Outshine and Teenage Dream make most appeal.
In the last race Just A Gigolo is well drawn over an ideal trip and goes well for Piere Strydom, although he has Maximizer to beat, the latter having impressed second time out over this trip.
