PREVIEW:VAAL (TURF) - 2 FEBRUARY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 05h30 Thursday 2 February 2012.

To check for the latest scratchings go to www.sahorseracing.co.za and then click on "public" Find the race meeting and then press the number "1". Finally find "Card Changes" and then click on that.

RACE 1:Workriders Maiden Plate 1400m Straight

STROLLER is holding form well and does not have much to beat. HAVANA BEAT is also in good form and is taken to fight this one out.THE ALAMO has been showing very good improvement with each run. MEMEZA did not show over this distance last time. May prefer shorter. SHAREEFA'S JET has lost form but may place at best.

SELECTIONS: 1st - STROLLER * (1); 2nd - HAVANA BEAT (2); 3rd - THE ALAMO (4); 4th - MEMEZA (3); 5th - SHAREEFA'S JET (5)

RACE 2:Maiden Juvenile Plate (F) 1000m Straight

Some very well bred first timers have been scratched for this race. QUEENS HOME improved by fourteen lengths last time. Respect. SMOOTH SAILING improved by sixteen lengths last time. That was in the same race when she finished a long head behind QUEENS HOME. There should not be too much separating them this afternoon. TOP TRUMPS made a good debut last time when supported in the betting. Watch the betting on the first timers, STOWAWAY (Mike De Kock) and LONDON DIPPER .

SELECTIONS: 1st - QUEENS HOME * (9); 2nd - SMOOTH SAILING (10); 3rd - TOP TRUMPS (13); 4th - STOWAWAY (11); 5th - LONDON DIPPER (6)

RACE 3:MR 75 Hcp (F & M) 1000m Straight

HOWHIGHCANUFLY takes a sharp drop in class. Her MR on sand is far greater than that on turf but her only win was at this track. One to consider. REGAL ROXY has good post maiden form and her last start was her best post maiden run when running on. THREE NATIONS made a winning debut last time when racing from the front. Looks above average. AZWA is never far back. PERSONALINVITE (Paul Peter/Piere Strydom) does not have the best of form but Piere Strydom rides for the yard which is coming back in to strong form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HOWHIGHCANUFLY * (1); 2nd - REGAL ROXY (11); 3rd - THREE NATIONS (6); 4th - AZWA (5); 5th - PERSONALINVITE (14)

RACE 4:Pinnacle Stakes 2400m Bend

MAGICAL has raced against stronger but has gone "off the boil" somewhat in recent times. Has not won in a while though despite showing promise early on in his career. One to watch all the same. ATYEB (Mike De Kock/Weichong Marwing)  has good form and he has placed second over the distance before. Has ability as well. Should go close. RECONCILE (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) loves the distance and must have a shout in this field. DUNRAVEN (Mike De Kock) could be improving again. WINNING LEAP has given the impression that he too is improving.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MAGICAL * (1); 2nd - ATYEB (4); 3rd - RECONCILE (6); 4th - DUNRAVEN (5); 5th - WINNING LEAP (2)

RACE 5:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1400m Straight

SOCIAL PROSPECTOR has some decent form. Has raced at this track on three occasions and each time has finished third. On the downside this will be her twenty seventh start as a maiden and that will have her detractors. PRINCESS LILY (Alec Laird/JP van der Merwe) has looked a likely winner in her last two starts and should pick up her maiden soon. NICETY has had only one run and that was a good one. The extra trip should suit. DELTA LIONESS made a decent debut last time and should improve on that. KITTIEFIE improved by twelve lengths last time. Respect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SOCIAL PROSPECTOR * (11); 2nd - PRINCESS LILY (4); 3rd - NICETY (13); 4th - DELTA LIONESS (12); 5th - KITTIFIE (3)

RACE 6:MR 94 Hcp 1400m Straight

WAGNER (Joe Soma/Muzi Yeni) won a listed contest very impressively last time. Will be running on and must be a strong contender. MASTER BLASTER has faced stronger and is showing some nice form. KINGS ENTOURAGE is holding form well and on current form must be a strong contender. RABADASH improved by twenty five lengths last time when staying on. Is C & D suited. SUPER TROUPER looks to be coming back to form and yard is beginning to "fire".

SELECTIONS: 1st - WAGNER * (10); 2nd - MASTER BLASTER (1); 3rd - KING'S ENTOURAGE (2); 4th - RABADASH (5); 5th - SUPER TROUPER (7)

RACE 7:MR 77 Hcp  1400m Straight

CITY OF BELLS (Mike Azzie/Gavin Lerena) won his last two starts when showing some determination late on. Can make it the hat trick this afternoon. VALIANT BE tends to fade late but has very good form this C & D. can make an impression. CHECKLIST (Weiho Marwing/Piere Strydom) has some good form. Interesting to note that Weichong Marwing does not ride for his brother today but rides MOON OF RANGOON who has been showing improvement. GAME OVER has some scratchy form. Could place at best.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CITY OF BELLS * (1); 2nd - VALIANT BE (14); 3rd - CHECKLIST (2); 4th - MOON OF RANGOON (4); 5th - GAME OVER (5)

RACE 8:MR 72 Hcp (F & M) 1700m Bend

VARLET stayed on well to win well over 1800m last time. There is every chance that she can repeat that run this afternoon. SCHOONER (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) ran a good post maiden last time. This could be more her distance. CYCLONE MICHELLE is coming back to form. SLEEK SHEIK has poor form but she has won this C & D and has been racing against stronger, but on turf. IMOGEN returns to the sand surface. She has won three times at this track and also showed good turf form in recent starts.

SELECTIONS: 1st - VARLET * (3); 2nd - SCHOONER (1); 3rd - CYCLONE MICHELLE (5); 4th - SLEEK SHEIK (2); 5th - IMOGEN (12)

RACE 9:MR 71 Hcp 1700m Bend

ALL FUN ran on to win her post maiden over this C & D last time. Gavin Lerena rides her again and could make it three in a row. GOOSE VALLEY (Alec Laird) is seldom far back and appears to be improving again. THEMBI is coming back to form. Piere Strydom rides again. MASTENDE may prefer the sand now. Place chance at best. SABRINA'S BABY is coming to hand and could be one to keep an eye on.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ALL FUN ** (1); 2nd - GOOSE VALLEY (3); 3rd - THEMBI (10); 4th - MASTENDE (2); 5th - SABRINA'S BABY (11)

BEST BET:        RACE 9 - NUMBER 1 ALL FUN

VALUE BET:    RACE 5 - NUMBER 11 SOCIAL PROSPECTOR

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9