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Vaal Picks - Thursday, 10 October

Racecourse : Vaal
Racecourse : Vaal Picture: goldcircle.co.za

Race 1
Race Summary: QUASIKAT caught the eye with a fast-finishing second on debut as a juvenile over 1100m on this track. She would've come on with that experience and benefits from a sex allowance, so it could pay to follow her progress. PENNSYLVANIA will also know more about it after a pleasing introduction and he ought to acquit himself competitively. ANTONIO GAUDI and SPY STORY have the form and experience to play leading roles too. Watch the betting on newcomers GREEN STREET and MAVERICK QUEEN.

Selections:
#15 Quasikat, #5 Antonio Gaudi, #11 Pennsylvania, #6 Spy Story

Race 2
Race Summary: CARS BIG AS BARS was friendless in the betting on debut but defied that market drift to finish an encouraging second over 1000m and this extended trip should be more to her liking judged on that evidence. ZALTA STAR also filled the runner-up berth last time and, with further improvement, could fight out the finish. SUNFIRE, CYBER SPIRIT and BILINGUAL have the form and experience to make their presence felt. Watch the betting on well-bred newcomers GERBERA and WINDS OF GRACE.

Selections:
#4 Cars Big As Bars, #12 Zalta Star, #9 Gerbera, #5 Sunfire

Race 3
Race Summary: CHIEFTAIN showed promise in a three-start juvenile campaign and is open to any amount of improvement on his reappearance having been gelded. JOHN WICK, NKANDLA GOLD, THE NAVY LARK and SECRET CHORD are closely matched on recent form and boast superior race fitness. Last-start winner PACIFIC, hard-knocker BREGARDT and LONGSWORD, even under 62kg, aren't without chances either.

Selections:
#3 Chieftain, #4 John Wick, #5 The Navy Lark, #6 Secret Chord

Race 4
Race Summary: Old Soldier WHORLY WHORLY is ideally course-and-distance suited but out of sorts and regular rider Piere Strydom sticks with CHAMPION WARRIOR instead. The latter is 1.5kg worse off with consistent FOSTINOVO but has dropped to a competitive mark and is good value to confirm his superiority over this extended trip. TRIDENT KING was an eye-catching third off his current mark over 1450m last time and needs only to repeat that performance to play another leading role. WHISPERS OF WAR, LAUGHING WILLIAM and unexposed KEY NEWS have the ability to get involved.

Selections:
#1 Champion Warrior, #2 Trident King, #3 Fostinovo, #4 Whorly Whorly

Race 5
Race Summary: AMERICAN REBEL finished third over this distance in a slightly higher grade two starts back and he was unlucky not to record a better result last time when staying on over a shorter trip. He could offer value here reverting to 2000m off a reduced mark. FIFTH OF JULY is held by that rival. Last-start maiden winners RED LEGEND and ORDER OF HOPE are on the up so could have a say on handicap debut, while consistent maiden PANNING GOLD isn't taken lightly with Piere Strydom a notable jockey booking. GUY ALEXANDER, CALLABURN and FULL GO have claims too.

Selections:
#1 American Rebel, #4 Red Legend, #7 Callaburn, #9 Guy Alexander

Race 6
Race Summary: CALLMEWHENUNEEDME has a good record at this venue and ought to enjoy the shorter trip, with her rider taking a useful 2.5kg off her back. IN THE BEGINNING and WINGS WITHIN ME were unplaced in a feature last time from wide gates but shouldn't be hastily condemned, especially at this level and on a straight course. FRANCINE, KINDRED HEART and LOVEGRASS return from a break but could be competitive if ready to roll. After two runner-up finishes recently, SECOND BREATH wouldn't be winning out of turn.

Selections:
#7 Lovegrass, #1 Callmewhenuneedme, #8 Second Breath, #2 In The Beginning

Race 7
Race Summary: SILENT WAR held his own in a 1200m feature and races off an unchanged mark under a 2.5kg claimer, so could be worth siding with here over a more suitable trip. POMODORO'S JET maintained a good level of form in the Western Cape so has to be respected after a two-stop road trip. Last-start winners ROCK OF BISMANTOVA and ARGO ALLEY ought to remain competitive under resultant penalties. OPEN HIGHWAY, BRAVE VIKING, PASSAGE OF POWER and LADY FALLON are consistent hard-knockers at this level, so shouldn't be underestimated.

Selections:
#1 Silent War, #7 Pomodoro's Jet, #10 Open Highway, #12 Brave Viking

Race 8
Race Summary: FRANCILIEN confirmed the promise of her debut second by winning over course and distance last time, beating subsequent winner PALACE DANCER who re-opposes on 1kg better terms. There shouldn't be much between the pair though preference is for the former who would've come on appreciably in seven weeks since she was last seen. Hard-knockers RAINING RUBIES, MIX THE MAGIC, GIMME THE FLAME and SOUTHERN STYLE have the form and experience to keep those rivals honest. Unexposed WE WILL ROCK YOU ought to fare better over this distance and is dangerous to discount.

Selections:
#1 Francilien, #3 Palace Dancer, #5 Raining Rubies, #7 Mix The Magic

Best Win: #1 FRANCILIEN                                            
Best Value Bet: #1 AMERICAN REBEL                                            
Best Longshot: #1 AMERICAN REBEL                                            


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