Littlewood to light up the Dance

THERE are a number of reasons why Illuminate, Littlewood and Dance Class should be right in the thick of things today when Race 5 at the Vaal reaches its climax.

This Bettingworld.Bet Classified Stakes over 2 400m on the Classic track has attracted a full field of 14 runners, but the abovementioned three seem to be the main characters to watch.

Illuminate drops down in class, will have the experienced S’manga Khumalo in the saddle and is well drawn, jumping from gate 3.

Although it’s already 685 days since her last victory, this five-year-old mare has been tested against runners of much bigger calibre than she faces today where she has been quite successful.

Dropping down to a Class D contest for horses with a nett rating of 75 and below, could well see her record that elusive third career victory.

Dance Class, on the other hand, is stepping up in class after a convincing post-maiden win. With her first two victories over 1 800m and 2 000m respectively, she should enjoy the extra distance.

Littlewood is, likewise, also going further than she’s ever gone, but a win in a FM 84 Handicap over 2000m in February suggests that her staying powers have been somewhat underestimated.

The only concern is the draw. She will be jumping from the widest gate, but the experienced Piere Strydom should help to negate that.

While these three will probably attract the most attention, Pink should not be ignored completely.

Trained by Lucky Houdalakis, this four-yearold filly could be hugging the rail from the word go thanks to the number one draw. She partners jockey Marco van Rensburg for a seventh time – a partnership that has so far yielded two runner-up spots.

In her first post-lockdown run – over the same distance as today’s contest - she ran an impressive four lengths behind

Anagram, carrying 58.5kg. That’s 4kg less than she will be shouldering today, making her one of the best weighted contestants, together with the other three mentioned.

As today’s value bet, an Eachway shot could hit the mark.

The first of the eight carded races is off at 13:10. - PHUMELELA

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