PREVIEW:VAAL (SAND) - TUESDAY 7 AUGUST 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 17h00 Monday 6 August 2012.

RACE 1:Maiden Plate 1200m Bend

RA has improved in his last two starts. Best run was this C & D. Chance if running on as he did two runs back this C & D. SIXMILEBRIDGE did not show this C & D last time. Has claims on earlier form and a strong second this C & D two months ago. LEVANTO could be improving. EXCELL AND ASCEND ran a promising race two runs back but ran way below that last time. Perhaps this time? FAMOUS CHARMER could be on the upgrade. He showed a thirty five length improvement in his third start last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - RA * (1); 2nd - SIXMILEBRIDGE (2); 3rd - LEVANTO (7); 4th - EXCELL AND ASCEND (5); 5th - FAMOUS CHARMER (9)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate 1600m Bend

MAYBE BABY has steady form but has a bad tendency to fade late. WHITE SQUALL was running on strongly last time over shorter. This will be his first run on sand. THE DISCIPLE is one to consider as well for the win. He was running on when showing life for the first time last time and also improving by sixteen lengths. Respect this one. Piere Strydom rides BRIDGEWATER has more to find but likes the sand. CHERIE'S BOY could improve. Has run 30 times!

SELECTIONS: 1st - MAYBE BABY * (3); 2nd - WHITE SQUALL (1); 3rd - THE DISCIPLE (12); 4th - BRIDGEWATER (7); 5th - CHERIE'S BOY (5)

RACE 3:Pinnacle Stakes 1600m Bend

From six starts this C & D, MR TOBIN has won five and placed second once. Has been impressive of late and was an impressive winner last time, over 1450m. Looks hard to oppose. Gavin Lerena has the ride again. SAYADAW was running on last time, but meets MR TOBIN at level weights for a 3.25 beating last time. Unlikely to alter the order. Piere Strydom rides FORMATION for St John Gray. Form is very good but against weaker. Has more to find. CALANISH also has good form but again has more to find. LIQUID MOTION may improve but not to win.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MR TOBIN ** (1); 2nd - SAYADAW (2); 3rd - FORMATION (6); 4th - CALANISH (3); 5th - LIQUID MOTION (7)

RACE 4:MR 72 Hcp 1600m Bend

NEW YORK takes a big drop in class. Form is good and all winning and placed runs have been at this track, two wins have been this C & D. KRUGER GOLD takes an even bigger drop in class. Was running on well last time over 1800m. THE FIXER (St John Gray/Piere Strydom) has the form to place. Should be running on. SILVER SPECIALIST ran on strongly last time to win this C & D against slightly weaker. KALUROOZ JET caused a huge upset last time when holding on to win this C & D. BERRYMILLER has very good form but over shorter.

SELECTIONS: 1st - NEW YORK * (6); 2nd - KRUGER GOLD (2); 3rd - THE FIXER (14); 4th - SILVER SPECIALIST (7); 5th - KALUROOZ JET (8)

RACE 5:Conditions Plate (F & M) 1450m Bend

FOLLOW THE PIPER (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) has the form this C & D to go close. Can race either from the front or off the pace. Well weighted. UGLY BETTY faces tougher but is well suited to this C & D. CHERRY ON THE CAKE (Gavin Van Zyl/Robbie Fradd) has improved since raiding here from KZN. Was running on in both local starts. LOUVRE sets a good pace. Yet to race on sand. RAISE THE BAR may improve.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FOLLOW THE PIPER * (1); 2nd - UGLY BETTY (7); 3rd - CHERRY ON THE CAKE (6); 4th - LOUVRE (4); 5th - RAISE THE BAR (2)

RACE 6:MR 74 Hcp (F & M) 1450m Straight

HOTEL ROYALE drops in class. Latest form is very good and has been doing best work late. DALALAAT also  has good form but last run was against slightly weaker. DELTA LIONESS has good post maiden form. Last run was against much stronger. May prefer shorter. MARIA K may be improving along with JOLLY WOOD.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HOTEL ROYALE * (2); 2nd - DALALAAT (9); 3rd - DELTA LIONESS (4); 4th - MARIA K (12); 5th - JOLLY WOOD (11)

RACE 7:MR 90 Hcp 1200m Bend

The rank outsider at 25/1, BOWNORE is well suited to this C & D. May not have the best of form but looks to be well weighted. ESCAPE CLAUSE ran on strongly last time when finishing a close up third this C & D. Best runs have been this C & D. STRIKE MASTER (Michael Azzie/Gavin Lerena) may have found his best distance. Ran on strongly this C & D last time. SPEED KEEPER has a place shout. PRIME MOVER has excellent form this C & D and won easily against stronger last time. Apprentice claim of 4kg will help the original 64.5kg he would have had to shoulder.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BOWNORE * (12); 2nd - ESCAPE CLAUSE (5); 3rd - STRIKE MASTER (3); 4th - SPEED KEEPER (6); 5th - PRIME MOVER (1)

RACE 8:MR 72 Hcp 1200m Bend

TIGERS EYE takes a huge drop in class. Only win was over the distance. Piere Strydom rides. MADE OF MAGIC (St John Gray/Gavin Lerena) has hopeless form but a drop in class could just cause an upset. AL FELON won his last two, both over further. Could make a decent show. REVELRY is coming back to form. Only win and place was this C & D. Improved by twelve lengths when finishing a close up fourth. BOOGY BOY has fair post maiden form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TIGERS EYE * (8); 2nd - MADE OF MAGIC (4); 3rd - AL FELON (3); 4th - REVELRY (1); 5th - BOOGY BOY (9)

BEST BET:                    RACE 3 - NUMBER 1 MR TOBIN (9/20)

VALUE BET:                RACE 2 - NUMBER 3 MAYBE BABY (11/2)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 7 - NUMBER 12 BOWNORE (25/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 2 - 8

PICK SIX: RACES 3 - 8 (Couplings taken into account)

JACKPOT: RACES 4 - 7 (Couplings have NOT been taken into account)