Sing a Shanty with Robyn at the Vaal

Jack Milner

Bettors are in for an interesting eight-race card at the Vaal on Thursday as there looks to be some decent bets on the eight-race card.

However, things do not always go to plan and some bettors arrive at the final race of the day looking to recoup their losses. Alternatively, all the good things did arrive and punters who are flush going into the last race and they are looking to add to their winnings.

Well, whether one views Race 8 as the “get-out stakes” or the “get even richer stakes”, it could be worthwhile going with Robyn Klaasen-trained Sea Shanty in this MR 74 Handicap over 1400m up the Vaal straight.

Sea Shanty turned six on 1 August but appears to have found a new lease on life since joining the Klaasen yard last May. She wasted no time getting a win out of her recently acquired gelding as he won on debut for her when beating Quevano by 0.20 lengths over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track, giving the son of Lance his fourth career victory.

He took on a stronger field in his next outing over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track and finished a 2.50-length fifth behind Ariovistus. However, he then went on to get narrowly beaten by After Hours over 1450m on the Vaal Classic track followed by a 1.60-length third to Redlightgreenlight over the straight 1600m at the Vaal.

He drops to 1400m this time which should bring out an even better performance and he looks the runner to beat.

Callan Murray rode him for the first time in that event and he will be back aboard on this occasion.

He does look the runner to beat but for those interested in taking Swingers, Exactas and Trifectas it could be worth taking a look at Longsword, Spy Story and On A Jet Plane.

Sean Tarry-trained Longsword finished third in the race won by After Hours and had Sea Shanty 1.40 lengths ahead of him. The six-year-old William Longsword gelding is now 1kg better off and while that might not be enough to reverse the result, he should finish a lot closer.

Keagan de Melo takes the ride.

Owner-trainer St John Gray has his yard in top form currently and Spy Story bounced back to best last time with an excellent 1.40-length second behind Bay Empire over 1400m on the Standside track at Turffontein.

The son of Bezrin has had three runs over this course and distance for one second and one third so should be able to contest the finish.

Jason Gates takes the ride.

On A Jet Plane is also owned and trained by Gray and she came back to form last time with a 4.50-length victory over Lightinthewoods over 1450m on the Classic track.

This Bezrin mare does take on stronger this time but still comes into the race with just 52kg on her back and she could still be good enough to at least run into the places.

Stuart Pettigrew also arrives in search of another Vaal success after a highly productive afternoon last week. The stable converted at a 50% strike-rate, with Mount Darwin winning from its two runners, and Midnight Special has the opportunity to keep that momentum going in Race 2 over 1000m.

The three-year-old daughter of Fire Away has finished second in two of her three starts, including her latest outing over this course and distance. She has already shown enough to suggest victory is within reach and need only reproduce her recent form to make a strong case under Calvin Habib.

 

Jack Milner

Race 1: 3 Autograph, 1 Periodic Table, 7 Treasure State, 6 Elegant Edge

Race 2: 5 Midnight Special, 1 Piteraq, 2 Dash Eight, 9 Amadioo

Race 3: 3 Berry Lancer, 1 Steel Pier, 14 Prince Ivar, 7 Handsome Badger

Race 4: 9 Go For Broke, 2 Knockin’ Boots, 3 Northern European, 4 Grains Of Paradise

Race 5: 7 Twelfth Of Never, 3 Azaleas For All, 4 Art Nouveau, 6 Cartagena

Race 6: 1 Itsnowornever, 10 Hopscotch, 8 Ghostbuster, 2 Arumugam

Race 7: 6 Special Envoy, 1 Top Floor, 2 Gallic Victor, 3 Force Publique

Race 8: 2 Sea Shanty, 6 Longsword, 9 Spy Story, 11 On A Jet Plane

 

BEST BET

Race 4: 9 Go For Broke

VALUE BET

Race 3: 3 Berry Lancer

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1×5

 

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1, 5

Leg 3: 1, 3, 14

Leg 4: 9

Leg 5: 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 8, 10

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R108

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 3, 14

Leg 3: 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7

Leg 5: 1, 8, 10

Leg 6: 1, 6

Leg 7: 2, 6, 9

 

PICK 6

R1800

Leg 1: 1, 3, 7, 13, 14

Leg 2: 9

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 5: 1, 2, 6

 

JACKPOT 1

R90

Leg 1: 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

 

JACKPOT 2

R360

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6

Leg 4: 2, 6, 9, 11