PREVIEW:VAAL (SAND) - 16 FEBRUARY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 18h30 Wednesday 15 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:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1000m Straight

MEXICAN MAGIC disappointed over 1200m last time. Best runs have been this C & D. FULL QUEST comes down in trip. Has not shown over further. This distance could be what she has been looking for. Not a confident choice though. PROLAN faded very badly at Clairwood last time after having made a good debut run at that same KZN track the time before. Could prefer the sand this afternoon. STEPHANIE appears to be improving. THROUGH IT ALL has not shown after having made a decent debut three runs back. First run on sand.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MEXICAN MAGIC * (1); 2nd - FULL QUEST (9); 3rd - PROLAN (12); 4th - STEPHANIE (3); 5th - THROUGH IT ALL (4)

RACE 2:Conditions Plate 1600m Bend

MR TOBIN is unbeaten on sand (3 from 3) as well as this C & D (2 from 2). Will be running on and has faced some decent fields before. ART WISH loves the sand and has faced stronger feature race fields than this. Piere Strydom rides. Should go close. Appears to be well weighted. Stable companion, DRAW BRIDGE did not show over a bit further last time. Good form before that over this C & D. THE MOUSEKETEER returns to the sand where he is unbeaten (2 from 2). He has won a feature race at this track and has faced some of the best horses in training in this country. POWER PARK will have more to find on recent form and has yet to race on sand.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MR TOBIN * (2); 2nd - ART WISH (4); 3rd - DRAW BRIDGE (7); 4th - THE MOUSEKETEER (1); 5th - POWER PARK (5)

RACE 3:MR 87 Hcp 1200m Bend

COMMISSIONERSTREET loves this C & D and has the form to win. Will be running on. Good winning chance. BOSS CAT is still improving and runs well this C & D. Piere Strydom rides. CAPTAIN HADDOCK has decent post maiden form but has yet to race on sand. COMISSION DUE takes on far stronger and is on sand for the first time. KINGS GOLD has faced far stronger but form is of concern. Place chance though.

SELECTIONS: 1st - COMMISSIONERSTREET * (2); 2nd - BOSS CAT (3); 3rd - CAPTAIN HADDOCK (4); 4th - COMISSION DUE (8); 5th - KINGS GOLD (1)

RACE 4:MR 80 Hcp (F & M) 1000m Straight

REGAL ROXY has fair post maiden form but that form does not stand out that well. Consider on her runs over this C & D. HOWHIGHCANUFLY is another who is battling for win number two. Fair form though and did stay on last time. KINEMATIC COUNTESS did not show over further at Turffontein last time. Has very good sand form and should be a strong contender. KAHAL'S FANTASY showed some improvement this C & D last time. Piere Strydom rides. VICTORIOUS MISTRESS did not show in her post maiden last time. She did have her excuses. Not out of it if handling the sand.

SELECTIONS: 1st - REGAL ROXY * (12); 2nd - HOWHIGHCANUFLY (6); 3rd - KINEMATIC COUNTESS (3); 4th - KAHAL'S FANTASY (5); 5th - VICTORIOUS MISTRESS (10)

RACE 5:MR 74 Hcp 1450m Bend

ESCAPE CLAUSE has run only once on sand and he won his maiden that day over this C & D. Stable is back in form and is the one that they have to beat. LEPRECORNS GIFT has steady form and stays on well. Chance in this field. SERMON has lost form but is better on sand and Piere Strydom has the ride. KRUGER GOLD has lost form but could surprise on earlier form this C & D. FORT WILLIAM won his maiden by almost three lengths last time. Outside chance of running into the money again.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ESCAPE CLAUSE * (3); 2nd - LEPRECORNS GIFT (8); 3rd - SERMON (4); 4th - KRUGER GOLD (6); 5th - FORT WILLIAM (9)

RACE 6:MR 94 Hcp 1450m Bend

WINTER'S SONG runs well on sand and has raced against stronger. First time this far and could relish the the extra. Piere Strydom takes over as the pilot. RYAN'S A LION has consistent form and loves this C & D. Has been running on of late. MR TOP has not won in a while. Has yet to run a place in five runs at this track. Has won over the distance. CALANISH has steady form. Has only won at this track and has good form this C & D. Tends to fade. CAPTAIN SCOTT is improving nicely but this is his first sand run.

SELECTIONS: 1st - WINTER'S SONG * (1); 2nd - RYAN'S A LION (6); 3rd - MR TOP (5); 4th - CALANISH (4); 5th - CAPTAIN SCOTT (2)

RACE 7:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1450m Bend

INN ON THE SQUARE showed good improvement at this track last time when racing here for the first time. The slightly shorter trip will suit more. PERFECT WINTER has had two consecutive and close up seconds. Piere Strydom rides again. Should go close once again. BERMUDA BOWL has had two good recent runs and on current form could pick up her maiden pretty soon. BELOVED JEAN did not show in a work riders race last time. Ignore that run but is drawn rather wide this afternoon. BELLS OF BOW has yet to show and her third place was still a lengthy eleven lengths back!

SELECTIONS: 1st - INN ON THE SQUARE * (13); 2nd - PERFECT WINTER (2); 3rd - BERMUDA BOWL (12); 4th - BELOVED JEAN (1); 5th - BELLS OF BOW (4)

RACE 8:Maiden Plate 1600m Bend

MILDFORD has very good form this C & D with three seconds from four starts this C & D. The one factor against him is that fact that he has run twenty times as a maiden already. On form he should win. MATCHLESS FLAG improved by ten lengths last time when staying on for third. Could be coming back to form. MISTER CAT CLUB will need to repeat his first two runs. Has gone off a bit since then but Piere Strydom rides. SOUTH POWER is inconsistent and could place at best. MON CHEVALIER has shown neither here on in KZN. Would be an upset prospect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MILDFORD ** (4); 2nd - MATCHLESS FLAG (3); 3rd - MISTER CAT CLUB (1); 4th - SOUTH POWER (2); 5th - MON CHEVALIER (6)

BEST BET:        RACE 8 - NUMBER 4 MILDFORD

VALUE BET:    RACE 3 - NUMBER 2 COMMISSIONERSTREET

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 2 - 8