11:40 Turffontein

Saturday 4 February 2023

All10:0010:3011:0511:4012:2012:5513:3314:0814:45

Athina Mr 80 Handicap

Off time: 11:40 | Winning time: 1m 7.39s

(13)

Clarkson^b³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Luyolo Mxothwa| T: Candice Dawson| C

25/1

Course winner. Latest win here in October. 7/1, seventh of 10 in handicap at Vaal (9f, good) 30 days ago. Significantly down in trip.

Form: 42143-7

(12)

Good Queen Bess^b1¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R Fourie| T: M F De Kock| CD

17/2

C&D winner. 5/2 and tongue strap on for 1st time, seventh of 10 in handicap at Vaal (6f, good). Off 114 days. Uphill task.

Form: 354137-

(3)

The Mauritian⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Brett Crawford| CD

5/1

Course winner. One win from 3 runs last year. Winner here in October. 3 lengths third of 10 to Jimmy Don in listed race (10/1) at this course (7f, good) 42 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 143-

(5)

Esquevelle⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Munger| T: Clinton Binda| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Career best when winning 14-runner minor event (9/4) at Vaal (6f, good) 65 days ago.

Form: 051321-

(10)

Eagle Strike^b³⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Donald Geerthsen⁽⁶⁾| T: Alec Laird| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 25/4 and blinkered for 1st time, good second of 9 in handicap at this course (7.2f, good). Off 12 months. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 31667/2-

(1)

Lord Varys¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Diego De Gouveia| T: Paul Matchett| D

25/1

Seventh of 11 in minor event at Vaal (7.2f, good, 10/1) 16 days ago.

Form: 1/3053-7

(14)

Cian The Conqueror⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Marco V'Rensburg| T: Corne Spies| CD

6/1

100/1, won 15-runner maiden at this C&D (good to soft) by ½ length from Munchkin. Off 98 days. First run for yard after leaving C. Spies. Makes handicap debut. Shortlist material.

Form: 1-

(8)

Munchkin⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Khumalo| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

5/2

One win from 2 runs last year. 36/100, won 15-runner maiden at this C&D (good) 78 days ago. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 21-

(15)

Kalahari Blue²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K De Melo| T: Johan J Vuuren| CD

5/1

Course winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win here in September. Respectable fourth of 9 in handicap at this C&D (good, 15/10) 25 days ago.

Form: 13125-4

(7)

Pinch Hit^b¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lerena| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Vaal in January. Respectable sixth of 10 in handicap (33/20) at Vaal (7.2f, good) 18 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 5523-16

(6)

Run For Cover²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Julius Mariba| T: Ashley Fortune

28/1

Winner at Vaal in November. Tenth of 12 in handicap at Kenilworth (8f, good, 40/1) 28 days ago. Back down in trip. Heading back in the right direction recently.

Form: 3215-0

(11)

Dancing Dora⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Maujean| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| C| D

20/1

Course winner. Four wins from 12 runs last year. 6/1, fifth of 7 in handicap at Vaal (5f, good to soft) 51 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 611115-

(9)

Angel Of War¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Rachel Venniker⁽³⁾| T: Paul Matchett| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 25/1, fourth of 7 in minor event at Vaal (6f, good) 11 days ago.

Form: 341/0-34

(4)

Smith And Wesson¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Gabriell Pieterse| T: Paul Matchett

25/1

Winner at Greyville in September. 16/1, creditable third of 9 in handicap at Vaal (6f, good) 18 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 14046-3

Non-Runners

(2)

Second Breath²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Robyn Klaasen J: R Simons

Forecasts

Munchkin (5/2), Kalahari Blue (5/1), The Mauritian (5/1), Cian The Conqueror (6/1), Good Queen Bess (17/2), Angel Of War (10/1), Esquevelle (10/1), Pinch Hit (16/1), Second Breath (16/1), Dancing Dora (20/1), Smith And Wesson (25/1), Clarkson (25/1), Lord Varys (25/1), Eagle Strike (25/1), Run For Cover (28/1)

THE MAURITIAN looks one with plenty of potential and is up to winning this. Pinch Hit appeals most of the remainder, while Kalahari Blue also demands consideration.