Saints Alive is a safe bet
PUNTERS could get off to a good start at the Vaal Outside track meeting tomorrow, which has nine races, as the well-bred Saints Alive looks to have a fine chance in the first.
This Elusive Fort filly is a fullsister to the three-times Gr1 runner up Safe Harbour and caught the eye staying on with long strides on debut over 1200m to finish a narrow second despite having lost two lengths at the start.
She should appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies. She won’t have it easy as the Trippi filly Railtrip looks a decent sort.
Hero’s Honour
She is a half-sister to SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour so will also the appreciate the step up to 1400m. Last time out she was drawn on the wrong side on the Vaal Inside track over 1200m and after showing good pace stayed on to only just fail.
Saints Alive is given the vote as she is drawn close to the outside rail, which is usually the right side to be on at this course.
Punters could accumulate more in the next race through Rocky Night. He is by speed influence Seventh Rock but is out of an In The Wings mare and is also a rangy sort, so he will likely appreciate the step up to 1400m in this Maiden Juvenile Plate.
Drop Kick
Furthermore, looks to have plenty of scope. He is drawn 16, another point in his favour. It is an interesting race as there are others who make appeal, including Drop Kick, Electromagnetic, Forries At Five, My Boy Calois, Tequila Man and the first-timers Tarzan and Latin Opus, but Rocky Night is the selection.
The third race over 1200m won’t take a lot of winning and the firsttimer Rising of the north is the selection being by Pomodoro out of the twice Gr3 runner up sprinter Mary Stuart, who is by Black Minnaloushe. King Of The Delta has attracted betting support before and having finished strongly over this trip last time he should go close again from a favourable high draw. Her looks to be the main danger.
In the fourth race over 1200m Sally Called made a decent debut and is chosen to be a Pick 6 banker, but only due to the firsttimer rule. Hot Chocolate and Laduree are well-bred first-timers who could upset her.
The former is by Oratorio out of the Silvano Grade 2-winning sprinter Mocachino and the latter by Var is a full-sister to 94 merit rated sprinter Vous Et Var.
The handicaps then start so it gets tougher.
Alex The Great
In the fifth race over 1200m Alex The Great has always been well regarded but has been disappointing. He has now dropped to a competitive merit rating and can make his presence felt from quite a high draw of 12.
Cannes is an eight-year-old but still has pace and he is down to a competitive merit rating and drawn well over a course and distance he enjoys. Ashley Fortune is doing well with her horses which have been brought up from the Cape and if Mount Keith reproduces his Cape Town form he will be right there. Silver King can’t be ignored for those wishing to go wider as he beat Cannes last time they met and Snow In Seattle has been in fine form too.
Race six over 1000m sees a clash between two promising sorts in Sirtain and Copper Jay.
The former’s only defeat in three starts since blinkers was when he was changing legs last time before being beaten into second.
He can resume winning ways if bouncing back to his best.
Copper Jay is 1kg better off with Sirtain for a 0,3 length beating in the aforementioned race and has caught the eye before as one with some potential.
In the next over 1400m Bockscar was outpaced over 1200m last time but flew up to win and he can follow up off just a four point higher mark.
He could be a banker consideration, but beyond him the race is wide open.
The chief contenders in the eighth over 1400m are Dawn Flight, Inthepurplerain and Pretty Popular. Dawn Flight looks better than her merit rating and proved last time she effective over this trip, although her low draw might be tricky.
Inthepurplerain has been facing stronger without being disgraced and will go close.
Pretty Popular has improved since a tongue tie was applied and is drawn on the right side.
Quebec Queen
The last race over 1400m Quebec Queen has won three times in her last four starts and if maintaining form can be involved again off a four point higher mark, although not too much can be read into her beating the promising Make Me Happy last time as the latter was drawn on the wrong side.
Some Song was unlucky when beginning to move up well in that same race so the bare result can be ignored and she has a big shout here.
Snow Path, All I Got and Chartwell make most appeal of the rest.