PREVIEW:VAAL (TURF) - 3 JULY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 06h00 Tuesday 3 July 2012.

There have been countless scratchings since the selections were made! There have also been innumerable jockey changes!!!

Please note another late scratching: RACE 8 NUMBER 5 IKATI

RACE 1:Maiden Juvenile Plate (F) 1200m Straight

MUSIC AFFAIR is a reserve runner with good form before her latest poor run. The blinkers go on. Consider if she gets to run. GET 'EM TIGER made a fair debut last time when running on. Should improve. EMBLEM'S VEIL makes her debut. Watch the betting. MARGOT ON STAGE was fair on debut last time. May improve on that run. AOWYN is a first timer that cost only R10 000. One to keep an eye on. Add EXCEPTIONAL for the scratching.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MUSIC AFFAIR * (16); 2nd - GET 'EM TIGER (6); 3rd - EMBLEM'S VEIL (3); 4th - MARGOT ON STAGE (9); 5th - AOWYN (2)

RACE 2:Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m Straight

BRONZE STAR hung on debut when making his debut this C & D last time. All things considered it was a good second that he finished. DEUX FABULEAX ran on well last time despite racing green on debut last time. PASSION PLEASER also ran well on his debut last time when finishing a close up third. MACAVITY is improving, albeit slowly, SERISSA makes his debut. Cost R300 000. Watch the betting.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BRONZE STAR * (2); 2nd - DEUX FABULEAX (6); 3rd - PASSION PLEASER (10); 4th - MACAVITY (9); 5th - SERISSA (12)

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

HELLO POLLY made a very good debut last time when running on. LONDON DIPPER has had many chances but ran an improved race last time. Respect. RADIANT WISDOM missed the kick on debut last time but did make good progress late. RUBY CHIMES faded on debut last time. May improve. FIVE RINGS has steady form and is not out of the money chances. Add the first timer LEEWAY for the scratching.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HELLO POLLY * (5); 2nd - LONDON DIPPER (7); 3rd - RADIANT WISDOM (9); 4th - RUBY CHIMES (10); 5th - FIVE RINGS (3)

RACE 4:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1600m Straight
 
FULL QUEST has been inconsistent but she is the type of horse that could cause an upset in the first leg of the Pick Six. One has to remember that this is her twentieth run! All three of TRIANDRA's seconds have been over the distance. Ran a vastly improved race last time and should be right there. COUNTESS ROMANOV has steady form but may need more to win. Definite money chance though. JET RENDEZVOUS is never far back but fades late. RAILS RUN showed big improvement in her second start last time. She is still a two-year-old taking on older fillies and mares.

SELECTIONS: 1st - FULL QUEST * (6); 2nd - TRIANDRA (4); 3rd - COUNTESS ROMANOV (5); 4th - JET RENDEZVOUS (1); 5th - RAILS RUN (14)

RACE 5:Maiden Plate 1600m Straight

PURE HONEY has not run since November. Despite racing green he did run on well to finish a very good second on debut last time. If not needing the run he should be the best bet on today's card. VANTAGE also ran green on his debut last time. He still managed to find a decent finish. SIXMILEBRIDGE has steady form but may prefer slightly shorter. COMMODORE AL ran on despite racing green on debut last time. Certainly on to consider. THUNDER FOX has no form but one has to respect the jockey and trainer combination. Add SILVERLAND for the scratched horse.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PURE HONEY * (12); 2nd - VANTAGE (14); 3rd - SIXMILEBRIDGE (1); 4th - COMMODORE AL (7); 5th - THUNDER FOX (3)

RACE 6:MR 68 Apprentice Hcp 1400m Straight

COMICAL GUY is another reserve runner who, if given a chance to run, could feature at the line. Is clearly improving as well. ARCTIC BEAR ran on against stronger last time when finishing a five length sixth. Should prefer current company.  GREAT SMOKEY tends to weaken but only win was this C & D.  ASSIGN THE ASSASIN is never too far back and can, on his day, find a good finish. FLYING MO has won this C & D. Chance if finding a good finish. Add ALWAYSAWINNER for the scratched horse,

SELECTIONS: 1st - COMICAL GUY * (16); 2nd - ARCTIC BEAR (4); 3rd - GREAT SMOKEY (1); 4th - ASSIGN THE ASSASIN (8); 5th - FLYING MO (7)

RACE 7:MR 80 Hcp 1200m Straight

MYTHICAL PALACE is in very good form and runs on well. Looks to be the one to beat. OH DRISCOLL showed good improvement last time. Must come into contention on that improved run. ACRISIUS needs to find previous better form. Money chance all the same. KENTUCKY SHEIK takes on stronger. Place chance. WYATT WEST won well last time and has been a consistent earner. Does take on slightly stronger this afternoon.

SELECTIONS: 1st - MYTHICAL PALACE * (5); 2nd - OH DRISCOLL (2); 3rd - ACRISIUS (7); 4th - KENTUCKY SHEIK (8); 5th - WYATT WEST (11)

RACE 8:MR 68 Hcp 1000m Straight

IKATI has improved since his trainer brought her up to Gauteng. Since racing in Gauteng his form has been very good. Can continue with that form. CALLISTO MOON has had two good post maiden runs. Look for another honest effort. FAST DAY had a moderate post maiden last time but did fade late. Can earn. COURT DRESS disappointed last time but has claims on previous form. DAWN LIGHT drops in class and has improved in his last two starts. Add SKINNY JEANS for the scratched horse, that is if it too hasn't been scratched late!

SELECTIONS: 1st - IKATI * (5); 2nd - CALLISTO MOON (2); 3rd - FAST DAY (8); 4th - COURT DRESS (10); 5th - DAWN LIGHT (1)

RACE 9:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1000m Straight

WHITE WHISPER has had two good runs and she did run on when making her debut. Should be the one to beat. THROUGH IT ALL disappointed in her last two. Chance on earlier better form. SHERI BABY could be improving. BELLS OF BOW is another who could be on the up despite poor form. MELLI MOU makes her debut. watch the betting.

SELECTIONS: 1st - WHITE WHISPER * (13); 2nd - THROUGH IT ALL (1); 3rd - SHERI BABY (2); 4th - BELLS OF BOW (5); 5th - MELLI MOU (10)

BEST BET:                RACE 5 - NUMBER 12 PURE HONEY (12/10)

VALUE BET:            RACE 8 - NUMBER 5 IKATI (4/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 4 - NUMBER 6 FULL QUEST) (12/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9