Latest news with #EMPRESSWU
New Paper
23-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
July 24 South Africa (Vaal) form analysis
Race 1 (1,200m) (3) EMPRESS WU is overdue for a maiden win. She would not be winning out of turn after four second-place finishes in a row. (1) TRAIL RUNNER was recently gelded and has the form and experience to fight out the finish. (4) SHIMMERING also has a role to play. (2) FIRE STARTER will not need to improve much over this shorter trip to make his presence felt too. Race 2 (1,600m) (5) TRIP TO STATES was a well-beaten second last time but needs only to repeat that performance over this extended trip to play another leading role. (4) CODEWORD finished a career-best second in this headgear three weeks ago under the same rider and could fight for victory if confirming that improvement. (6) WINCHESTER and (1) JOHNNY DRAMA appeal most of the remainder. Race 3 (1,600m) Last-start scorer (8) TOMMY SHELBY and debut winner (7) COPPER EAGLE are promising 2yo colts with scope to improve over this extended trip that should suit. (2) WAR REPORTER confirmed his previous outing by running second over 1,800m recently. He should go well again over a course and distance he is unbeaten. Hard-knocker (3) LAUGHING WILLIAM bounced back to form last time and could be hard to peg back if adopting similar tactics. Race 4 (1,000m) Consistent (5) KIA KAHA fared slightly better than (1) COSMIC QUEEN in a stronger 1,000m race last time but the latter was drawn wide around the turn that day and with any improvement should turn the tables. (2) BOSUM BUDDY had excuses for a disappointing last start and should not be underestimated on her Highveld return. (4) STARS AND BRA'S is not taken lightly off her reduced mark. Race 5 (1,200m) (4) FALCON STRIKE took advantage of a drop in the ratings when winning last time and a four-point penalty is not likely to prevent another forward showing. Runner-up (3) ALONE TIME is 1.5kg better off, so he could avenge that 1.10-length defeat. Highveld newcomer (1) PEREGRINE FALCON should not be underestimated on his reappearance off a career-low mark. Hard-knockers (8) PHALA MILLIONS has the form and experience at this level to also acquit himself competitively. Race 6 (2,400m) Progressive (4) LAVA LAMP and the thriving (7) CARTAGENA are both last-start winners, though preference is for the latter whose experience over this distance will stand her in good stead. (2) ARTIC SILVER finished third in her sole 2,400m appearance at a higher level and won her only start on this course, so she is not taken lightly either. (1) ORDER OF HOPE has claims. Race 7 (2,000m) Top-weight (1) SNEAK PREVIEW will appreciate the step-up to this distance and is worth siding with off her career-low mark. (2) HAT FURIOUS and (3) RED SPARROW have performed moderately since opening their accounts but are not underestimated off their reduced marks. (4) CREPUSCOLO has earning potential too. Race 8 (1,450m) (4) RED AMBER got going late to finish a close-up third in a stronger race over 1,400m against male opposition last time and this extended trip will be more to her liking. Will be hard to beat against female-only rivals. (5) GHOSTBUSTER will likely pose the biggest threat, as she remains open to improvement on her return from a break. (6) SHEETS AND GOGGLES and (9) LADY LOXTON complete the shortlist.
New Paper
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
May 15 South Africa (Vaal) form analysis
Race 1 (1,000m) (2) ACT ON SNOW has the form and experience to play a leading role while youngster (7) BLINDFIRE is improving and is also likely to be competitive. (3) EMPRESS WU should also be prominent. Watch well-bred newcomer (8) HURRICANE POWER. Race 2 (1,600m) (3) CHRONICLE KING and (4) FIRE STARTER showed promise on debut and would have come on with that experience. Both could well fight out the finish. (5) GOLDEN WARRIOR and (6) SERGEANT SOQRAT have also shown enough to run a place. Race 3 (1,600m) (5) MATCHA MINT and (9) WITCHING HOUR have shown promise over shorter distances and are likely to improve over this extended trip. (6) OPERA FAN and (8) REJUVENATE fit a similar profile but have more of a place chance than a winning one. Race 4 (1,000m) (8) EIGHT HATS and (7) SUNSET WARRIOR have twice run well over this trip and neither would have to improve a great deal to open their account. Keep an eye on any betting support for newcomer (6) CAPTAIN FRANK. (4) SUMMER WINTER is worth a shot. The unexposed (1) JET QUERARI and the experienced (2) RINGHO are not to be underestimated. Race 5 (1,600m) (9) MOLOTOV COCKTAIL caught the eye on debut when running on well from a long way back. With that run under the belt, it should pay to follow his progress over this extended trip. (4) CHIEFTAIN'S SHIELD, (2) BRIGHAM and (1) PHIL THE FLUTER have the means to trouble the selection, ahead of (6) MISS TAKES and (5) FOLLOW THE MASTER. Race 6 (2,000m) (4) GAMER is consistent and will be rewarded sooner rather than later. Last-start winner (10) BOB LEE SWAGGER and class-dropper (3) SNEAK PREVIEW are genuine candidates for honours. (9) THE MERCIFUL is to be included in calculations while recent maiden winners (1) BLURRED VISION, (6) STOP THE TRAFFIC and (8) CITY LIGHTS remain competitive on their handicap debut. Race 7 (2,000m) Well-bred (1) WAGRAM is open to any amount of improvement over this trip and it could pay to follow her progress. Hard-knockers (2) IDEAL FUTURE and (4) ROSY LEMON have the form and experience to trouble the selection, as does (12) SILVER FLARE. Race 8 (2,000m) (1) AVOONTOAST sets a good standard and ought to remain competitive despite a penalty for an emphatic last-start success. Fellow recent scorer (2) DIMAKO'S JET is progressive and could have the edge over a distance that she is unbeaten. (7) I AM REGAL and (4) KEY WORKER are not taken lightly. Race 9 (1,500m) This is a tricky handicap, but it could pay to side with class-dropper (4) KOTINOS who races off a reduced mark. (6) SAIL THE SKY and (8) PERINI PALACE will be competitive if taking their place in the line-up. (12) STROKE OF MERCY appeals most of the remainder. Race 10 (1,000m) A tricky last race in which last-start scorers (1) ARILENA, (3) IN THE ETHER, (7) SYLVAN WARRIOR and (9) INAFIX should remain competitive off their revised ratings. (8) GAELIC DANCER and (5) LONELY AS A CLOUD also have legitimate each-way chances.
