Thursday's racing: Trainer to follow, Balding sends one to Hamilton and an Irish Derby tip
4 hours ago
VAAL 25 June 2026
Next Vaal Racemeeting Thursday 2 July Mr 80 Handicap(Open) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 5f
- Runners
- 10
- Type
- Flat
Selection
No myracing analysis available for this race
-
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
Boosted C&D record to three from 16 last March; goes for a hat-trick today; has a long absence to overcome.
5/611-
Age: 6
Weight: 9-11
OR: 84
Days: 476
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 25 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-7 | 1/13 | Tchaikovsky (¾L) | 14/1 | 81 | 59 |
| 30 Jan 25 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-8 | 1/9 | Tiger Storm () | 28/10 | 74 | 70 |
| 18 Jan 25 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-2 | 6/10 | Dontshootthebarman (3¼L) | 40/1 | 76 | 65 |
| 5 Dec 24 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-3 | 5/10 | Johnny Appleseed (7½L) | 16/1 | 77 | 42 |
| 15 Nov 24 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-0 | 8/8 | Chieftain (11½L) | 8/1 | 77 | 38 |
| 5 Nov 24 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-7 | 3/10 | Address The Nation (2¾L) | 5/1 | 77 | 61 |
Beaten 7l into 12th over 6f here (handicap) three months ago; just her fourth outing so still early days; in first-time blinkers; unexposed in handicaps with this her second start in this company; is respected as would have leading chance if back in the same form she showed when winning two starts ago.
210
Age: 3
Weight: 9-6
OR: 82
Days: 86
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 9-6 | 12/16 | Romilly (7L) | 10/1 | 82 | 42 |
| 10 Feb 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 1/7 | Star Blaze () | 7/2 | - | 54 |
| 29 Jan 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 2/9 | Varachino's Champ (2½L) | 25/2 | - | 30 |
Finishing runner-up was a good effort two weeks ago (Turffontein); has chalked up two wins from her last six; from top yard; slightly higher rating to contend with but Craig Zackey booked; can figure.
102412
Age: 3
Weight: 9-6
OR: 82
Days: 14
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 8-3 | 2/7 | Dame Of Trix (2½L) | 9/2 | 81 | 58 |
| 14 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-5 | 1/13 | Taking A Risk (¾L) | 4/1 | 78 | 64 |
| 21 Apr 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 8-12 | 4/10 | Sigrid Swing (4¼L) | 9/2 | 79 | 56 |
| 28 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-3 | 2/7 | Mrs Stormiatrix (3L) | 9/2 | 78 | 58 |
| 10 Feb 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 9-0 | 10/10 | Season's Greetings (9L) | 6/1 | 78 | 29 |
| 3 Jan 26 | Tur Turffontein | 6f | Md | 9-1 | 1/7 | Power Of Pearls (nk) | 63/100 | - | - |
Managed two wins in his last three outings; successful by just over 2l to claim second C&D win last month; hoping to take advantage of age allowance; this only his second handicap outing; one to be interested in as may well be able to cope with hefty hike in the weights and he can cope with this step up in class.
322151
Age: 2
Weight: 9-2
OR: 93
Days: 30
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 8-8 | 1/13 | Taking A Risk (2¼L) | 11/10 | 87 | 57 |
| 10 May 26 | Tur Turffontein | 6f | 9-6 | 5/9 | Gimme Some Luck (6L) | 14/1 | - | 49 | |
| 23 Apr 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-1 | 1/8 | Lightinthewoods (5¾L) | 1/3 | - | 59 |
| 14 Mar 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Md | 9-6 b | 2/6 | Good Day Sunshine (1¾L) | 11/10 | - | 43 |
| 26 Feb 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Md | 8-11 | 2/6 | Twilight (½L) | 13/10 | - | 51 |
| 29 Jan 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 h1 | 3/6 | Time Is Precious (1¼L) | 6/4 | - | 42 |
This just his fifth race; finished towards the rear of 13 over 7f at Turffontein (handicap) off higher mark six months ago; returns from a layoff; should give it a bold bid in this lower-class event and shown he can win fairly recently.
1000-
Age: 3
Weight: 9-1
OR: 77
Days: 191
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 25 | Tur Turffontein | 7f | Hc | 9-4 | 12/13 | Storm Ahead (8½L) | 66/1 | 84 | 45 |
| 27 Nov 25 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-3 | 10/10 | Daring Act (14L) | 16/1 | 86 | 12 |
| 4 Nov 25 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 9-0 | 10/10 | Secret Chord (14L) | 6/1 | 86 | 3 |
| 9 Oct 25 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Md | 9-4 | 1/11 | Milan's World (1¾L) | 50/1 | - | 45 |
Last of 13 last month 8l behind Lovable; has won four times here.
0340-0
Age: 6
Weight: 9-1
OR: 75
Days: 42
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-5 | 13/13 | Lovable (7¾L) | 66/1 | 75 | 36 |
| 23 Oct 25 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-6 | 10/11 | Miss Munroe (8½L) | 6/1 | 76 | 21 |
| 18 Sep 25 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 8-3 | 4/8 | Komati River (3¾L) | 20/1 | 76 | 49 |
| 24 Jul 25 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 8-3 | 3/8 | Global Thunder (3L) | 50/1 | 76 | 60 |
| 19 Jun 25 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Hc | 9-0 | 11/16 | Vibe Sa (6¾L) | 66/1 | 76 | 43 |
| 3 Jun 25 | Tur Turffontein | 6f | Hc | 8-5 | 9/11 | Exceedingly Glam (6¼L) | 16/1 | 76 | 35 |
Not beaten too far (just under 3l) at Turffontein 14 days ago.
230644
Age: 3
Weight: 9-0
OR: 76
Days: 14
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-3 b | 4/10 | Kia Kaha (3L) | 17/2 | 77 | 46 |
| 26 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-7 b | 4/13 | Catfish (4L) | 20/1 | 78 | 46 |
| 14 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-6 b | 6/13 | Lovable (3L) | 8/1 | 79 | 53 |
| 30 Apr 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-2 b | 10/14 | Angel's Oasis (6¼L) | 11/2 | 81 | 50 |
| 28 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-1 b | 3/7 | Mrs Stormiatrix (4¼L) | 5/2 | 81 | 55 |
| 5 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-5 b | 2/7 | Pivotal Role (1L) | 33/10 | 78 | - |
Went down by half a length at Turffontein over 6f (handicap) two weeks ago; now competes off a higher mark.
793172
Age: 3
Weight: 8-12
OR: 75
Days: 18
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 26 | Tur Turffontein | 6f | Hc | 9-4 | 2/14 | Cold Shine (½L) | 25/2 | 74 | 55 |
| 26 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-3 | 7/13 | Catfish (6L) | 33/1 | 74 | 36 |
| 4 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 1/8 | Hammer Blow (2L) | 33/1 | 72 | 56 |
| 2 Apr 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Md | 9-6 | 3/3 | Hat's Mambo (4L) | 10/1 | 74 | 15 |
| 28 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Md | 9-6 h1 | 9/9 | Geostorm (38L) | 25/1 | 74 | - |
| 24 Jan 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Md | 9-6 | 7/13 | Stoneywood (12L) | 16/1 | 74 | 9 |
Was thereabouts (third of 13, 25-1) four weeks ago, just under 4l behind Catfish; shown recent signs of improvement; running in a handicap for only the second time.
034213
Age: 3
Weight: 8-9
OR: 72
Days: 30
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 8-11 | 3/13 | Catfish (3¾L) | 25/1 | 72 | 44 |
| 14 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 1/4 | Periodic Table (nk) | 33/20 | 72 | 44 |
| 4 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 2/8 | Gunboat (2L) | 7/1 | 74 | 49 |
| 28 Mar 26 | Vaa Vaal | 6f | Md | 9-6 | 4/9 | Geostorm (5½L) | 33/10 | 76 | 22 |
| 14 Mar 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 3/6 | Slender Silhouette (2¼L) | 33/10 | 73 | 56 |
| 7 Feb 26 | Tur Turffontein | 7f | Md | 9-6 | 10/10 | Fire Storm (19½L) | 40/1 | 73 | 9 |
Beaten a fair way when ninth 30 days ago for which dropped a few pounds; failed to make much of an impact in handicaps recently; this might be easier.
206-89
Age: 4
Weight: 8-7
OR: 68
Days: 30
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 26 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-5 | 9/13 | Catfish (8½L) | 66/1 | 73 | 28 |
| 16 May 26 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-1 | 8/10 | Umzingeli Wenyathi (5¾L) | 50/1 | 75 | 40 |
| 7 Dec 25 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Hc | 9-1 | 6/10 | Old Fashioned (6½L) | 5/2 | 77 | 51 |
| 6 Sep 25 | Tur Turffontein | 6f | Hc | 8-12 | 10/10 | Juniper Green (10½L) | 4/1 | 77 | 24 |
| 28 Aug 25 | Vaa Vaal | 5f | Hc | 9-5 | 2/8 | Sea Wolf (¾L) | 7/2 | 77 | 65 |
| 10 Jul 25 | Tur Turffontein | 5f | Md | 9-6 | 1/8 | Inspector James (1¼L) | 67/100 | 77 | - |
Verdict
This is not a race for maximum stakes - Ice Dragon, Catfish and Lovable are C&D winners while a hike in the weights makes life harder for Ice Dragon. However, the suggestion is EL ZANI. She has every chance with winning C&D form and can rebound from a modest last run.
El Zani
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