PREVIEW:VAAL (SAND) - 24 MAY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 17h40 Wednesday 23 May 2012.

RACE 1:Maiden Juvenile Plate (F) 1000m Straight

FAVOURITE DAUGHTER showed good improvement in her fifth start last time. Can go on from here. PEBBLE LANE improved by nine lengths last time. Piere Strydom rides. Respect. SWEET DESTINY did not show last time. Chance on earlier form. CATALONIA could be better suited to the shorter trip. VESTALIA  makes her debut. Keep an eye on the betting. Cost R160 000.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FAVOURITE DAUGHTER * (5); 2nd - PEBBLE LANE (10); 3rd - SWEET DESTINY (14); 4th - CATALONIA (4); 5th - VESTALIA (15)

RACE 2:MR 92 Hcp (F & M) 1000m Straight

MANNEQUIN has raced in feature race sprints. Comes down in class and has an apprentice allowance of 4kg coming off the 64kg set. RAISE THE BAR has also raced in feature races. Will be running on and she loves this C & D. CANDY COTTON has been losing form. Chance on form this C & D and also earlier form. SAPPHIRE RING runs well at this track but over slightly further. Robbie Fradd rides. IBROX PARK has also lost form but Anthony Delpech rides.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MANNEQUIN * (1); 2nd - RAISE THE BAR (2); 3rd - CANDY COTTON (3); 4th - SAPPHIRE RING (6); 5th - IBROX PARK (5)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 1000m Straight

PALACE TOWN ran well in a workriders last time when running on for a length second. Has placed this C & D. Should go close in this field. RA showed very good improvement last time when making his Gauteng debut and at this track. Had weak KZN form. SIZZLING GUY sets a decent pace but fades late. BROMPTON'S LAD is improving again and Piere Strydom rides again. LAST STAND has more to do for the win but looks likely to improve soon.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PALACE TOWN * (16); 2nd - RA (3); 3rd - SIZZLING GUY (5); 4th - BROMPTON'S LAD (2); 5th - LAST STAND (7)

RACE 4:Maiden Plate 1600m Bend

FORT BENTON (Mike De Kock) raids from KZN and as a result has yet to race on sand. Also the blinkers go on for the first time. SHADOW MODE has a chance on a vastly improved effort last time when running on over this distance. Francois Herholdt rides. SRINAGAR has run his best races on sand. Outside chance of winning. Piere Strydom rides. KENTRIDGE did not show in a workriders last time. Could improve. TIDY TIGER (Mike De Kock) has some improving to do. Place chance at very best. May improve on sand.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FORT BENTON * (10); 2nd - SHADOW MODE (1); 3rd - SRINAGAR (4); 4th - KENTRIDGE (2); 5th - TIDY TIGER (3)

RACE 5:MR 80 Hcp 1600m Bend

FORMATION ran a shocker last time. Not in keeping with consistent form before that. Consider again. ZEBULON is never far off them. Chance if running on. Piere Strydom rides. EMPEROR AUGUSTUS (Michael Azzie/Robbie Fradd) made an impressive winning debut last time. Tries sand for the first time, may need to confirm and tries an extra 200m. One to consider on the impressive debut win. CARYL'S LAW won his maiden last time when running on to draw clear by three lengths. may also need to confirm. NEW YORK is a bit inconsistent but could also be improving. Francois Herholdt rides.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FORMATION * (1); 2nd - ZEBULON (8); 3rd - EMPEROR AUGUSTUS (10); 4th - CARYL'S LAW (13); 5th - NEW YORK (12)

RACE 6:MR 104 Hcp 1450m Bend

MABUKO SPIRIT won well last time. Has won this C & D. This is by far his best track. Last time he met CALANISH he finished eighth behind him, almost eight lengths adrift. This afternoon he faces CALANISH on 8kg better terms. Should reel in that deficit. FURIOUS DANCER has decent form but may prefer a bit shorter. ART WISH has won all of his four races at this track. Chance on that form. LOCHLORIEN has dull form but could be improving.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MABUKO SPIRIT* (11); 2nd - CALANISH (6); 3rd - FURIOUS DANCER (2); 4th - ART WISH (3); 5th - LOCHLORIEN (9)

RACE 7:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1450m Bend

HEN PARTY (St John Gray/Anthony Delpech) is in good form and will be doing her best work late. Also drops in class and should go close in this field. Stable companion, THINK AGAIN with Derreck David up, also has the form to perhaps win but she has not won in a while. Ran on well last time despite losing ground at the start. LA NEGRITA improved by almost thirty six lengths last time. Apprentice allowance of 4kg should help. NATIONAL DANZIG has been showing consistency of late. Could earn in this race.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HEN PARTY ** (3); 2nd - THINK AGAIN (6); 3rd - LA NEGRITA (2); 4th - HLAMBA (8); 5th - NATIONAL DANZIG (4)

RACE 8:Graduation Plate (F & M) 1000m Straight

LIGHTNING BIRD (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) has not run since November. Must have a very good chance if not needing the run. One would assume that Anthony Delepch has  flown up from Durban to ride this one for Mike De Kock. KINEMATIC COUNTESS ran well in a similar field last time. Loves this C & D. SOLARIUM (Michael Azzie/Robbie Fradd) has been disappointing in her last two starts. The blinkers go on for the first time. These may improve you. TIGER FLO (Alec Laird) ran a very good post maiden last time despite casting a shoe. HOWHIGHCANUFLY has steady form and Piere Strydom aboard. Runs well this C & D.

SELECTIONS: 1st - LIGHTNING BIRD * (11); 2nd - KINEMATIC COUNTESS (1); 3rd - SOLARIUM (10); 4th - TIGER FLO (9); 5th - HOWHIGHCANUFLY (12)

RACE 9:MR 72 Hcp 1000m Straight

RODEO DANDY must have a very good chance over the distance. All five wins were over the 1000m of which one was this C & D. Anthony Delpech has the ride. COURT DRESS runs for the first time on sand. fades ever so slightly late. GOLDSTREAM won against stronger last time. Could be well weighted with a winning chance. SUPER BOY has the orm to earn a small cheque. BARON OF BREEDON has yet to show at this track but all four wins have been this distance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - RODEO DANDY * (2); 2nd - COURT DRESS (15); 3rd - GOLDSTREAM (16); 4th - SUPER BOY (3); 5th - BARON OF BREEDON (5)

BEST BET:                    RACE 7 - NUMBER 3 HEN PARTY

VALUE BET:                RACE 8 - NUMBER 11 LIGHTNING BIRD

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 4 - NUMBER 10 FORT BENTON

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9