14:20 Vaal

Thursday 19 January 2023

All10:1510:5011:2512:0012:3513:1013:4514:20

Next Vaal Racemeeting Tuesday 24 January Middle Stakes

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 1m 25.11s

(9)

Vanderbilt^b³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Siyanda Sosibo⁽⁹⁾| T: Tony Peter| C| D

2/1

Course winner. Five wins from 12 runs last year. Latest win at Turffontein in August. Second of 6 in minor event () at this course (8f, soft) 37 days ago. First run for yard after leaving R. Klaasen.

Form: 111322-

(11)

Kayla's Champ^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Malesela Katjedi⁽⁶⁾| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| OR: 98| CD

22/1

Course winner. 50/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 9 days ago. Back up in trip. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 33005-8

(6)

Cabinet Shuffle⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Gabriell Pieterse| T: Robyn Klaasen| CD

6/1

Course winner. Two wins from 5 runs last year. Latest win at Turffontein in November. Respectable ninth of 27 in handicap at this course (7.3f, soft, 25/1) 40 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 2/22119-

(10)

Laguna Verde^b1⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S Khumalo| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| C

6/1

Course winner. 7¼ lengths eleventh of 16 to Anfields Rocket in Gr 3 at Turffontein (7f, good, 7/1) 82 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 424850-

(12)

Shivers⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: C Maujean| T: Johan J Vuuren| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2019. First run since leaving D. Sham when last of 5 in minor event (20/1) at this C&D (good) 42 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 5352/65-

(13)

Sudden Star⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: M Yeni| T: Barend / / Vosloo| OR: 73

16/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Tenth of 13 in handicap (20/1) at Turffontein (8f, good) 9 days ago.

Form: 83643-0

(2)

Meridius³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Ryan Munger| T: Ashley Fortune| CD

4/1

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this course (7.4f, good to soft, 7/2) 35 days ago.

Form: 122301-

(4)

Crimson Princess^b⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Julius Mariba| T: Ashley Fortune| D

10/1

Fourth of 6 in handicap (9/2) at this course (9f, good) 56 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 342254-

(7)

Lord Varys²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Diego De Gouveia| T: Paul Matchett| D

9/1

Very good third of 10 in handicap at this C&D (good, 10/1) 23 days ago.

Form: 21/3053-

(1)

Paton's Tears⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-3| J: Marco V'Rensburg| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

10/1

Course winner. Nineteen runs since last win in 2021. 8/1, respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at this C&D (good to soft). Off 91 days. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 532446-

(5)

Bloomington⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Donald Geerthsen⁽⁶⁾| T: Fabian Habib| D

22/1

Latest win at Turffontein in October. 14½ lengths sixth of 7 to Cabinet Shuffle in handicap at Turffontein (7.4f, good, 6/1) 58 days ago.

Form: 250166-

Non-Runners

(8)

Sir Michael⁴⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: Candice Dawson J: K De Melo

(3)

Good Queen Bess⁹⁸

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: M F De Kock J: R Simons

Forecasts

Vanderbilt (2/1), Meridius (4/1), Good Queen Bess (5/1), Cabinet Shuffle (6/1), Laguna Verde (6/1), Lord Varys (9/1), Paton's Tears (10/1), Crimson Princess (10/1), Shivers (14/1), Sudden Star (16/1), Sir Michael (20/1), Bloomington (22/1), Kayla's Champ (22/1)

CRIMSON PRINCESS is well up to winning this. Shivers seems the most likely to capitalise if the selection fails to deliver, while Paton's Tears is another with a place chance too.