Sail For Joy can breeze in
The Vaal Classic track stages a low key eight race card tomorrow and the highest merit rated race is a MR 80 Handicap over 1 500m which could be won by Sail For Joy, although it is an ultra-competitive handicap in which all nine of the runners have a chance.
The four-year-old Argonaut gelding Sail For Joy had to be used up to a certain extent over 1 600m last time when overcoming a wide draw to go to the front, so he did well to hang on for a close third to the well regarded Jubilee Line.
He now has a much better draw of three and will enjoy the step down in trip, considering his last two wins have both been over 1 400m.
He has only been given a one point raise for his two close finishes to Jubilee Line so is competitive off this mark.
Polar Ice
Polar Ice had a cracking win over 1 700m with first time blinkers on and has another good draw. He is only two points higher in the merit ratings and is 4,5kg better off with Silver God for a 3,3 length beating in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes last time, which was over an 1 800m trip which stretched him from a wide draw. Front Rank is an enigmatic sort but is capable and can never be ignored.
He has Tommy Waterdevil beaten on paper on the form of their meeting in November as he has dropped to a competitive merit rating.
His last two runs don’t look good at first sight, but he spread a shoe in the second of them and was out at the weights in the other in a Pinnacle event.
Silver God was not disgraced in the Dingaans, finishing just 6,5 lengths back, and followed with a fair effort in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1 800m when 5,65 lengths behind the promising Majestic Mambo. This is his first attempt at a handicap and he has to run off an 85 merit rating from a tricky draw of six in the nine horse field.
Tommy Waterdevil is a consistent sort despite often making breathing noises.
He is better drawn than last time when not disgraced in fifth behind the three-year-old Pietro Mascagni over this course and distance.
Pietro Mascagni was beaten by Silver God in the Dingaans, but a line can be drawn through that run.
There is not much between Tokyo Drift and Sail For Joy and Tommy Waterdevil on recent form.
Tokyo Drift was running on from off the pace last time over 1 600m on this course from a similar draw. Trip To Troy is 1kg better off with Sail For Joy for a 1,4 length beating over 1600m so there is not much in it. Machismo is 1kg better off with Front Rank for a mere short-head beating over 1 400m.
Trading Profit
Trading Profit returns from a layoff over a suitable trip and has Strydom up from pole position. He reeled off a hat-trick in June and August before being beaten in the Grand Heritage. Advisable to include the field in the exotics. Pinfanta is selected as the Pick 6 banker in the last race over 1 700m.
This daughter of Captain Al had to set sail for home when finding herself in front down the straight over 1 600m last time and finished second.
Muzi Yeni does not have an easy draw of six to overcome and Pinfanta has also been given a three point raise. The Houdalakis yard bring them on slowly but surely and this horse looks promising.
The stablemate Braxton from pole position could be the main danger but it is significant Yeni sticks with Pinfanta having been the regular pilot of Braxton too.
Azkur is another one to consider, but she does have a tough draw to overcome.
The previous race could be won by Crazy Vision, who is two points higher than his fast-finishing win over this 1 700m course and distance last time.
They did all finish on top of each other in that race so the form could be suspect.
He does have a good draw and is taken to beat Cosmic Count and Shogun.
Carmalita is an interesting runner in race five over 1 000m as she won her maiden from start to finish over this trip and the form has been franked. Off just a 72 mark she has a fine chance. The previous race is a competitive maiden in which the expensive Mardi Gras is taken to win as he finished strongly on debut, although he would likely prefer further so can’t be bankered.
Copper Jay did beat him in that last race, while That’s Life was backed but over raced before fading.
They will be threats and Crassus and Singfonico can’t be ignored either.
The first leg of the Pick should be fought out by the two form choices Eleni and Flying Feather.
Corné Spies has been in his usual devastating form in two-year-old races and his pair of firsttimers in the first two races could give him yet another juvenile double as they are reasonably well bred and don’t have a lot to beat.