14:25 Vaal

Thursday 14 December 2023

All10:2010:5511:3012:0512:4013:1513:5014:25

Next Vaal Racemeeting Thursday 21 December Fm 76 Handicap (F & M)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 58.7s

(2)

Inventrix¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Donald Geerthsen| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| CD

7/1

3 wins from 11 runs this year. 6/1, career best when winning 11-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 16 days ago.

Form: 931221-

(6)

Midnight Fusion²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S Khumalo| T: Sean Tarry| C

7/2

Course winner. Bit below form 3½ lengths fourth of 11 to Happy Analia in handicap (4/1) at this C&D (good) 21 days ago. Chance if rediscovering old form.

Form: 11/534-

(11)

War Queen¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Craig Zackey| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Winner here in August. 25/2, creditable 1¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Inventrix in handicap at this C&D (good) 16 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: 31604-

(7)

Law Of Success^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Paul Matchett| BF| C

5/1

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in August. 4/1, ninth of 10 in handicap at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 27 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 141339-

(5)

Happy Analia²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: M Yeni| T: Corrie Lensley| CD

7/2

Won 11-runner handicap at this C&D (good, 11/2) 21 days ago. Has good chance on form.

Form: 637541-

(8)

Nettleton⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Diego De Gouveia| T: Johan J Vuuren| D

6/1

2 wins from 5 runs this year. 33/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 40 days ago.

Form: 16861-

(9)

Beaded Gown¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Malesela Katjedi| T: M F De Kock| D

6/1

Latest win at Turffontein in November. 6/1, respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at this C&D (good) 16 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 232155-

(3)

Fennec Fox²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Wesley Marwing| T: Heinrich Westhuizen| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. 5¾ lengths eighth of 11 to Happy Analia in handicap at this C&D (good, 16/1) 21 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 440588-

(10)

Queen Of Gaul¹⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Denis Schwarz| T: M F De Kock| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Thirteenth of 15 in handicap at this course (6f, good, 20/1). Off 170 days. Every chance if back to best.

Form: 908870-

(1)

Mandalay²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Jason Gates| T: Shaylen Naidoo| CD

25/1

C&D winner. One win from 23 Flat runs. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 33/1, 5¼ lengths seventh of 11 to Happy Analia in handicap at this C&D (good) 21 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 468047-

Non-Runners

(4)

Rugger Lover⁷

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: David Nieuwenhuizen J: Kabelo Matsunyane

Forecasts

Happy Analia (7/2), Midnight Fusion (7/2), Law Of Success (5/1), Nettleton (6/1), Beaded Gown (6/1), War Queen (7/1), Inventrix (7/1), Fennec Fox (12/1), Rugger Lover (20/1), Mandalay (25/1), Queen Of Gaul (28/1)

HAPPY ANALIA looks marginally the pick of this bunch but will need everything to fall right. Inventrix is fancied as the best alternative, while Midnight Fusion might well have a say too.