PREVIEW:VAAL (TURF) - 28 JUNE 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 10h00 Wednesday 27 June 2012.

RACE 1:Workriders Maiden Plate 1600m Straight

BROTHER IN ARMS looks to be one of the best bets on the cards. Faded late this C & D when finishing second. Very good chance on that run. WILD AIR is a reserve runner who, with the scratchings, will make the starting line up. Fair debut last time. LAURENCE OFLENASIA has yet to show since moving to Gauteng. For that matter did not show any more in KZN. Could be better than the balance of runners. CARDAMOM improved by twelve lengths last time when setting a decent pace. MAN AT ARMS got it all wrong when making his Gauteng debut last time. Had some fair KZN form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BROTHER IN ARMS * (14); 2nd - WILD AIR (15); 3rd - LAURENCE OFLENASIA (2); 4th - CARDAMOM (3); 5th - MAN AT ARMS (1)

RACE 2:Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m Straight

VIRTUOSITY would probably have won last time when making his debut this C & D had he not lost a length at the start. He flew up late to be denied by about a quarter of a length. Has to be the one to beat. DE VAR HYT was found wanting in the same race last time, also in his debut. Piere Strydom rides again. Will improve. EAGLE FACE made an excellent sand debut last time when flying up late to go down by a head. Showed potential that day, but that was on sand. OPHIRTON and ONE UP make their debuts. Keep a close eye on the betting.

SELECTIONS: 1st - VIRTUOSITY * (14); 2nd - DE VAR HYT (2); 3rd - EAGLE FACE (3); 4th - OPHIRTON (10); 5th - ONE UP (9)

RACE 3:Maiden Plate 1200m (F & M) Straight

IMPERIAL EMPRESS has finished second in both of his two latest starts. Finished second this C & D in his penultimate start. Did stay on last time. Gavin Lerena rides this filly for the first time. ELEGANT TUNE also stayed on last time, but that was over 1000m at this track. Piere Strydom has the ride. Should be a close finish between these two. SPRING BLASTER was just outpaced late in her debut run last time. That was over this C & D. Chance to improve. LIZA is a reserve runner who could be a factor, if she gets to run. TIME TO FLY has steady form but has to go some to win. Place chance, perhaps!

SELECTIONS: 1st - IMPERIAL EMPRESS * (12); 2nd - ELEGANT TUNE (1); 3rd - SPRING BLASTER (14); 4th - LIZA (15); 5th - TIME TO FLY (2)

RACE 4:MR 71 Hcp 1200m Straight

THUNDERBALL has won his last two starts. The good form could continue. A hat trick could be on the cards. KENTUCKY SHEIK is inconsistent but has decent form. Piere Strydom has the ride. Definite chance in this field despite the 60kg. GREENWICH has very good form and has certainly improved since moving up to Gauteng with the yard away from KZN. MIDNIGHT CAT improved a great deal last time but that improvement could be deceiving as he took no interest two runs back after having stumbled. Chance of making amends this afternoon. BREEZING THROUGH showed very good improvement last time. Not one to take too lightly in a MR 71.

SELECTIONS: 1st - THUNDERBALL * (12); 2nd - KENTUCKY SHEIK (1); 3rd - GREENWICH (6); 4th - MIDNIGHT CAT (3); 5th - BREEZING THROUGH (5)

RACE 5:MR 76 Hcp 1400m Straight

MO' PEPPER has very good current form, especially over this C & D and make him a solid choice to take the first leg of the Jackpot. Will be running on and is well weighted. GLITTER STAR has yet to run a bad race. Won on debut five runs back and with one win, three seconds and a close up fourth, could be the main challenger. Has placed second this C & D. WAR FRONT ran on very strongly this C & D when finishing less than a length back in second last time. Gavin Lerena rode him last time and has held on to the ride for this afternoon. VALERE ran well in his post maiden last time. Has scope. PRINCE IGOR could be losing form but do not totally ignore.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MO' PEPPER * (12); 2nd - GLITTER STAR (1); 3rd - WAR FRONT (4); 4th - VALERE (3); ; 5th - PRINCE IGOR (5)

RACE 6:MR 95 Hcp 1400m Straight

GLORIOUS JET has run equally well with blinkers as without. They go on this afternoon. He loves the track and was running on last time when finishing a close up third. Piere Strydom hops aboard this afternoon for St John Gray. ACROSS THE ICE (Sean Tarry) is also improving. Form is good enough to win this race. Apprentice claim of 2½kg should assist. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE ran on well to win over shorter last time. On form and at the weights should fight this one out. CAPTAIN HADDOCK has steady form and does usually set a good pace. MAIN DANE did not show last time. It is a Mike De Kock inmate though and ought to be respected. Takes on stronger.

SELECTIONS: 1st - GLORIOUS JET * (10); 2nd - ACROSS THE ICE (1); 3rd - NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (11); 4th - CAPTAIN HADDOCK (12); 5th - MAIN DANE (14)

RACE 7:MR 86 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

SMART GIRL is holding form really well. She stays on very well and loves this C & D. Has faced slightly stronger and is well weighted. The one to beat. The St John Gray inmate, and owned filly, KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE could be "knocking" on the door on her latest improve start when staying on over 1400m at this track. She has won this C & D but what does impress is her improvement in her last start. Should go close if confirming that run. GOLDEN VEIL also showed improvement against fillies in a conditions plate last time. Respect. MARGHERITA LOTTI could be losing form but she does face a slightly weaker field this afternoon. LARUSSA has an apprentice claim of 4kg. Has the beating of GOLDEN VEIL at the weights but I do like the improvement she showed last time.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SMART GIRL * (5); 2nd - KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE (10); 3rd - GOLDEN VEIL (8); 4th - MARGHERITA LOTTI (4); 5th - LARUSSA (1)

RACE 8:MR 70 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Straight

I have tipped WOLLONDILLY on a number of occasions after she won impressively on debut almost a year ago. She followed that up by winning her post maiden before not showing much in her eight subsequent races. She did come to light in a conditions race last time when improving by eleven lengths. This could be the time of year for her to run her best races. She has won this C & D. Is currently at 83/10 which could mark some decent value. COMIC BEAUTY also showed good improvement last time when improving by ten lengths. Ran on strongly that day. Chance on that run. DAPPLED BEAUTY is also improving and will be running on. SPRITOFAMPHITRITE did not show last time. She has two things in her favour: Gavin Lerena; and some fair form before her latest dismal effort over further. Prefer over this afternoon's distance. ROCK THE SYSTEM is a bit "up-and-down" but has a small chance if repeating her penultimate run where she won against far weaker.

SELECTIONS: 1st - WOLLONDILLY * (3); 2nd - COMIC BEAUTY (2); 3rd - DAPPLED BEAUTY (10); 4th - SPRITOFAMPHITRITE (4); 5th - ROCK THE SYSTEM (1)

RACE 9:MR 72 Hcp 1200m Straight

COMISSION DUE ran a few days ago where he finished third at Turffontein behind CAPITOLINE. He was only 3.75 lengths back that day. Drifted in the betting from 6/1 to start at 9/1. Gavin Lerena rides. Has very good form this C & D (3-2-3) from ten runs this C & D. On this strong form a definite chance in a weak field. BEARING GIFTS is threatening to improve. TONY'S TIPPLE could improve with Piere Strydom but did not show when Strydom rode him last time. MARIUS has been improving on the sand. Only win was this track though. COHIBA did not show on sand last time. Prefer this C & D where he has had his best runs.

SELECTIONS: 1st - COMISSION DUE ** (1); 2nd - BEARING GIFTS (4); 3rd - TONY'S TIPPLE (5); 4th - MARIUS (11); 5th - COHIBA (6)

BEST BET:        RACE 9 - NUMBER 1 COMISSION DUE (286/100)

VALUE BET:    RACE 4 - NUMBER 12 THUNDERBALL (9/2)

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 8 - NUMBER 3 WOLLONDILLY (83/10)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9