14:28 Vaal

Thursday 30 January 2025

All10:2511:0011:3512:1012:4513:2013:5314:28

Next Vaal Racemeeting Tuesday 18 February Mr 72 Handicap

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 56.37s

(1)

Smith And Wesson¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: M Yeni| T: Paul Matchett| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2023. Creditable fourth of 10 in handicap at Turffontein (5f, good to soft, 14/1) 12 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 65547-4

(10)

Var Park¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P Strydom| T: Grant Maroun| CD

5/2

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2024. 40/1, respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at Turffontein (5f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 82385-6

(9)

Tiger Storm³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lerena| T: Fabian Habib| CD

10/1

67/100, didn't need to be at best when winning 7-runner maiden at this C&D (good) 30 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Shortlist material.

Form: 263421-

(3)

Wings Of Nike²²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Ryan Munger| T: Shaylen Naidoo| CD

25/1

5-time C&D winner. 40/1, last of 8 in handicap at Turffontein (5f, good). Off 7 months. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 4/47618-

(7)

Lonely As A Cloud¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Craig Zackey| T: Candice Dawson| D

10/3

Winner at Turffontein in December. 14/1, fifth of 13 in minor event at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 05561-5

(5)

Captain Efficient^b⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Denis Schwarz| T: Fabian Habib| BF| C

11/2

Course winner. Winner here in August. 7/2, respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 45 days ago. Becoming well treated.

Form: 212445-

(4)

In The Ether^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Grant Maroun| CD

11/2

C&D winner. Three wins from 19 runs last year. Latest win here in December. Fourth of 13 in minor event (25/2) at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago.

Form: 84561-4

(8)

Commander Of All⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Gates| T: Fabian Habib| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 8/1, eighth of 12 in handicap at this C&D (good) 63 days ago.

Form: 344248-

(2)

Jet Cat^b⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-3| J: Jeffery Syster| T: Heinrich Westhuizen| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Thirty one runs since last win in 2021. 10/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at this course (6f, good) 9 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 25754-8

Non-Runners

(6)

Pacific⁴

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: D Gray St John J: Kabelo Matsunyane

Forecasts

Var Park (5/2), Lonely As A Cloud (10/3), Smith And Wesson (5/1), Captain Efficient (11/2), In The Ether (11/2), Pacific (7/1), Tiger Storm (10/1), Jet Cat (10/1), Commander Of All (14/1), Wings Of Nike (25/1)

TIGER STORM is the tentative selection but it's an open race. Pacific has the strongest claims of the rest, while In The Ether is another with the potential to figure.