Horse Racing Today
August 1st signals the start of the new racing season in South Africa and is also the unofficial birthday of all horses, as each year, horses are bumped up an age group on the 1st of August. August also kicks off the 2024/2025 South African Horse Racing season, and the featured events come thick and fast from November onwards. Before that, we have plenty of Listed and Handicap events to keep our betting interests alive as we build to the big races later in the year.
Thursday’s horse racing action is available from Gauteng, with an eight-race program from the Vaal Classic track. Racing begins at 12:50 and includes a competitive Middle Stakes event in Race 3. Below are our South African horse racing tips, predictions and suggested bets for the day’s racing. If you are following our tips and placing bets today, good luck, and hopefully, it’ll be a winning day for all.
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Vaal Selections
Race 1 – 1500m (Maiden Plate)
ROLL OF THE DICE has fair form and has not finished too far behind the winners in previous races. He placed in his only attempt over this distance and can run well. He can finish in the money from his wide draw with some luck.
Suggested Bet – ROLL OF THE DICE EW @ 9/1❌
Race 2 – 1500m (Maiden Plate)
LACEWING has fair form, and her last run was good. If she can reproduce that effort, she will shed her maiden tag. Currently, she is priced at 4/1, but I expect her odds to drop to around 18/10 at race time. So I like her value at the time of writing.
Suggested Bet – LACEWING EW @ 4/1✅ EW Place
Race 3 – 2000m (Middle Stakes)
Most of these horses have been racing against each other, so weight turnarounds will play a big role. I love the value of AFRAAD here. He carries no weight at 50kgs and can sneak a place if he is not too far back. With some luck in running, he represents the value of the race.
Suggested Bet – AFRAAD EW @ 15/1❌
Race 4 – 2400m (MR 68 Handicap)
It is another middle-distance race where many of these horses often race against each other. Yet again, weight turnarounds are important, and I went for a big-priced runner. GO DREAM MACHINE is better than her last few starts and can run well with 48kgs. She will need plenty to go her way to sneak a place, but we can’t get hurt at these massive odds.
Suggested Bet – GO DREAM MACHINE EW @ 25/1 Void-Scratched
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Race 5 – 1800m (FM 93 Handicap)
ROSY LEMON should have finished closer in her previous start but was steadied at the 250m mark. She won her only attempt over course and distance and can run well again. I expect her to run into the placings.
Suggested Bet – ROSY LEMON EW @ 5/1❌
Race 6 – 1800m (FM 74 Handicap)
PRETTY IN PEARLS is better than her last start, and before that run, she had decent form. If she can return to her previous form, she is a massive threat to the favourite. I will take my chances on her to upset the short-priced favourite, OLIVIA WAY’S.
Suggested Bet – PRETTY IN PEARLS EW @ 6/1❌
Race 7 – 1450m (Novice Handicap)
I think the value lies with the filly IT’S HER WAY in this race. She is trying further, but based on her breeding, she should have no issues with the distance. She is a massive runner with her low weight if she sees out the trip.
Suggested Bet – IT’S HER WAY EW @ 15/1 Void-Scratched
Race 8 – 1200m (MR 74 Handicap)
It is a speculative punt from me here with LULU’S BOY to turn around his form. Ignore his last start, and he was reported not to be striding out. The eight-year-old is speedy and should be at the front with 500m to go. I am hoping he gets away and leads, and hopefully, he can sneak on at the finish for the back end of trifectas and return some place money.
Suggested Bet – LULU’S BOY EW @ 15/1❌
Note: Betting odds are correct at the time of writing, but odds are subject to change.
Writer/Betting Tipster
I have been in the online casino and sports betting industry for a decade and am an avid sports bettor and fan. I have expanded my betting knowledge to create articles on the iGaming industry focusing on online casino content and sports betting analysis for several regions, including the Canadian, UK, South African, African and New Zealand markets. I cover various sports, including Soccer, Rugby, American Football, Basketball and Horse Racing. All my predictions, tips and insights are thoroughly researched and I aim to help fellow punters in beating the bookies!
