Four sprints the highlight on Vaal meeting

Danie Toerien

Racegoers who enjoy sprints are in for a treat on Thursday at the Vaal when four very competitive 1000m contests are on the card.

In Race 4, reserved for maidens, Paul Peter’s Maradiva will be a well-deserved winner as he has been threatening lately despite being very unlucky in running. He obviously needed his last outing, the first since being gelded, and should be right there at the finish with that run behind him.

Warren Kennedy gets his third crack at riding this Twice Over gelding and it won’t surprise if it turns out to be a case of third time lucky.

Peter and Kennedy team up with Mufasa in Race 5, a MR96 Handicap. This What A Winter colt scored in both his first two outings as a juvenile after which he was given a four-month break.

Racing as a three-year-old, he hasn’t visited the winner’s enclosure yet, but he hasn’t finished outside the quartet either. Reportedly fatigued after his last outing, he was given a short break and returns to face a small field of only seven runners.

It will be only his third run over the shortest distance and perhaps third time lucky rule will again apply.

In Race 6, a MR80 Handicap, Slings And Arrows looks the one to beat in the third sprint of the day as he drops down in class and distance.

Last time he was in action was in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m on New Year’s Day at Turffontein. Racing fresh, against a much weaker field, this Trippi gelding trained by Candice Dawson should have too much firepower. As an added bonus, Richard Fourie will be in the saddle.

Peter and Kennedy look primed to score their third sprint success in Race 7, a MR66 Handicap, with Imposing Angel.

This Captain Of All filly won going away first time in her new surroundings after moving to Peter’s yard from Cape Town and all indications are that she can go in again. She was slow out the gate and had to work hard to get within striking range, but nevertheless showed a tremendous turn of foot over the last 400m with Kennedy aboard.

If jumping well, she should show a clean pair of heels to the chasing pack.