PREVIEW: VAAL (TURF) - 20 NOVEMBER 2014

RACE 1

ARABIAN BAY showed good improvement last time when staying on. AZA ARROW looked the winner until the line last time in an improved run. PAY AS YOU GO did not show last time. Chance on penultimate run. O'BRIEN THE LION has had two moderate runs. First run was behind a decent sort. CEDAR WOOD has been weakening late.

1st – ARABIAN BAY (11/2) (1); 2nd – AZA ARROW (11); 3rd – PAY AS YOU GO (18/10 F) (6); 4th - O'BRIEN THE LION (13); 5th – CEDAR WOOD (8)

RACE 2

Watch the betting on the first timers. ROCK OF BELINDA could be anything but has been supported. GONDOLA GIRL was backed on debut last time and ran well. PEARL VALLEY has had two moderate runs. PHUZA makes her debut. Could be anything. CRIMSON OAK shows pace but weakens. Respect the ante post favourite, DANGEROUS DIVA, daughter of JET MASTER,

1st – ROCK OF BELINDA (37/10) (13); 2nd – GONDOLA GIRL (7); 3rd – PEARL VALLEY (11); 4th - PHUZA (3); 5th – CRIMSON OAK (4); FAVOURITE - DANGEROUS DIVA (357/100 F) (6)

RACE 3

AFRICAN AFFAIR showed good improvement in his second run last time when finishing strongly. Keep an eye on him this afternoon. CORLEONE, son of TRIPPI, makes his debut. Keep an eye on the betting. CONFIDENTIAL AGENT also makes his debut. PACK ICE did run on late last time. Can fill a minor placing. RAFA has had three decent runs in which he ran on in the first two. Respect the current ante post favourite, TOM FOOL, who weakened on debut but has Piere Strydom aboard.

1st – AFRICAN AFFAIR (22/1) (7); 2nd – CORLEONE (10); 3rd – CONFIDENTIAL AGENT (9); 4th - PACK ICE (2); 5th – RAFA (4); FAVOURITE - TOM FOOL (33/10 F) (14)

RACE 4

TIMES ROMAN ran his best race in thirteen when finishing strongly. Yard and jockey in very good form. CUPID'S GOLD is a bit inconsistent but may improve on her latest improved effort. Is a reserve runner who could get to run. AVENUE tends to fade but did show improvement last time. FLAMING SPIRIT ran her best race in three last time. Should earn something this afternoon if repeating. PURELY ATOMIC may improve with the blinkers.

1st – TIMES ROMAN (15/10 F) (1); 2nd – CUPID'S GOLD (15); 3rd – AVENUE (5); 4th - FLAMING SPIRIT (6); 5th – PURELY ATOMIC (12)

RACE 5

BAH has been consistent and last run was against stronger. COMMODORE AL is never far back and he will be doing his best work late. WHAT A BOYTJIE has been showing slow improvement in recent times. Can earn something. HYAKU has had five decent runs, two before her maiden win and two since that run. Should be in the shake up as well. Yard and jockey in terrific form. LAVENDER LANDSCAPE weakens late but has won and placed placed this C & D.

1st – BAH (4/1) (8); 2nd – COMMODORE AL (37/100 F) (6); 3rd – WHAT A BOYTJIE (12); 4th - HYAKU (11); 5th – LAVENDER LANDSCAPE (4)

RACE 6

KLONDIKE CREEK gave a glimpse of form return last time. Could be worth a few small place bets. EGYPTIAN ran on to win against stronger last time. Won by two lengths. Has every chance of repeating. DANTE'S LEGACY drops in distance. may need even shorter. TRIPLE BEAT showed a form return last time. Not out of it. MYWAYORTHEHIWAY ran around a bit last time. Can earn something this afternoon.

1st – KLONDIKE CREEK (14/1) (12); 2nd – EGYPTIAN (1); 3rd – DANTE'S LEGACY (227/100 F) (6); 4th - TRIPLE BEAT (8); 5th – MYWAYORTHEHIWAY (7)

RACE 7

CARRY ON ALICE has to be the best bet on today's card. Was just beaten in a strong Grade 1 race in Durban in July. Looks hard to oppose on form and at the weights. FIRE HORSE showed good improvement in a small feature last time. FLAME CAT is holding form well and has also raced in a few small features. AL DEE KAY won on debut last time. More to find at this level but a promising sort all the same. VICTORIOUS did not show in the Listed Golden Loom last time. Had good form prior to that run. Surprise package!

1st – CARRY ON ALICE (56/100 F) (6); 2nd – FIRE HORSE (5); 3rd – FLAME CAT (3); 4th - AL DEE KAY (9); 5th – VICTORIOUS (4)

RACE 8

GLORIOUS VICTORY won for the second time against the same strength field. Won easily. Every chance of repeating. Stable companion, HAWAIIAN SUN, has been maintaining a steady form rate and should challenge. EPIC TALE ran on well to win against the same strength field last time. Yard was in top form in Cape Town last Sunday. ZORTZIKO cannot be faulted on any of his runs, but needs to find more late. PRINCE OF ORANGE may be coming back to form. Reserve runner who could make his way into the race.

1st – GLORIOUS VICTORY (9/2) (10); 2nd – HAWAIIAN SUN (33/10 F) (3); 3rd – EPIC TALE (4); 4th - ZORTZIKO (9); 5th – PRINCE OF ORANGE (15)

RACE 9

BERNADINE has excellent form this C & D. Usually runs on strongly. INVENTIVE GIRL could cause an upset. Chance on previous runs. latest was way below par. BOLD APPROACH ran a good post maiden on the sand last time. May prefer sand. PRINCESS TANTAN weakened last two. Claims on earlier better form. SHIVER 'N SHAKE won his only start this C & D. Claims on best runs.

1st – BERNADINE (286/100 F) (3); 2nd – INVENTIVE GIRL (11); 3rd – BOLD APPROACH (9); 4th - PRINCESS TANTAN (4); 5th – SHIVER 'N SHAKE (1)

RACE 10

BY JOVE has finished well in her last three starts. Very good chance on those runs. LADY THISTLE was moderate on debut last time when starting at 50/1/. Piere Strydom has the ride. CAPE MARIGOLD may improve over the shorter trip this afternoon. BUDDY'S FALCON was not disgraced when finishing third on Tuesday on the sand. SENDINTHECLOWNS was returning from a three month rest last time.

1st – BY JOVE (286/100 F) (5); 2nd – LADY THISTLE (10); 3rd – CAPE MARIGOLD (6); 4th - BUDDY'S FALCON (2); 5th – SENDINTHECLOWNS (1)

 BEST BET: RACE 7 NUMBER 6 CARRY ON ALICE

BEST VALUE: RACE 8 NUMBER 10 GLORIOUS VICTORY

BEST OUTSIDER: RACE 3 NUMBER 7 AFRICAN AFFAIR

BI POT: (RACES 2 - 7)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: (RACES 3 - 9)

PICK 6: (RACES 4 - 9)

 JACKPOT: (RACE 5 - 8)