PREVIEW:VAAL (SAND) EMERALD CUP DAY - 22 SEPTEMBER 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 15h15 Friday 21 September 2012.

RACE 1:MR 74 Hcp 1200m Bend

ROCKINGANDROLLING won all three of his starts this C & D and ran on well to win last time. Has a good shout. CELTIC KING is currently in good form with two wins and a second in his last three starts. Should be right there again. ESCAPE CLAUSE takes a considerable drop in class. A wide draw will not do any favours. On form against stronger he must have a shout. BLAZING MOON showed very good improvement last time when staying on. Were it not for a slow start may have got up to win. JUMBO ran on strongly to finish second this distance on turf last time. Has won at this track.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ROCKINGANDROLLING (33/10 F) (3); 2nd - CELTIC KING (5); 3rd - ESCAPE CLAUSE (1); 4th - BLAZING MOON (9); 5th - JUMBO (2)

RACE 2:MR 94 Hcp 1450m Bend

ALWAYS AL (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) returns to this track after a lengthy stay in KZN. Sets a good pace and has a nice draw. SUPER TROUPER (St John Gray/Gavin Lerena) is inconsistent. Did not show in his only start at this track way back in June. Could improve. MYTHICAL PALACE (Sean Tarry) has won his last three starts when running on. Not to be ignored. SPEED KEEPER (Roy Magner) did not show last time. Claims on previous form and with 53½kg on his back. SERMON enjoys this C & D but is off form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - ALWAYS AL (2/1) (3); 2nd - SUPER TROUPER (1); 3rd - MYTHICAL PALACE (4); 4th - SPEED KEEPER (7); 5th - SERMON (6)

RACE 3:Sophomore Fillies (Non-Black Type) 1000m Straight

PHENOMENAL (Dominic Zaki) is unbeaten after two starts. Both wins have been impressive and she certainly looks to be going places. The two wins were also over the 1000m trip. Yet to race on sand but looks hard to oppose on form. ROOI NOOI is unbeaten this C & D (2 from 2). Her only wins have been this C & D. Can finish well. Piere Strydom rides again. SPACE GIRL has only raced in Kimberley and her record shows three wins from four starts. takes on stronger. FLYING FOO ran a decent post maiden last time but has tougher to face. LECTURE QUEEN has moderate post maiden form.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PHENOMENAL (12/10 F) *** (2); 2nd - ROOI NOOI (3); 3rd - SPACE GIRL (1); 4th - FLYING FOO (13); 5th - LECTURE QUEEN (9)

RACE 4:Sophomore 1000m (Non-Black Type) 1000m Straight

PEANUTS (Roy Magner/Gavin Lerena) won his last two, including his maiden. His second win was this C & D when running on to do so. Looks likely to win again soon. CONTADOR (Charles Laird/Anton Marcus) races for the first time in Gauteng. Was finishing well in his latest. MOGOK'S DESIRE has good form and looks likely to improve even further. TURBO TOM (Dominic Zaki) showed good pace when holding on well to win his maiden by well over two lengths last time. That was only his second start. VICTORY CALL showed good improvement last time and could improve even more.

SELECTIONS: 1st - PEANUTS (2/1) (2); 2nd - CONTADOR (4); 3rd - MOGOK'S DESIRE (1); 4th - TURBO TOM (5); 5th - VICTORY CALL (8)

RACE 5:MR 84 Hcp (F & M) 1200m Bend

TATTERS (Roy Magner/Gavin Lerena) did not show in a small feature last time. Must have a chance in this field. Has raced three occasions this C & D and has won twice! One to respect. TO REMEMBER (St John Gray/Robbie Fradd) has improved form in her last two starts but against weaker. May improve. COLD APPROACH (Dominic Zaki) has very good post maiden form in her last two starts. Sets a very good pace. ALL IN THE MIND is consistent and never far back. Has won at this track. SOLARIUM (Michael Azzie/Francois Herholdt) is a bit inconsistent. Sets a good pace and often fades late.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TATTERS (71/10) (3); 2nd - TO REMEMBER (11); 3rd - COLD APPROACH (12); 4th - ALL IN THE MIND (4); 5th - SOLARIUM (5)

RACE 6:Emerald Fillies Hcp (Listed) (R150 000) 1450m Bend

CHERRY ON THE CAKE (Gavin Van Zyl/Anthony Delpech) has shown a distinct liking for the sand since moving away from KZN. Does have a good finish. SHATTERED IMAGE (Roy Magner) ran on to win this C & D last time. FORMATION (St John Gray/Gavin Lerena) has the form at this track to win. Has won this C & D but in recent times has been racing over further, with success. SIMPLY BLUE (Roy Magner/Piere Strydom) runs well with Piere Strydom aboard. Watch for another decent run. Yet to prove that she enjoys sand. UGLY BETTY (Roy Magner) runs well this C & D but could have something to find to win this.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CHERRY ON THE CAKE (11/2) (5); 2nd - SHATTERED IMAGE (4); 3rd - FORMATION (1); 4th - SIMPLY BLUE (3); 5th - UGLY BETTY (7)

RACE 7:Hampton Handicap (Listed) (150 000) 1000m Straight

RENEGADE is eight years old without a win in many a long day. Has steady form and should have a good chance with Piere Strydom aboard. Appears to be nicely weighted. LINK MAN (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) is an unknown factor on sand. Has been battling to regain earlier form and the four month break could be the tonic he needed. MANNEQUIN runs exceptionally well this C & D and won very easily this C & D last time. FURIOUS DANCER will need to repeat his penultimate start. Is unbeaten this C & D (4 from 4). RUBY KING has only been out of the first three once in nine starts this C & D.

SELECTIONS: 1st - RENEGADE (83/10) (7); 2nd - LINK MAN (1); 3rd - MANNEQUIN (2); 4th - FURIOUS DANCER (3); 5th - RUBY KING (4)

RACE 8:Grade 2 Emerald Cup (R600 000) 1450m Bend

This looks to be an open and highly competitive feature. THE MOUSEKETEER (Sean Tarry/Piere Strydom) did not show in a pinnacle stakes race last time. He has not won in a while but did win this race last year. Significantly, of the four runners sent out by Sean Tarry, Piere Strydom has this one. At best will be running on. ACROSS THE ICE (Sean Tarry/Robbie Fradd) has impeccable form this C & D with a 60% win rate. Won impressively this track over shorter last time. A third Sean Tarry runner, MR TOBIN has won 9 from 10 starts at this track. Unbeaten this C & D (2 from 2). Will be running on. Has it all to do with 60½kg on his back. Gavin Lerena rides. CAPTAIN'S SECRET (Mike Bass/Karl Neisius) made his Gauteng debut last time. Ran on that day and watch for another good finish. MEADOW MAGIC (Mike De Kock/Anthony Delpech) needs a form return. On his day is capable. Capable of a money chance.

SELECTIONS: 1st - THE MOUSEKETEER (11/1) (8); 2nd - ACROSS THE ICE (9); 3rd - MR TOBIN (1); 4th - CAPTAIN'S SECRET (7); 5th - MEADOW MAGIC (3)

RACE 9:Banyana Handicap (Listed) (R150 000) 1000m Straight

LA VOLTA (Michael Azzie) is holding form. Loves this C & D. Shows good speed and has the ability to keep going. IKATI is another Kumaran Naidoo horse that has improved since moving up the N3 from Durban. KINEMATIC COUNTESS (Roy Magner/Gavin Lerena) is another who loves this C & D and should be running on. VARIOMETER ran a shocker last time but must have a shout with Piere Strydom riding. AMUR AFFAIR (Mike De Kock) appears to be improving.

SELECTIONS: 1st - LA VOLTA (4/1 F) (8); 2nd - IKATI (11); 3rd - KINEMATIC COUNTESS (2); 4th - VARIOMETER (3); 5th - AMUR AFFAIR (1)

RACE 10:Vaal River Hcp (Non-Black Type) 1800m Bend

SAYADAW has good form this C & D. Must have a chance on his form at this track. Will be running on. MR. PREMIER has only 52½kg to carry. Runs well at this track. Has improved since moving from KZN with the Kumaran Naidoo satellite yard. PYLON (Michael Azzie/Gavin Lerena) is unbeaten this C & D (2 from 2). Tends to fade though. MASTER ENTERTAINER won well last time. Could repeat. MASAI WARRIOR (Michael Azzie) will have to repeat his penultimate start.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SAYADAW (12/1) (1); 2nd - MR. PREMIER (9); 3rd - PYLON (5); 4th - MASTER ENTERTAINER (10); 5th - MASAI WARRIOR (7)

BEST BET:                RACE 3 - NUMBER 2 PHENOMENAL

VALUE BET:            RACE 1 - NUMBER 3 ROCKINGANDROLLING

BEST OUTSIDER:    RACE 8 - NUMBER 8 THE MOUSEKETEER

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9