Upcoming Mid-Week Runners – Flamingo Park And Vaal Turf

We have five runners to follow this week, before the Summer Cup weekend kicks off. Spanish Fort has a smashing chance to land his second winner in the Flamingo Park opener, this Monday 25th November 2019. That is right before Listen To Lilly makes her eagerly awaited local debut on the dirt, in the second race. On Tuesday, Afriel has her follow up attempt in the third race at the Vaal, after an eye-catching effort on debut. We return to the Vaal once again on Thursday, where Winter Twilight and Look To The Sky will both be looking to find their earlier form. See more here.

Monday 25th November 2019
Flamingo Park  

Race 1 – 12:20
1000m – MR 58 Handicap

1 – Spanish Fort
Trainer: Cliffie Miller
Jockey: Collen Story
Wgt: 61.0kg
Draw: 1 (16 Runners)
Current Betting: 9/2

He has been in solid form of late, finishing just off them in his last few starts. The blinkers are starting to get the best out of him and they stay on as he drops in class for his 12th career outing. He has been showing some winning work at home and he has now landed a draw on the right side of the course. Once again, he is expected to ping the stall gates and from a handy position, he should be tough to catch and he has a great winning chance here.

Winning Form Comment: Speedy Sort. Hasn’t been too far off of the action of late. Merits respect.

Race 2 – 12:55
1300m – Maiden Plate (F&M)

10 – Listen To Lilly
Trainer: Cliffie Miller
Jockey: Marco van Rensburg
Wgt: 59.0kg
Draw: 6 (16 Runners)
Current Betting: 5/1

She has shown some very encouraging work on the dirt as a two-year old and it has been a bit disappointing that she didn’t bring that work to the Turf / Poly track. After three modest runs in KZN, we have decided to send her to the country’s only sand track, Flamingo Park. She has her local / stable debut for the Cliffie Miller stable here and she seems to be in a great place since the move. With her preference for this surface being obvious, we expect her to make a good impression this time and she is expected to be in the first four places.

Winning Form Comment: Fair last two starts on the Poly Track in KZN. Makes local / stable debut. Can improve if suited to the surface.

Tuesday 26th November 2019
Vaal Turf 

Race 3 – 14:10
1000m – Maiden Plate (fillies)

5 – Afriel
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 59.0kg
Draw: 13 (18 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 7/1

She was promising on debut, when blowing the start by three-lengths, before flashing home late and she would’ve learnt a ton from that experience. She returns to the same course and distance for her second start and gets the services of S’manga Khumalo this time. With the expected scope for improvement and the fact that the stable believes she has some ability, she is expected to go a lot closer here and she gets an each way chance.

Winning Form Comment: Found plenty of betting support when losing three lengths at the jump on debut. Would have gained from the experience and should improve.

Thursday 28th November 2019
Vaal Turf

 Race 3 – 14:20
1200m – MR 86 Handicap WSB Grand Heritage
14 – Winter Twilight
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: Muzi Yeni
Wgt: 55.0kg
Draw: 6 (15 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 25/1

He has been a little disappointing since his post maiden victory five starts back and after two modest efforts on the Poly, he now returns to the Highveld Turf where he will be looking for some improvement. Back over the 6-furlongs where he has won before, Muzi Yeni takes the mount (subject to medical clearance after a fall on Saturday) having ridden him once before. With that said, he will need to find some of his better form before he is tipped with any confidence.

Winning Form Comment: Fair effort on the Poly Track last time. Is yet to place on this course, but don’t ignore with Yeni up.

Race 7 – 16:40
1000m – Graduation Plate

8 – Look To The Sky
Trainer: Clinton Binda
Jockey: S’manga Khumalo
Wgt: 54.5kg
Draw: 6 (9 Runners)
Predicted Betting: 14/1

He hasn’t quite lived up to earlier expectations and the talented son of Pathfork will now be looking to find some of that form he had during the early parts of his two-year old career. He is doing well at home and we are using this to get him going for a summer campaign, after a 13 week absence from the course. Fitted with the pacifiers this time, S’manga Khumalo jumps aboard and they will be looking to make a big impression in this competitive field of 9 runners.

Winning Form Comment: Moderate effort last time. Comes off a break and gets the pacifiers fitted.

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