Vaal offers nice punting

There are a few horses who could pay to back at the Vaal today, including Lady Negra in Race 7, an FM 64 Handicap over the straight 1400m.

The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained four-year-old has fair form with two wins and four places from 11 career starts and she has run promisingly over this course and distance in both her outings since a short rest.

In her comeback last month, she was beaten only 0.60 lengths by Caribbean Queen and then was a well-beaten fourth behind Teenage Dream this month.

Gold Shades was just behind her in the first with All Over The World and Galu Beach well beaten.

She will be 100% tuned up for this date and, although she has a low-numbered draw on a track where the going is better on the outside, she will give her supporters a good run for their money.

Gold Shades is the one for Exactas with SA jockeys’ championship log-leader Anthony Delpech aboard for the first time.

Craig Mayhew-trained Piccadilly Square looks a good Eachway punt in a field that lacks sparkle in Race 8, an FM 64 Handicap over 1400m.

She is not the most reliable of individuals and has not raced over this extended straight before but ran a promising fourth behind Maple Syrup over 1400m at Turffontein last month and is drawn on the right side of the track. A repeat of that run should be enough to secure her second career victory.

Another horse who looks worth a Win bet is Eleni in Race 2 over 1200m.

The Erico Verdonese-trained filly has finished second in all three of her career starts and is worth one more chance from a No 14 draw.

Those who prefer exotic bets could get into the payout queue after Race 5. This FM 83 Handicap over 1600m is one of the more competitive races on the programme, but Emily Jay and Glamorous Scandal look sure to finish in the first four, despite being drawn near the fence that divides this track from the Inside track. They should be floated in Quartets.

Emily Jay has won her last two starts, both following layoffs. She made all the running over 1400m at this track last time and beat Down To Zero by 1.40 lengths. The 200m longer trip should hold no fears for her connections.

Glamorous Scandal ran promisingly after her maiden win second time out, when failing by just 0.50 lengths against Secret Potion over 1700m on the Vaal Classic track.

Teenage Dream, who has won her last four starts, Pilgrim’s Progess, who has won her last three, and Jet Start are the first three who should go into perms.