13:15 Vaal

Thursday 14 December 2023

All10:2010:5511:3012:0512:4013:1513:5014:25

Racehorse Owners Association Mr 84 Handicap

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 1m 9.93s

(3)

Esquevelle^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Craig Zackey| T: Clinton Binda| CD

11/4

3-time C&D winner. Seven wins from 23 Flat runs. 4 wins from 11 runs this year. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap at this C&D (good, 5/1) 28 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 911311-

(1)

Second Breath⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Kaidan Brewer| T: Robyn Klaasen| CD

14/1

3-time C&D winner. Latest win here in August. 9/2, respectable third of 6 in handicap at Turffontein (6f, good) 61 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 021253-

(10)

Dreamland^b¹⁴

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

9/2

Winner at Scottsville in June. 10/1, seventh of 8 in minor event at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: 621287-

(6)

Siberian Steel²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Calvin Habib| T: Tony Peter| C

10/3

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in September. 8/1, creditable length fourth of 10 to Esquevelle in handicap at this C&D (good) 28 days ago.

Form: 264214-

(7)

Meteoric^b⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Maujean| T: Robyn Klaasen| CD

14/1

3 wins from 11 runs this year. Career best when winning 8-runner handicap (6/1) at this C&D (good) 72 days ago.

Form: 278811-

(8)

Back To Basics¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Paul Matchett| CD

14/1

3-time C&D winner. 3 wins from 13 runs this year. Latest win here in August. 16/1, bit below form tenth of 16 in handicap at this course (7.4f, good) 16 days ago.

Form: 614520-

(4)

Twice The Storm^b⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Sean Tarry| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 6/1, bit below form fifth of 12 in handicap at Turffontein (5.8f, good) 9 days ago.

Form: 393635-

(2)

Kotinos⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Jeffery Syster| T: Roy Magner| D

6/1

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. Last of 10 in handicap at Turffontein (7.4f, good, 25/2) 61 days ago.

Form: 025530-

(5)

Grape Shot¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: M Yeni| T: M F De Kock| D

9/1

Winner at Turffontein in October. Twelfth of 15 in handicap at this course (7f, good, 6/1) 16 days ago.

Form: 510-

Non-Runners

(9)

Kalahari Blue²⁸

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: Johan J Vuuren J: Unknown Jockey

Forecasts

Esquevelle (11/4), Siberian Steel (10/3), Dreamland (9/2), Kotinos (6/1), Twice The Storm (6/1), Grape Shot (9/1), Kalahari Blue (10/1), Second Breath (14/1), Back To Basics (14/1), Meteoric (14/1)

KALAHARI BLUE has by some way the best chance on form and ought to win comfortably. Siberian Steel is the percentage call to finish second, while Twice The Storm is the tentative selection for third.