PREVIEW:VAAL (SAND) - 25 JUNE 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 06h00 Monday 25 June 2012.

RACE 1:Juvenile Plate 1200m Bend

CAMPUS ROCK ran a fair post maiden last time when running on late. Drawn widest. DONNIE BRASCO did not show in his post maiden last time which just happened to be the Grade 1 SA Nursery! Chance on debut win the run before that. Will fight this one out. ROOI NOOI won her maiden last time. That was against older fillies. Piere Strydom rides again. RYDER CUP has moderate form but could soon begin to improve. KINGDOM'S KEY appears to be improving.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CAMPUS ROCK * (2); 2nd - DONNIE BRASCO (3); 3rd - ROOI NOOI (6); 4th - RYDER CUP (11); 5th - KINGDOM'S KEY (9)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate 1450m Bend

ROAD WARRIOR has improved in his last two starts but is drawn wide. Gavin Lerena has the ride. Stable companion, SHADOW MODE, on the other hand, is drawn on the paint but tends to fade. These two could fight it out. SUGAR AND SHAKE threatens to improve but also fades late. SILVER MODEL (Gavin Van Zyl) is improving again. Stable companion, MARCHE has Anthony Delpech aboard. Has improved his last three starts but his latest was below his previous two.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ROAD WARRIOR * (1); 2nd - SHADOW MODE (2); 3rd - SUGAR AND SHAKE (14); 4th - SILVER MODEL (6); 5th - MARCHE (3)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1600m Bend

SET TO STRIKE showed good improvement last time when setting the pace over slightly shorter. Respect. VILLAHERMOSA ran her best run last time when running on over 1450m. Should be involved at the finish. GOLDEN SPECTRUM  (Sean Tarry) did not show last time but best runs have been this C & D where she has finished second once and third twice. FESTIVE INTERLUDE (St John Gray/Piere Strydom) did not show last time but previous two starts was infinitely better. BUTTERFLY KNOT tends to fade but can fill a minor placing.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SET TO STRIKE * (5); 2nd - VILLAHERMOSA (6); 3rd - GOLDEN SPECTRUM (4); 4th - FESTIVE INTERLUDE (3); 5th - BUTTERFLY KNOT (7)

RACE 4:MR 80 Hcp 1600m Bend

NEW YORK has shown very good recent form and should find extra late. Looks hard to oppose in this field. COMBERA BOY moves between the Vaal and Flamingo Park to race. Runs well at both venues and must always be respected as he does find a good finish. CITY OF BELLS (Michael Azzie/Gavin Lerena) appears to be losing form but yard is in very good form at present. DUAL ALLIANCE (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) finished well after a sluggish start last time to win by three lengths over 1200m at this track. He has won over this distance before. Do not leave out. SILVER SPECIALIST improved by over ten lengths last time when running on. Respect.

SELECTIONS: 1st - NEW YORK ** (6); 2nd - COMBERA BOY (10); 3rd - CITY OF BELLS (3); 4th - DUAL ALLIANCE (9); 5th - SILVER SPECIALIST (11)

RACE 5:MR 86 Hcp (F & M) 1450m Bend

FULL MOON RISING (Michael Azzie/Piere Strydom) has steady form and ran a decent sort of race last time. Runs well at this track. BESMA (Mike De Kock) won well when racing on sand for the first time. May prefer shorter, but consider on the strength of her latest run. SHATTERED IMAGE is holding form well. Gavin Lerena rides. PRISMATIC FIRE appears to be improving again. CHERRY ON THE CAKE (Gavin Van Zyl/Anthony Delpech) has been disappointing of late. May take well to the sand.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FULL MOON RISING * (1); 2nd - BESMA (6); 3rd - SHATTERED IMAGE (3); 4th - PRISMATIC FIRE (10); 5th - CHERRY ON THE CAKE (4)

RACE 6:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1450m Bend

HEADS UP (St John Gray/Piere Strydom) won at Turffontein on Saturday. If she in fact runs, consider her again. LA NEGRITA drops a bit in class. Chance if running on, something she does not do that often. TO REMEMBER (St John Gray/Anthony Delpech) improved by over seventeen lengths last time. Respect. Has only won at this track. PERFECT WINTER could be ready to improve. MOTHER SUPERIOR (St John Gray) is never far back and has a surprise chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HEADS UP * (12); 2nd - LA NEGRITA (1); 3rd - TO REMEMBER (2); 4th - PERFECT WINTER (6); 5th - MOTHER SUPERIOR (14)

RACE 7:MR 80 Hcp 1200m Bend

BE ASSURED loves the distance. He has been facing stronger in his past six runs. May prefer turf, but on form against stronger he must he included.ROMANTIC GIRL (Michael Azzie/Gavin Lerena) is improving and her latest effort was her best in a while. Stayed on well that day. EXTREME WEST Makes his Gauteng debut. Moderate KZN form but could improve. In-form jockey, Marco Van Rensburg has the ride. GOLD GAME did not show against stronger last time. Could improve in this field. HORSE OF JOSIAH also drops in class and may have a shout, for places at best.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BE ASSURED * (4); 2nd - ROMANTIC GIRL (10); 3rd - EXTREME WEST (8); 4th - GOLD GAME (1); 5th - HORSE OF JOSIAH (3)

RACE 8:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1000m Straight

PINE SHADE ran well when making her track debut last time. Could go one better than her second last time. FANZENE (Geoff Woodruff/Marco Van Rensburg) ran well last time. Trainer's only run for the day. Must be respected, especially in this field. SAVANNAH MONTANA (Dominic Zaki/Piere Strydom) won her maiden at the third attempt last time. That was also her first run at this track. Must be a serious runner because Piere Strydom has taken the ride. AGAPANTHUS NANA could be losing form. The only reason I have mentioned her is because Anthony Delpech has the ride. POCKET MAGIC has good Kimberley form but whether that will be good enough for this afternoon remains to be seen.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PINE SHADE * (1); 2nd - FANZENE (3); 3rd - SAVANNAH MONTANA (9); 4th - AGAPANTHUS NANA (5); 5th - POCKET MAGIC (7)

BEST BET:        RACE 4 - NUMBER 6 NEW YORK (357/100)

VALUE BET:     RACE 1 - NUMBER 2 CAMPUS ROCK (9/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 6 - NUMBER 1 LA NEGRITA (11/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 2 - 8