15:05 Vaal

Thursday 23 November 2023

All10:3011:0011:3512:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:05

Next Vaal Racemeeting Tuesday 28 November Mr 75 Handicap

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 1m 9.8s

(3)

Ampersand²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachel Venniker⁽³⁾| T: Paul Matchett| D

11/2

Latest win at Turffontein in August. Respectable fourth of 9 in minor event at Turffontein (6f, soft, 9/2) 21 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 518124-

(1)

Halberdier²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M Yeni| T: Billy Ruiters| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Winner here in September. 19¼ lengths last of 10 to Main Defender in Gr 3 at Turffontein (7f, good, 100/1) 26 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Must bounce back.

Form: 325210-

(2)

Mescal²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Nathan Klink| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| C| D

16/1

Course winner. Seventh of 11 in handicap at this C&D (good, 25/2) 28 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 362347-

(8)

Kill Shot³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Trent Mayhew⁽⁹⁾| T: Phillip / Vermeulen| C

40/1

Course winner. First run since leaving F. Bronkhorst when last of 7 in minor event at Turffontein (7.2f, good, 66/1) 33 days ago.

Form: 50667/7-

(4)

Lulu's Boy²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Denis Schwarz| T: Kobus Roux| CD

11/2

5-time C&D winner. 3 wins from 10 runs this year. Latest win here in August. Creditable third of 11 in handicap at this C&D (good, 6/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 151143-

(5)

Pendragon^b⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| D

10/1

Latest win at Turffontein in May. Bit below form sixth of 12 in handicap at this course (5f, good, 10/1) 49 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 153326-

(14)

After Hours^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S Khumalo| T: D Gray St John| CD

4/1

4-time course winner. 3 wins from 17 runs this year. 8/1, improved on recent efforts to win 14-runner minor event at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 19 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 646321-

(7)

Whirlybird¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Siyanda Sosibo⁽³⁾| T: Clinton Binda| D

25/1

Winner at Turffontein in September. 6¾ lengths eleventh of 14 to After Hours in minor event at Turffontein (5.8f, good, 8/1) 19 days ago. Makes handicap debut. Must bounce back.

Form: 053210-

(13)

Duke Of Rock^b1⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Strydom| T: Barend Daniel Botes| CD

7/2

C&D winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Winner here in September. Good fifth of 14 in handicap (7/1) at this course (8f, good to soft) 56 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 2/615-

(6)

Johnny Dogs³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Calvin Habib| T: Robyn Klaasen| C

8/1

Course winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. Fifth of 8 in handicap at Turffontein (7.4f, good, 8/1) 33 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 673875-

(15)

Circle Of Grace¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Kaidan Brewer| T: Corne Spies| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Winner here in September. 4½ lengths fifth of 14 to After Hours in minor event (75/1) at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 19 days ago. First run for yard after leaving C. Spies. Has work to do.

Form: 417905-

(9)

Jet Cat^b¹⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: Wesley Marwing| T: Heinrich Westhuizen| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2021. 3¾ lengths fifth of 11 to Lulu's Boy in handicap at this C&D (good, 66/1). Off 105 days. Uphill task.

Form: 9768/95-

(12)

Lang's Power^b¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Jeffery Syster| T: Clinton Binda| D

33/1

50/1, first run since leaving S. B. Kotzen when thirteenth of 15 in handicap at Turffontein (5f, good) 11 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 9/79870-

(11)

Written In Stone¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-3| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Brett Webber| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Forty two runs since last win in 2020. 6¼ lengths ninth of 14 to After Hours in minor event at Turffontein (5.8f, good, 20/1) 19 days ago.

Form: 473399-

Non-Runners

(10)

Here With Me⁵¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: Roy Magner J: J V'd Merwe

Forecasts

Duke Of Rock (7/2), After Hours (4/1), Ampersand (11/2), Lulu's Boy (11/2), Halberdier (8/1), Johnny Dogs (8/1), Pendragon (10/1), Here With Me (10/1), Written In Stone (14/1), Mescal (16/1), Whirlybird (25/1), Jet Cat (25/1), Circle Of Grace (25/1), Lang's Power (33/1), Kill Shot (40/1)

LULU'S BOY is running well and has a fair chance. Ampersand is the most likely threat, while Here With Me is perhaps the most interesting other runner in the field.