13:40 Turffontein

Saturday 17 February 2024

All10:0510:4011:1511:5012:2513:0013:4014:1514:5015:25

Betway London News Stakes (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 1m 50.77s

(7)

Crimson King²⁰

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

33/1

Good neck third of 10 to Litigation in handicap (25/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 20 days ago.

Form: 51035-3

(5)

Bless My Stars⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mgudlwa| T: Sean Tarry| CD

15/8

C&D winner. Very good 2¼ lengths third of 18 to Royal Victory in Gr 1 (11/2) at this course (9.9f, good) 84 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 213133-

(1)

Bingwa¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Ryan Munger| T: Johan J Vuuren| CD

16/1

4-time course winner. 40/1, ninth of 13 in minor event at this course (7f, good) 14 days ago. Back up in trip. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 83650-9

(11)

Safe Passage¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Diego De Gouveia| T: M F De Kock| C

4/1

Course winner. Six wins from 20 Flat runs. Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 20/1, below form eighth of 13 in minor event at this course (7f, good) 14 days ago. Back up in trip. Not taken lightly.

Form: 06602-8

(4)

Litigation²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lerena| T: Sean Tarry| CD

8/1

3-time C&D winner. Improved on recent efforts to win 10-runner handicap (10/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 20 days ago by neck from Emirate Gina. Can make presence felt.

Form: 5406-51

(2)

Meridius²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: C Maujean| T: Tony Peter| C

13/2

Course winner. 10/1, good neck fourth of 10 to Litigation in handicap at this C&D (good to soft) 20 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 11874-4

(8)

Electric Gold^b²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Calvin Habib| T: Tony Peter| BF| CD

15/2

4-time course winner. Five wins from 19 Flat runs. Latest win here in December. 3 lengths ninth of 10 to Litigation in handicap (2/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 20 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 37321-9

(3)

Street Art²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Tristan Godden| T: Tony Peter| C| D

6/1

Didn't need to improve to win 7-runner minor event (17/10) at this course (9.9f, good) 23 days ago.

Form: 45623-1

(6)

Emirate Gina²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Denis Schwarz| T: Roy Magner| C| D

12/1

Course winner. Latest win at Vaal in August. Creditable neck second of 10 to Litigation in handicap (10/1) at this C&D (good to soft) 20 days ago.

Form: 01435-2

(12)

Juliet Tango³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Nathan Klink| T: Lorenzo Karriem| BF| CD

22/1

C&D winner. 15/10, good second of 7 in minor event at this course (7f, soft) 35 days ago. Back up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 02251-2

(9)

Pure Predator³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| C

20/1

Course winner. 14/1, creditable fifth of 9 in minor event at Vaal (8f, good) 32 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 64864-5

Non-Runners

(10)

Second Base¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: Robyn Klaasen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Bless My Stars (15/8), Safe Passage (4/1), Street Art (6/1), Meridius (13/2), Electric Gold (15/2), Litigation (8/1), Emirate Gina (12/1), Bingwa (16/1), Pure Predator (20/1), Second Base (20/1), Juliet Tango (22/1), Crimson King (33/1)

BLESS MY STARS looks to be the safest option but can't afford for much to go wrong. Emirate Gina makes most appeal of the rest, while Litigation can't be ruled out.