Pretty Penny has the class
THE Vaal stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow and the tote exotics could be the best way to play it.
The PA starts with a tricky race over 2000m although there could be a possible banker in Sheema.
This Archipenko filly is having her third run for Mike de Kock after a long layoff and stayed on well over 1 600m last time so should relish this step up in trip.
Tirzan
However, it is never easy against the boys and the risk averse should consider a few others including Tirzan, who was found to be striding short last time in soft ground on the Classic course.
If bouncing back to the form of his previous two runs, which were both over this course and distance, he will go close and he has the added bonus of jumping from pole position.
The next leg of the PA also has a potential banker in Fragrant Miss.
She struck as one who would stay further than 1 200m early in her career.
However, she has deceptive pace and as one who can stay on over this trip seems best suited to sprints in retrospect.
She duly got off the mark in her second start after being dropped back to this trip and in that race she showed good early pace and stayed on well.
She is now having her first run out of the maidens but looks to have been leniently treated by the handicapper starting off a mere 64 merit rating.
Fictitious will be the main danger if repeating her penultimate start, which was over this course and distance.
Her low draw will be on her side by trends.
Pretty Popular was a revelation last time when the tongue tie was fitted and she won at long odds.
Now that the possible key to her has been found, she could go close again.
For Pick 6 purposes all three should be included. The first leg of the Jackpot also looks to be a three-cornered contest.
Silver King represents the inform Sean Tarry yard and having found little extra on soft ground on the Outside course over this trip he now has a potentially favourable low draw off a two point lower mark and he will appreciate the faster ground which the weather forecast predicts he should get tomorrow.
Blue Diamond Road must be included as he returned from a layoff to go close over this drop in trip last time and the same 4kg claimer remains aboard.
The Tin Man is talented but has breathing issues.
He beat Silver King in the soft going the last time they met, but on this occasion might have a tricky draw, although he does have a 4kg claimer aboard.
Pretty Penny looks to have been given a reasonable merit rating in her first start out of the maidens in the sixth race over 1200m.
She is well regarded and can follow up. Inyanga will be a threat, as the form of her second place last time has been franked and Strydom stays aboard. Nautic Spirit is on the up too.
Highlander
Highlander is in good form and is course and distance suited and well drawn in the seventh.
Wonderous Climber has ability and is facing a weaker field than he’s been meeting lately.
Lock Him Up has a fair draw for a change and with the blinkers off over a step up in trip could go close.
The eighth looks tough although Stop And Stare and Mighty And Magic look the main players.
Bosphorous will go close too if able to settle from a good draw with the blinkers still on over this step up in trip.
Running Fury should enjoy the step up in trip.
Hurley can earn if repeating her penultimate start, which was over 1800m as opposed to 1700m here.
Agent Kay has become disappointing after looking promising and has been reported to make breathing noises.
In the last race over 1700m Pachanga is a first runner as a trainer for Ashley Fortune, the wife of the jockey legend Andrew Fortune, and she has a chance having shown fair form in the strong centre of Cape Town.
Tricia and Candela both have form chances too.