14:50 Vaal

Thursday 8 January 2026

All10:1510:5011:2512:0012:3513:1513:5014:2514:50

Next Vaal Racemeeting Tuesday 27 January Mr 74 Handicap

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 1m 8.54s

(2)

Union Rose¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: M Michel⁽³⁾| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis

11/2

Twelve runs since last win in 2024. Bit below form eleventh of 19 in handicap at this course (7.3f, good, 20/1) 19 days ago. Booking of Michel a plus. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 068380-

(5)

Inspiration²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Craig Zackey| T: Sean Tarry| D

13/2

Didn't need to improve to win 8-runner maiden at Turffontein (5.8f, good, 46/100) 23 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 773221-

(1)

Never Never Land⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lerena| T: Stuart Pettigrew| C

10/11

Course winner. Winner here in September. Sixth of 9 in handicap at Turffontein (8f, good to soft, 6/1) 40 days ago. Back down in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 2156-

(12)

Western Wishes^b³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Mano Pandaram| C| D

18/1

Career best when winning 11-runner handicap at this C&D (soft, 25/2) 35 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 317931-

(4)

Prized Platinum¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Maujean| T: Clinton Binda| C| D

33/1

Course winner. Latest win here in September. 50/1, tenth of 15 in handicap at this C&D (good) 19 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 201640-

(8)

Tana Maree²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Malesela Katjedi| T: Sean Tarry| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Eleventh of 17 in handicap (25/2) at this C&D (good). Off 6 months. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 3/22180-

(7)

Palace Revolt^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S Khumalo| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| D

7/1

10/1, very good third of 15 in handicap at this C&D (good) 19 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 555973-

(13)

Prophet¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Trent Mayhew| T: Corne Spies| C

18/1

Course winner. Twenty four runs since last win in 2022. Good fifth of 15 in handicap (25/1) at this C&D (good) 19 days ago. First run for yard after leaving C. Spies.

Form: 868/835-

(3)

Lava Fire¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Tyrone Zackey| C

10/1

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2024. Seventh of 8 in handicap at this course (7.4f, good, 40/1) 16 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 568907-

(10)

Sail The Sky⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Blaine Marx-jacobson⁽⁹⁾| T: Chris Jonker| C| D

33/1

Course winner. Last of 8 in handicap at this course (7f, good) 46 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 437808-

(11)

Princess Lola⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Ryan Munger| T: Roy Magner| CD

25/1

C&D winner. One win from 22 Flat runs. Fourteen runs since last win in 2024. Last of 9 in handicap (33/10) at Turffontein (6f, good) 56 days ago.

Form: 234439-

(9)

Falcon Strike^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Jeffery Syster| T: Robyn Klaasen| CD

18/1

C&D winner. 16/1, twelfth of 15 in handicap at this C&D (good) 19 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 505340-

Non-Runners

(6)

King Bluetooth⁵

Weight: 8-3| Age: 3

T: Chris Jonker J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Never Never Land (10/11), Union Rose (11/2), Inspiration (13/2), Palace Revolt (7/1), Lava Fire (10/1), Prophet (18/1), Western Wishes (18/1), Falcon Strike (18/1), Tana Maree (25/1), Princess Lola (25/1), Prized Platinum (33/1), Sail The Sky (33/1), King Bluetooth (100/1)

INSPIRATION holds fair claims on the pick of last year's exploits and earns a narrow vote. Western Wishes is second choice, while Palace Revolt shouldn't be far away.