News

Vaal meeting hangs in the balance

Written by Jack Milner | Feb 17, 2025 5:54:04 PM

Jack Milner

The Vaal Racecourse recorded 21mm of rainfall on Sunday night and continues to experience light drizzle. 

The penetrometer reading was 24 – indicating good to soft track condition. 

Weather forecasts predict continued rainfall throughout the evening and into Tuesday morning. 

A decision regarding Tuesday’s race meeting will be made in the morning, once the extent of overnight rainfall is assessed.

A good run from Craig Zackey has seen him extend his lead over Gavin Lerena on the jockeys’ log and going into Tuesday’s Vaal Classic meeting Zackey has 148 winners with Lerna on 143.

However, after a good weekend current champion jockey Richard Fourie has cut down their lead and he is sitting on 132 winners.

Both Lerena and Zackey will be in action at the Vaal on Tuesday and Lerena looks to have the better rides. Racing is on the Classic so all races from 1200m and upwards will be run around the turn and if they do race, conditions will be soft.

There are two mounts that stand out and bettors could cash in on both.

Lerena looks to be riding the best of Tony Peter’s three juveniles on show in Race 2, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.

Mister Wilson was always in the vanguard when fourth behind Read All About It, Bingo and Power Of Pearls on debut. The placed runners all look likely to win soon and since he doesn’t meet a field full of strong form, Mister Wilson could be the first to frank the form line.

While it looks quite an open event on paper, on closer scrutiny Race 6, a MR 72 Handicap over 2400m, should also go Lerena’s way.

His mount, Another Universe, has been brought along patiently by the Mike and Adam Azzie father and son combo, who are in solid form at present.

Another Universe, a son of Ideal World, should realise a much higher merit rating when fully matured. In six starts he has shown himself to be a useful stayer in the making.

He does have a wide draw to overcome but that should not have too much impact on a race over this sort of distance so Lerena should not be too bothered by his No 11 barrier position.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Jinger Jam, 1 Empress Wu, 2 Flightlight, 4 Villa Semaya

Race 2: 2 Mister Wilson, 8 Bright And Brazen, 3 Nyaka Nyaka, 12 Wings Of Ice

Race 3: 7 Cape Saffron, 1 Kaleesh Cyborg, 3 Chieftain's Shield, 2 Royal Miracle

Race 4: 7 Perini Palace, 1 Juniper Green, 3 Fast Duty, 5 Whispers Of War

Race 5: 3 Sutherland, 4 Just Var, 6 Theres A Light, 1 Fully Loaded

Race 6: 3 Another Universe, 7 Poplar Park, 2 Romeo's Magic, 6 Only A Poet

Race 7: 1 Dantonfromsandton, 9 Night Bomber, 4 Tsar Bomba, 3 Callmewhenuneedme

Race 8: 2 Virgin River, 3 Neerah, 5 Phantom Express, 7 The Navy Lark

 

 

BEST BET

Race 2: 2 Mister Wilson

VALUE BET

Race 4: 7 Perini Palace

BEST SWINGER

Race 8 2x3

 

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 8

Leg 2: 2

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 3, 7

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 2, 3, 7

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 1, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 7

Leg 4: 3, 4, 6

Leg 5: 2, 3, 7

Leg 6: 1, 9

Leg 7: 2, 3

 

PICK 6

R2304

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7

Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 5: 1, 4, 9

Leg 6: 2, 3, 5

 

JACKPOT 1

R192

Leg 1: 1, 3, 5, 7

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 3: 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 4, 9

 

JACKPOT 2

R144

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 4, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5