Ginger Delight has been tipped to win the last race. (JC Photos)
There is an eight race meeting at the Vaal straight course today and value punters could get off to a good start with Line In The Sky.
High draws should be favourable with the outside rail set at zero and Line In the Sky has drawn nine out of 13. The Lorenzo Karriem-trained filly by Danon Platina has a lovely big action and was finishing well last time after being caught wide from a wide draw over this trip at Turffontein Inside. On formlines the favourite Francilien should beat her, because on debut the latter beat Take Your Place over 1200m by 2,25 lengths and Take Your Place then came out and beat Line In The Sky by 0,30 lengths. However, Line In The Sky now has a favourable draw, as opposed to an unfavourable one in that last race, and she also has useful 2,5 kg caimer Trent Mayhew aboard. It would be no surprise if Francilien won though because she was green on debut and finished strongly for a close second and should have improved. She is drawn in the middle in six.
The second race might go to a first-timer as those who have raced are uninspiring. Lucky Houdalakis-trained first-timer Musical Score is owned by Laurence Wernars and is by Oratorio out of the useful Captain Al mare Esteemal, who reached a merit rating of 96. Blizzard Snow is by Erupt and is a half-sister to the useful pair Slalom Queen and The Mauritian. Blizzard Snow has a favourable high draw and Musical Score is drawn five. Those two make most appeal. Pass The Baton makes most appeal of those who have raced.
In the third Silky Jet is by Vercingetorix out of an Al Mufti mare who has plenty of stamina in her female line and as Weiho Marwing is a master of training stayers she could improve stepped up to 2000m, although her wide draw is a concern. Plum Blossom has a fair draw and has some fair form, including a close third over 1800m. Quello Che has shown some improvement with headgear and could earn.
In the fourth over 2000m Master Tik Tok is ultra consistent and proved he enjoys the distance last time. Muzi Yeni knows him well and stays aboard. High Queue is in hard knocking form and on pedigree should handle the step up in trip being by Master Of My Fate out of Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guinesas winner Silver Mountain, although the latter did have plenty of speed despite being by Silvano. The Cane Train ran a cracker when stepped up to 1800m last time and should be right there with Gavin Lerena up, although she does have a tough draw.
In the fifth race over 1000m Captain Efficient starts off handicapping off a reasonable 71 after finally getting off the mark. However, Fabian Habib pair Commander Of All and John Wick have shown good form and must be included.
In the sixth over 1600m Across The Pond has been catching the eye as a progressive sort and should be finishing well from this wide draw over a suitable trip. Volare E Mambo is ultra consistent and has a good draw over an ideal trip. Those two should fight it out.
In the seventh over 1600m Mocha Frappe has shown signs of ability and off a 75 merit rating could do well over a suitable trip from a plum draw if producing his best under S’Manga Khumalo. Full Go goes well for Malesela Katjedi and should be finishing strongly in a bold bid to claim a hattrick. Archimedes ran a cracker over 1700m in his penultimate start and a repeat of that should see him go close.
In the last race Ginger Delight looks open to improvement and from a plum draw over a suitable trip can prove himself up to an 83 merit rating. Free In Seattle beat Ginger Delight by half-a-length when they last met but was a bit disappointing next time out. Those two are taken to fight it out.
