Tricky dashes at Vaal

Interesting but challenging. That is probably the best way to describe today’s Vaal card. It is staged on the outside track which means all the races are run up the straight.

Perhaps the most difficult races to assess are the 1000m dashes and this meeting concludes with three of those.

The first, Race 7, is a MR 78 Handicap and with a little bit of luck it could be between the three top-weighted runners as the balance of the field are under sufferance. With the Corne Spies stable in excellent form it could be worth going with lightly raced Nevada. The three-year-old son of Kildonan made his debut on 5 January over this course and distance and showed a lot of pace before finishing a four-length third behind Extreme Dubai.

The race was completed in 56.65 sec, which was just 0.07 sec slower than that of Gun Fighter who won on the same day. Nevada quickly franked the Extreme Dubai form when leading all the way to beat Truly over 1160m at Turffontein just four days later.

He gets 3.5kg from Gavin Lerena-ridden Gun Fighter so on times there should not be much to choose between the two, other than the fact Nevada has more room for improvement.

Dream Leader looks to the third horse in the equation and although his last win was 425 days ago, Leon Erasmus’ charge should be in the places.

Extreme Dubai runs in Race 8 and the Mike de Kock-trained runner could follow up on his maiden win in this MR 76 Handicap. The stipes questioned his last win but it is the first time he was run over 1000m and that could have been what he was looking for. The time was quick and with Anthony Delpech at the Vaal the Australian-bred son of Oasis Dream could follow up.

There are many dangers, including Turbo Tom who ran second behind Gunfighter last time. Winter Al has not raced since winning his maiden on 15 May but if fit, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner could go close.

Race 9 is a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares and there could be a lot of value going with the Spies stable again and Jo Malone. Her last three races have all been events and the last two were against the colts.

Last time she ran in the Grade 3 Lebelo Stakes where she showed a lot of pace before fading slightly to finish a 4.50-length fifth behind Viking Hero. She was reported to be coughing so there is an excuse. However, her merit rating dropped two points for that run and back against her own sex she could do some damage, especially with Delpech up.