Nov 11 South Africa (Vaal) preview

Keep an eye on promising three-year-old Echo Check

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Race 1 (1,700m)

(7) REECE’S WISH’s fast-finishing second on debut against male opposition was encouraging and gave the impression this longer trip would be more to her liking, especially with that run under her belt.

Stablemates (2) TOP SHELF TEDDY and (3) UTSAAH have improved with each run and that experience will help.

(8) SHADOWLINE fits a similar profile and should acquit herself competitively with improvement expected.

Race 2 (1,700m)

Familiar foes (5) AVOONTOAST, (3) ACCEPT COOKIES and (4) FUTURE DATE renew rivalry. On the form of their previous meetings over 1,600m, 1,800m and 2,000m, there should not be much separating the trio on the revised terms.

(1) DOITWITHDIAMONDS made no impression in a recent feature, but could fare better in these calmer waters.

Race 3 (1,700m)

(1) REAL STUNNER built on an encouraging Highveld introduction to finish second over 1,600m last time. He would not need to improve much over this extended trip to open his account.

A good third on debut over 1,400m, (9) ROYAL ENGAGEMENT will likely pose the biggest threat with that experience to count on and with natural improvement expected of him.

(2) AFTERBURN has the form and experience to get into the picture.

(10) STOKESY is another likely improver to keep an eye on.

Race 4 (1,700m)

(6) OPEN SESAME confirmed the promise of her sprint debut by winning over 1,400m in her next outing. She has not been seen since, but is open to any amount of improvement over this extended trip on her reappearance.

Hard-knockers (1) BOOM BOOM and (4) SIGRID SWING will make life difficult for the 3YO filly, given their recent race fitness, as well as their form and experience at this level.

(2) Princess Keira won her maiden three starts ago over 1,400m. She could fare better over longer.

Race 5 (1,800m)

Progressive 3YOs (3) BELLEROPHON and (4) REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT are bred to improve for the step-up to this distance, so they could fight out the finish.

(7) TAKE NO PRISONERS is another with scope to improve stretching out to this distance, and with first-time blinkers fitted.

(8) ELUSIVE RED outran market expectations when winning last time and he fits a similar profile.

Race 6 (1,400m)

(2) UNITED OFFER and (5) FISH HAWK are promising 3YO fillies with plenty of room for improvement. Both are unexposed and on pedigree, they should have more to offer over this extended trip.

(4) FIRE IN HER SOUL won a 1,450m maiden last time and that experience will benefit her.

(6) SARAGOSSA CAT fits a similar profile and should have more to offer stretching out to this trip.

Race 7 (1,000m)

(3) TRAJANUS was not winning out of turn last time when reverting to 1,000m. He should fight out the finish.

(2) BANYAN is distance-suited, so he will make life difficult for the selection.

(6) SPIRITRIX returns from a lengthy layoff, but is also open to any amount of improvement on her reappearance.

(1) READY SET FIRE have shown enough to acquit competitively.

Race 8 (1,200m)

It could pay to side with the 3YOs (8) ECHO CHECK and (10) THE LAST DUKE. Both are progressive and have solid form credentials, but the former has won twice and placed once in three starts – huge chance.

(5) ENSUING and (4) SECRET CHORD are in good nick and likely to make their presence felt.

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