In tune with Bella Sonata

THE Vaal Outside track stages a competitive nine race meeting tomorrow and exotic dividends should be handsome.

The fifth, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap over 1200m, is the highest rated race. Bella Sonata hasn’t raced since going close in October’s Jo’burg Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge over 1450m and from a plum outside draw with a 4kg claimer up she should do well over a trip she is effective over.

However, the choice to beat her is Swift Sarah, whose speed should help her find a good strip of going early on.

She will be fit and the champion combination of Sean Tarry and S’Manga Khumalo are in fine form. The one who could trouble these two is the progressive Captain’s Girl, who has snuck into the handicap with the minimum weight.

The second race is a Novice Plate for fillies and mares and the officially best weighted horse Secret Star looks the one to beat. She has speed and the ability to find extra in the closing stages. Water Lily Lake is second best in at the weights and she can maybe bounce back to form in her third run after a layoff.

However, Khumalo is aboard the threeyear-old stablemate Yellow Metal, who is by Global One and is a half-sister to VDJ winner Heavy Metal.

She is officially 4,5kg under sufferance but this is only her second start so she could still be anything and will have to be included in all bets.

The enigmatic Winter Al is only 1kg out at the weights and often performs above her merit rating when tried in plate or conditions races and this is her best trip. Queenie is a talented horse but will still likely need this.

If Yellow Metal does win then Aimee Sweet will have a good chance in the next race over 1000m having finished a 2,8 length third to her last time over this