Fortune is smiling on the Vaal

Ashley Fortune has been in good form of late and looks likely to extend her streak at the Vaal on Tuesday when racing takes place on the Classic course.

The Vaal-based trainer might be disappointed if she doesn’t win the first race on the programme as she fields five of the seven runners in a Maiden Plate over 1000m. The problem is that one of the two potential party-poopers has been heavily backed to win first time out.

That horse is Insatiable, a filly by Querari who must have shown trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren plenty of speed at home.

Among Fortune’s quintet is another newcomer – who has also attracted ante-post support. This one is a gelding who glories in the name Edward Longshanks.

If Fortune can’t get on the day’s scoreboard with “Longshanks” or her next-best, Runaway Princess, she’ll be confidently teeing up Abalus in Race 2.

Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson is carded to ride this filly, but he was stood down at Turffontein on Saturday and might not be available. Whoever gets the leg up will have clear instructions ringing in his ears: “Get the job done!”

Abalus has been runner-up five times in a row and his connections are getting a bit tense about ending that run positively.
Another Fortune filly with a touch of “seconditus” is Un Deux Trois, who goes in Race 5, an FM85 Handicap. She has been second four times, but at least has three wins to balance things out.

Un Deux Trois has been wonderfully consistent and if she can muster her best effort, from a good draw, she should get home under Ryan Munger.

Funky Music never runs a bad race and could round off a day to remember for the Fortune yard when he tackles an MR76 field over 1600m in Race 7.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

2 Edward Longshanks, 6 Insatiable, 7 Runaway Princess, 5 The Hound

Race 2:

1 Abalus, 3 Alula’s Star, 10 Veneta, 9 Iphiko

Race 3:

4 Lilliana, 3 Gilda Gray, 5 Cap Estel, 1 Code Zero

Race 4:

4 Rapid Charge, 5 Time Request, 1 Burmese Tiara, 2 Kissed By Fire

Race 5:

4 Un Deux Trois, 6 Splash Of Green, 1 Ideal Jet, 3 Opera Glass

Race 6:

1 Lady Of The Flame, 5 Fasinada, 7 Tinder Dry, 8 Savage Love

Race 7:

2 Funky Music, 1 Suited Connector, 4 Qunetra, 7 Waqaas

Race 8:

6 My Kingdom, 7 Capetown Affair, 5 Light Warrior, 2 Elusive Swann

Pick 6:

4 x 1,4,5 x 1,3,4,5,6,7 x 1,5,7,8 x 1,2,4,7 x 2,5,6,7 (R1152)

PA:

1 x 4 x 4,5 x 4,6 x 1,5 x 2 x 5,6,7 (R24)