Race 8: NEXT VAAL RACEMEETING THURSDAY 31 JULY FM 66 HANDICAP (F & M) (For Fillies and Mares)

VAAL RACECOURSE | Thursday, 24 July 2025 | 15:50

Distance: 1450m
Going: Good
Stakes: R75,000
Weight For Age(SSL) 2yrs:9.5 3yrs:1.0 Weight For Age(SNL) 3yrs:2.5

Race Results

Pos Horse A.C.S. Weight Draw Jockey Len MR CMR Odds
1st Northern Kitten 3 b. f 54.0kg 2 Mr J Gates - 54 67 6/1
2nd Can't Catch Me 5 b. m 53.0kg 3 Mr P Mxoli 0.4 52 58 17/2
3rd Red Amber TF 2 b. f 59.5kg 5 Mr G J Lerena 2.1 84 71 9/4
4 Golden Aspen 6 b. m 59.0kg (60.5) 11 Mr T J Mayhew 2.7 67 66 40/1
5 Lady Loxton 4 b. f 56.0kg 10 Mr K Matsunyane 3.7 58 57 4/1
6 Sheets And Goggles 3 b. f 58.5kg 8 Mr C J Habib 3.75 65 63 9/2
7 Perini Palace 4 b. f 55.0kg (56.5) 4 Mr B J A Plaatjies 6.45 59 56 10/1
8 Count Your Chances 5 b. m 52.5kg (56.5) 6 Mr M Mbuto 7.25 59 51 125/1
9 Gimme A Storm 3 b. f 61.5kg 7 Mr K A Brewer 7.3 71 58 100/1
10 Like A Prayer 3 gr. f 60.0kg 1 Mr K J Lihaba 8.0 68 63 40/1
11 Ghostbuster 4 b. f 59.5kg 9 Mr R Danielson 13.25 65 57 40/1

Race Timing

Winning Time
87.52s
Average Time
87.05s
Difference
+%.2fs
Total Pool
R695,000

Rating Analysis

Horse Pos MR Before MR After Official Δ Expected Δ Discrepancy
Northern Kitten 1 54 67 +13 + 7 + 6
Can't Catch Me 2 52 58 +6 -1 + 7
Red Amber 3 84 71 -13 -1 -12
Golden Aspen 4 67 66 -1 -1
Lady Loxton 5 58 57 -1 -2 + 1
Sheets And Goggles 6 65 63 -2 -2
Perini Palace 7 59 56 -3 -3
Count Your Chances 8 59 51 -8 -3 -5
Gimme A Storm 9 71 58 -13 -3 -10
Like A Prayer 10 68 63 -5 -3 -2
Ghostbuster 11 65 57 -8 -5 -3
Note: Expected changes are calculated using simplified algorithms. Official NHRA algorithms from the PDF will provide accurate benchmarking.

Stipes Report

THE STARTER REPORTED:
a)	COUNT YOUR CHANCES (*M Mbuto) jumped awkwardly outwards, making contact with the left-side front gate, which resulted in this mare losing two lengths. 

THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED:
a)	PERINI PALACE (*B Plaatjies) over-raced in the early and middle stages, proving difficult to assist. 
b)	In view of the performance of GHOSTBUSTER (R Danielson), (distance 13,25 lengths, betting 40/1), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine this mare.
c)	Apprentice K J Lihaba reported that he felt something amiss with LIKE A PRAYER in running. 
The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine this filly. 		
d)	Trainer J A Visser was charged with a contravention of Rule 39.7.5 in that he failed to vaccinate COUNT YOUR CHANCES against Equine Influenza in accordance with the programme of vaccinations as published from time to time in the Racing Calendar. 
Trainer J A Visser signed an Admission of Guilt and was fined R1000.
e)	NORTHERN KITTEN (J Gates), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis	
Trainer F P Habib advised (SM).
	
JOCKEY CHANGES:
None. 

RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER:
a)	COUNT YOUR CHANCES raced without blinkers (declared 21 July 2025 at 12H24).

THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED:
a)	GHOSTBUSTER examined post race, nothing obvious detected.
b)	LIKE A PRAYER blowing post race; fatigued.	
c)	GOLDEN ASPEN coughing post race.	

THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS.
Race 8 contd. 
DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER:

None.