16:55 Turffontein

Saturday 28 October 2023

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:3518:10

Allied Steelrode Java Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 2m 34.21s

(4)

Zeus²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lerena| T: Fabian Habib| C| D

7/4

Course winner. Seven wins from 21 Flat runs. Career best when winning 8-runner minor event at Vaal (11.9f, good, 13/10) 25 days ago.

Form: 976411-

(6)

Arumugam²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Bernard Fayd'Herbe| T: Weiho Marwing| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Good 7¼ lengths fourth of 8 to Zeus in minor event (33/10) at Vaal (11.9f, good) 25 days ago. First run for yard after leaving W. H. Marwing.

Form: 532024-

(3)

Black Thorn⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J V'd Merwe| T: M F De Kock| CD

17/2

C&D winner. Six wins from 23 Flat runs. Good second of 6 in minor event at Vaal (11.9f, good, 10/1) 9 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 07/9472-

(1)

Flying Bull²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Calvin Habib| T: Tony Peter| C| D

7/1

Course winner. 25/2, first run since leaving G. S. Kotzen when creditable 4¾ lengths third of 8 to Zeus in minor event at Vaal (11.9f, good) 25 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 720063-

(10)

Battleground⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: R Fourie| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

7/2

3 wins from 7 runs this year. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (5/2) at this course (12.9f, good) 49 days ago.

Form: 309411-

(5)

Trois Trois Quatre⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: S Khumalo| T: M F De Kock| BF| C

5/1

3 wins from 5 runs this year. Good 3¼ lengths third of 7 to River Romeo in minor event (18/10) at this course (9.9f, good) 42 days ago. Back up in trip. Getting better with each recent run.

Form: 5/31113-

(7)

Mambo Come Tesio^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: M F De Kock| CD

22/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 9 runs this year. Latest win here in June. Fifth of 6 in minor event (4/1) at Vaal (11.9f, good) 9 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 331155-

(2)

Out Of Your League^b⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Fabian Habib| OR: 90| CD

50/1

C&D winner. Twenty one runs since last win in 2021. 33/1, 19½ lengths last of 10 to Battleground in handicap at this course (12.9f, good) 49 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 558770-

(8)

Opera Glass^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-2| J: Jason Gates| T: Stephen Moffatt| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 3 wins from 17 runs this year. Latest win at Vaal in August. 25/2, good third of 9 in minor event at this course (10.9f, good) 14 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 931463-

Non-Runners

(9)

River Romeo⁴²

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: Paul Matchett J: Denis Schwarz

Forecasts

Zeus (7/4), Battleground (7/2), Trois Trois Quatre (5/1), Flying Bull (7/1), Arumugam (8/1), Black Thorn (17/2), River Romeo (14/1), Mambo Come Tesio (22/1), Opera Glass (25/1), Out Of Your League (50/1)

OPERA GLASS has marginally the best all-round profile but has next to no margin for error. Black Thorn is most likely the toughest threat, while Trois Trois Quatre is also in the running for some place money at least.