PREVIEW:VAAL (TURF) - 17 MAY 2012

Scratchings up to date as at 05h30 Thursday 17 May 2012.

RACE 1:Workriders Maiden Plate 1400m Straight

SANDBAR has the blinkers fitted this debut.afternoon. Could improve on a moderate debut. HOLLYWOOD CHIEF (Mike De Kock) did not show when running on sand last week. He finished fourth just over four lengths back that day. That was his first run on sand. Prefer on turf. SCIENTIST is inconsistent but this is no strong field. KASHAN finished ninth last Thursday on sand. Prefer on turf. GREAT SMOKEY has a chance on his first two runs and not his last two which were moderate to say the least.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SANDBAR * (14); 2nd - HOLLYWOOD CHIEF (1); 3rd - SCIENTIST (6); 4th - KASHAN (3); 5th - GREAT SMOKEY (2)

RACE 2:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1400m Straight

UP FRONT has not run since July last year. Good form before the rest. Anton Marcus rides. Will be running on if fit. I OWN THE NIGHT showed very good improvement in her second start last time. ANGELICA makes her debut. Watch the betting. Is well bred. LADY'S DESIRE was running on strongly last time when finishing a good second. Respect. KINGS BOUNTY has a chance on her penultimate start.

SELECTIONS: 1st - UP FRONT ** (1); 2nd - I OWN THE NIGHT (11); 3rd - ANGELICA (10); 4th - LADY'S DESIRE (2); 5th - KINGS BOUNTY (3)

RACE 3:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1400m Straight

HOTEL ROYALE takes a small drop in class. Has a chance. Has run a place this C & D. PENNY FARE (St John Gray/Anthony Delpech) has won and place this C & D. Sets a good pace but has the courage to keep going. LIKE THE WILLOW has had two fair post maiden runs. One to respect. ROYAL HEIR has her third run in Gauteng. Could be recapturing some decent KZN form. JOLLY WOOD won her maiden last time. Not out of it in this field.

SELECTIONS: 1st - HOTEL ROYALE * (1); 2nd - PENNY FARE (4); 3rd - LIKE THE WILLOW (11); 4th - ROYAL HEIR (13); 5th - JOLLY WOOD (3)

RACE 4:MR 68 Hcp (F & M) 1400m Straight

KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE (St John Gray/Brandon Lerena) has raced against far stronger and should go close despite the 62kg she has to carry. OHIKI BAY ran well in her post maiden run last time. That was only her second start. Looks to have improvement still to come. SHATTERED IMAGE rarely runs a bad race. Has been racing mainly on sand lately though. SPIRITOFAMPHITRITE should not be ignored with Piere Strydom aboard. CALAMITY KATE won her maiden last time. Anthony Delpech has the ride.

SELECTIONS: 1st - KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE * (1); 2nd - OHIKI BAY (3); 3rd - SHATTERED IMAGE (11); 4th - SPIRITOFAMPHITRITE (5); 5th - CALAMITY KATE (7)

RACE 5:MR 80 Hcp 1200m Straight

SUPA ALPHA (Mike De Kock/Derreck David) won impressively by almost ten lengths in Zimbabwe in July last year. Has not raced since and has also changed stables. Certainly must have a shout on that run. WHERE'S MY CHOP (St John Gray/Brandon Lerena) loves this C & D and has won his last two. Good chance of the hat trick and will be running on. ALIBABA'S JEWEL (Geoff Woodruff/Anton Marcus) has steady form. Could stay on. WESTERN COUNT (Joe Soma/Piere Strydom) drops in class but has picked up the blinkers this afternoon. Has been racing over a bit further. On form must have a shout. AEROFOIL has raced only three times. All three runs have been this C & D and he has won twice! This is a bit stronger but he looks to be one that could move through the divisions rather rapidly.

SELECTIONS: 1st - SUPA ALPHA * (9); 2nd - WHERE'S MY CHOP (1); 3rd - ALIBABA'S JEWEL (5); 4th - WESTERN COUNT (3); 5th - AEROFOIL (10)

RACE 6:MR 78 Hcp (F & M) 2200m Bend

TURKISH DELIGHT (St John Gray/Anthony Delpech) did not show in the Spook Express last time. She is an out and out stayer and this should be much easier than her last start in that feature. Expect a big run from her. FINAL SCORE (Sean Tarry/Brandon Lerena) did not show in the Oaks last time. Could have a shout against weaker this afternoon. ALESSANDRIA (Geoff Woodruff/Anton Marcus) also failed to show in the Oaks last time. Has won only once and that was with Anton Marcus aboard. SEA PASSAGE (St John Gray) has good form in similar strength fields. SUNNY DISPOSITION has a chance this extra trip on evidence of her effort over 2000m to runs back. Piere Strydom rode that day and rides again this afternoon.

SELECTIONS: 1st - TURKISH DELIGHT * (1); 2nd - FINAL SCORE (4); 3rd - ALESSANDRIA (3); 4th - SEA PASSAGE (2); 5th - SUNNY DISPOSITION (11)

RACE 7:MR 90 Hcp 1800m Bend

GOLDEN CREST (Geoff Woodruff/Anton Marcus) won his last two against similar opposition. Will be doing best work late and both those runs were impressive. Big chance again. WAGNER (Joe Soma/Piere Strydom) has the cheek pieces fitted. Did not show in the Derby last time. Chance on form against similar fields. LUMINOUS LOVE (Geoff Woodruff/Marco Van Rensburg) won his last two over further. Has a money chance. RASHAAD (Mike De Kock) could be losing form. Chance on earlier form. CARIBBEAN COAST is distance suited but not that reliable.

SELECTIONS: 1st - GOLDEN CREST * (1); 2nd - WAGNER (2); 3rd - LUMINOUS LOVE (7); 4th - RASHAAD (10); 5th - CARIBBEAN COAST (4)

RACE 8:MR 73 Hcp 1800m Bend

CAUSEWAY (Geoff Woodruff/Marco Van Rensburg) takes a huge drop on class. The blinkers are removed. Could surprise. CANTERBURY TALES (Mike De Kock/Anton Marcus) won his maiden last time. Has not run since July. The extra trip will suit. Chance if ready and not needing the run. RHEIMS (Alec Laird/JP van der Merwe) may have found his latest run just a bit too far. MARCHING BAND did not show on the sand last Thursday. Chance back on the turf. EGYPTIAN (St John Gray/Anthony Delpech) has improved in his last two starts. Very good chance at the weights.

SELECTIONS: 1st - CAUSEWAY * (2); 2nd - CANTERBURY TALE (1); 3rd - RHEIMS (4); 4th - MARCHING BAND (6); 5th - EGYPTIAN (9)

RACE 9:Maiden Plate (F & M) 1800m Bend

BLACK AND WHITE is improving with each run. The extra trip should suit. Runs on over shorter. Should be difficult to oppose. BINT OWEE (Michael Azzie/Anthony Delpech) ran a decent race last time after having been rested for eight months. Should be fitter this afternoon. LUCKY HAND ran her best race last time but that was in December. May need the run. JET RENDEZVOUS has more to find but Piere Strydom has replaced original jockey aboard. SAKKIE SAKKIE is battling for that maiden win. Can earn.

SELECTIONS: 1st - BLACK AND WHITE * (1); 2nd - BINT OWEE (8); 3rd - LUCKY HAND (2); 4th - JET RENDEZVOUS (7); 5th - SAKKIE SAKKIE (5)

BEST BET:                    RACE 2 - NUMBER 1 UP FRONT (9/20)

VALUE BET:                RACE 6 - NUMBER 1 TURKISH DELIGHT (5/1)

BEST OUTSIDER:      RACE 8 - NUMBER 2 CAUSEWAY (11/1)

PLACE ACCUMULATOR: RACES 3 - 9