Peppermint Tea is the choice
THE Vaal Inside track stages a nine race meeting tomorrow and any draw bias must be noted in the early races, although the low draws are usually favourable on this course.
The first race is interesting as it features the Sean Tarry-trained Perfect Pursuit, who is a fullbrother to King’s Temptress, who won the SA Fillies Nursery on debut at odds of over 100-1 a few years ago.
He jumps from a nice low draw with Keagan de Melo up.
Tycoon
Tycoon is the choice to be the first home of the raced horses as he is a scopey sort who should come on from his fair debut when running out of steam late.
The next race is the first of the Assessment Plates to be run and the improved Strawberry Pavlova looks set to beat Nautic Spirit.
The young horses Sally Called and La Lucia look to have promise but have it quite tough at the weights and Free and Easy also showed promise in her first two starts but now returns from a long layoff.
In the first leg of the PA Elusive Coral and Dream On have both shown promise and have scope for improvement, while Bullsade is an older horse with some hardknocking form who is drawn number one. That trio should get punters through.
Operetta
The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m sees the promising Operetta going for a hattrick.
She looked a picture before her last start and although not an imposing sort at all she romped to a 3,25 length victory.
On the downside the form is questionable and she was given a seven point raise.
Esploratore looks to be a progressive sort and she was stayinmg on well over 1160m last time from a tricky low draw.
Her highish draw here is not ideal but she should be in the mix.
Gold Dawn is the type who can stay on well over this trip and she could have come on from her last start which followed a three-anda-half month layoff.
Colombina always catches the eye in the preliminaries and as one with speed who has stayed on over this trip before she will be a threat from a nice draw.
Last Girl Standing made a fair comeback from a seven month layoff last time and if recapturing her best form has a chance.
In the next leg over 1200m Peppermint Tea showed last time she is at her best when held up over this sort of trip and producing a late rattle.
She looks to be coming into her own too having turned four and can follow up despite being given a five point raise.
La Bastide
La Bastide drops in class here and will be a lively contender over a trip she is effective over.
These two stand out on form and a chance is taken that they can get punters through the exotics.
In the sixth race over 1000m Copper Jay is taken to win as a progressive distance suited horse who is drawn on the right side.
He looked the winner last time so will appreciate the step back from 1200m to 1000m and is a banker consideration.
However, Brigtnumberten is a useful sprinter who drops in class and this consistent sort has a nice low draw too.
Isphan has speed and class on his day and can never be ignored.
Pillaroftheearth has always been well regarded and his last run suggests he is coming into his own.
Greasepaint is an evergreen sort who has now dropped back to a competitive mark so he could also be a candidate.
The seventh over 1400m should see In The Game staying on over an ideal distance off a mark just two points higher than his last win.
Seventh Rule is interesting as he has a lot of speed and managed to hang on in his maiden over this trip.
He will appreciate the step down in trip from the 1600m he tried last time and since his maiden win, in just two more starts, he has been dropped eight points by the handicapper so has a shout.
Hideaway could be involved if ridden more conservatively.
Sovereign Rein has fine recent form and this is his best trip, but his high draw could be a concern.
River Ayre ran well the last time he tried this trip and has the number one draw which is plum by trends.
The eighth over 1400m could be fought out by a trio who stand out on form and distance suitability.
They are Monty Python, Private Ruler and the mare Quebec Queen.
The risk averse should look for more contenders as it is by no means cut and dried.
The last race over 1700m is a maiden but it is still tough.
Wishing Stone is chosen as a PA banker as he was staying on well in a fair field last time over 1450m and will relish the step up in trip.
However, Robusto looks to have scope for improvement and has a plum draw as opposed to last time over 1800m when having to be dropped out before running on. Skiminac has the best form and is drawn in pole but returns from a long layoff.