Wrecking Ball is a banker possibility

THERE is an eight race card at the Vaal inside tomorrow and once again there are good horses turning out as they need runs before their respective feature race campaigns.

The fifth is a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1 000m for fillies and the topweight Wrecking Ball is weighted to win. She has to carry 61,5kg but is 3,5kg better off than any other horse on official merit ratings and has Gavin Lerena up over an ideal trip. Her high draw is unfavourable but she can overcome it with her pace and class.

Wrecking Ball

Queen Laurie is held on form by Wrecking Ball and returns from a layoff, with her last race having been when setting the pace in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. She has a plum draw of two by trends and considering her early pace could be a danger.

Winter Watch didn’t beat much last time but did it comfortably and looks to have a bright future. She packs a strong finish and is the dark horse, despite being 4,5kg under sufferance with Wrecking Ball.

Just Vogue ran a good race over course and distance in June when two lengths behind the speedy Effortless Reward and she should be staying on again from a tricky high draw.

Daring Diva had good feature form as a two-year-old and can’t be ignored. She has a high draw but could overcome it with her pace. She is 3,5kg under sufferance on official merit ratings with Wrecking Ball, but should have come on from her last outing.

Those are the five which make most appeal, but on a tricky card Wrecking Ball will have to be a banker consideration with Queen Laurie the back up.

The next race is a 1ooom Pinnacle Stakes race.

The Thinker is 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse but he proved in his last race, when winning a Pinnacle event over 1 000m at Turffontein that he is under rated. He is a solid sort who packs a strong finish and could develop into a top sprinter this season. He beat the former champion sprinter Talktothestars by 0,55 lengths last time and the latter is 1,5kg better off so should go close.

Fillies are favourably weighted in Pinnacle events and Green Pepper is the best in. She returns from a layoff, having run two below par runs in April and May, and the classy Exquisite Touch, who is distance suited, is chosen to be the first female home.

Green Pepper

Green Pepper is tough to ignore though as she had looked pretty special before those two below par efforts and could have benefitted from the layoff.

Isphan can’t be ignored either as he is 1,5kg better off with The Thinker for a 0,3 length beating and has become consistent down the straight over this trip.

Champagne Haze is also capable of popping up as one with speed and class and he did well the last time he ran over course and distance.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, a MR 80 Handicap over 1 400m, Sir David Baird has been chosen as a banker, although by no means a confident one as this race is packed with promising three-year-olds and some toughened older handicappers.

Sir David Baird is an impressive specimen by Dynasty and was done no favours last time by the jockey, who looked behind him a couple of times in the final stages and was possibly caught napping.

The horse should have come on from the run and is using that big stride to finish strongly. He has a tough high draw but Delpech is up and will help him overcome it.

Surcharge quickened last time over this trip when up in the vanguard throughout and did it in probably unfavourable going which made it an even more meritorious win.

He now has a plum draw and Strydom is up, but on the downside he has to give Sir David Baird 2,5kg.

O Lucky Man won a maiden easily over this trip last time and getting 3kg from Sir David Baird could make his presence felt. Bold Coast makes most appeal of the older horses as an improving sort who is distance suited. Keanan’s Rock has class but hasn’t run since May and Blackball also has class but has a tough merit rating to contend with.

In the first leg of the PA Visigoth should be enough to get punters through, although there won’t be much between him and Finding Troy.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is a tricky staying event and Scotland, Samar and Sabastian make most appeal but exotic punters would be advised to go as wide as possible.

Takingthepeace

In the seventh race Takingthepeace looks to have class but it is never easy for a young horse to carry topweight in a handicap, so others should be considered. Timetoperfection and Prosperity make most appeal of the rest.

In the last race Emerald Bay has caught the eye before and is suited to this 1 800m trip. She has a tough draw so it is another tricky race. The improving Musette and the attractively handicapped Hatfield Square make most appeal of the rest.