Hidden Agenda gets the vote
THE Vaal Classic track stages an eight race meeting and some promising sorts will be turned out, so there is a lot to look forward to. The highest rated race is a MR 84 Handicap over 2 000m and the choice is the Summer Cup entry Hidden Agenda.
Last time he finished strongly from behind over 1 800m, but in the process hung in badly and took out most of the field.
He was beaten in the end anyway by The Elmo Effect.
This time he has a draw of three in a seven horse field and is off the same merit rating, so Gunther Wrogemann will be trying to ensure he is on the rail in the straight.
Amsterdam, also a Summer Cup entry, looked beaten when Hidden Agenda swept past him last time, but he was plugging on at the time and was then sandwiched out of the race.
The losing margin was thus flattering to Hidden Agenda.
Amsterdam
Furthermore, a lot of use had been made of Amsterdam in that race to overcome a wide draw, so it would be no great surprise if he reverses the form over an even more suitable trip from pole position under Piere Strydom.
The Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old Like A Panther will enjoy the step up in trip based on his easy win over 1 600m and he would not be a surprising winner either.
However, it is never easy first time out of the maidens for a young horse, especially one who has been merit rated 89.
Those three should get punters through the exotics.
There are two other De Kock-trained three-yearolds running first time out of the maidens, who have been tipped to win.
In the fourth race over 1 700m, the Australianbred Teofilo colt Yakeen won comfortably on debut over 1 400m and will clearly relish the step up to this trip. He has a plum draw of three and does not face an inspiring field. It is open beyond Yakeen.
Pachuco found extra last time over 1 600m and this improved sort will enjoy this trip, so he should be running on after likely being dropped out from a wide draw.
King’s King ran a fine race over this trip back in June, although he also has a wide draw to overcome.
Defy Gravity finished strongly over 1 800m last time from way back and he now has a good draw.
Swing Vote has been accorded a fair merit rating of 65 after his front-running maiden win over 1 600 and could make a bold bid from a wide draw under Piere Strydom.
Grasshopper could sit behind Swing Vote and has an outside chance.
In the seventh race over 1 000m, the De Kocktrained Australian-bred colt by Star Witness, Mujaafy, was most impressive on debut over 1 160m, when cruising in by 4,2 lengths.
Off an 84 merit rating and from a reasonable draw of seven he could follow up.
A horse who could give him a run is the talented Cathederal County, who carries topweight and lost his race at the start last time when losing a length.
Go Green
In the first race, an uninspiring event over 1 500m, Go Green looks the right one on form having comfortably beaten another contender, Middle Path, when they met over 1 200m.
However, is should be borne in mind Lucky Houdalakis-trained horses are brought on continuously, so it would be no great surprise if Middle Path reversed the form, especially as he stayed on well in a subsequent start over 1 400m.
Bosphorus did well to finish second to the well regarded Galactic Warrior on debut, so he is a contender, but he had a good draw that day and now has a wide draw to overcome.
The second is a typically difficult fillies and mares MR 74 Handicap over 1 700m.
Parisienne Chic has dropped to an attractive merit rating and is drawn well so is the choice.
The distance suited and in form Angelic Appeal and the ultra consistent September Bloom make most appeal of the rest.
The third is an uninspiring maiden and Maneater has only been chosen due to the lack of good form in this race.
She will certainly relish the step up in trip, having been hard ridden in a workrider’s sprint race where she finished third.
However, she was by no means eyecatching. Angelic and Wings Of Charne have shown ability and look to be the main dangers.
The sixth race over 2 000m looks to be a boat race between the progressive Inn A Million, who has won three of his last five, and Arabian World.
Inn A Million
Inn A Million won cosily last time and can overcome a six point raise from a good draw.
However, it is interesting to note Gavin Lerena rode him in that race, but has stuck with Arabian World. The latter has always struck as a horse with ability. He at last produced his potential last time when scooting in by 2,5 lengths over this trip at Turffontein Inside.
That was Arabian World’s first run for the flying Paul Peter yard and he is now drawn in pole, so should have a strong chance.
Sheet Weaver, like Arabian World, is by Ideal World and the last time he tried this trip he ran a fine race. However, the formlines put him marginally behind the first two choices.
In the last race over 1 200m Alex The Great has been chosen as one who has caught the eye before and is now having his first run as a gelding.
Wottahottie and Cedrus Libani both caught the eye last time in the same 1 400m race and will enjoy this trip.
However, the promising Torio Lake has been chosen as the main danger, despite having to carry topweight from a wide draw, and the pole position draw Cannes can also be considered having dropped to a competitive merit rating.