Kidmambo to sing the blues on Vaal sand

There is an eight-race card at the course today and Kidmambo could be the business in the day’s topliner. The four-year-old son of Mambo In Seattle takes his place in Race 7, a MR 76 Handicap over 1600m which has attracted a field of just eight runners.

The Paul Matchett-trained Kidmambo only started racing on the surface in August and has now had three runs, registering a win, a second and a third place, all over today’s course and distance.

His maiden victory was impressive as he ran away from his field, winning by 4.30 lengths. He was then not disgraced when staying on well for third behind Commodore Al and last time showed tremendous guts when second behind Arabian World. On all of those occasions he carried more weight than he has in this event and could be able to get away from his opposition with only 53.5kg on his back.

He is 2kg better off with Inala, who finished 4.60 lengths ahead of him in the race won by Commodore Al and is 3kg worse off with Pay As You Go, who was 0.50 lengths behind him, in that same run. That said, jockey Francois Herholdt knows Kidmambo well now and should have a massive chance from draw No 1.

The main danger in the race could be the Gary Alexander-trained Oriental Blue who won his last start on sand back in December 2014. He has since campaigned on turf but should be competitive off this merit rating of 76 back on the sand.

Inala drops to a more appropriate trip and must be a runner while He Is Magic and Perfect Grace can also get into the action. Pay As You Go comes into the race with a galloping weight of 50.5kg and can hold on if allowed to get away from his rivals. Tactics will play a big part but from pole position Kidmambo should be worth a bet.

News Filter stands out as another possible banker in Race 4. He returns from a break of 91 days but has won both sand starts in facile fashion and should make it a hat-trick. He tries 1450m for the first time but did win around the turn in his last start over 1200m at the course.

Randall Simons, who rode him to victory on both occasions, takes the ride.