12:15 Greyville

Wednesday 8 May 2024

All10:0510:3511:0511:3512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3015:0015:35

Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (grade 2)(horses At Weight-for-age + Penalties)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: -

(1)

Royal Aussie⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Fourie| T: Justin Snaith| D

5/2

Five wins from 17 Flat runs. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Career best when winning 9-runner listed race at Kenilworth (8f, good, 9/4) 74 days ago by 1½ lengths from Gold Poker Game.

Form: 326-381

(2)

Cousin Casey³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Khumalo| T: Sean Tarry| CD

11/4

C&D winner. Respectable 5¼ lengths fourth of 13 to Main Defender in Gr 1 at Turffontein (8f, good, 16/1) 67 days ago.

Form: 020-340

(4)

Archimides^b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Kobeli Lihaba| T: Phillip Labuschagne| BF| D

150/1

Respectable sixth of 10 in handicap at Vaal (7.2f, good to soft, 5/1) 29 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 8-70456

(6)

Gladatorian⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S Veale| T: Stuart Ferrie| C| D

3/1

2 wins from 2 runs this year. 15/10, career best when winning 12-runner minor event at this course (6f, good to soft) 45 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 1622-11

(7)

Humdinger³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J V'd Merwe| T: M F De Kock| CD

8/1

C&D winner. 6/1, creditable short-head second of 12 to Texas Red in minor event at Turffontein (7f, good) 53 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 46-6222

(8)

Gimmeanotherchance³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Craig Zackey| T: M F De Kock| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Respectable 1½ lengths second of 6 to Mid Winter Wind in Gr 3 (5/2) at this C&D (good to soft) 38 days ago.

Form: 32-5562

(9)

Al Muthana¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Tristan Godden| T: Ricky Maingard| C| D

12/1

Course winner. Eight wins from 24 Flat runs. 12¼ lengths tenth of 11 to Double Superlative in Gr 1 at Kenilworth (9.9f, good, 33/1). Off 102 days. Down in trip.

Form: 3297-40

(10)

Waterberry Lane⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Deryl Daniels| T: Ricky Maingard| CD

33/1

C&D winner. Six wins from 21 Flat runs. 2¼ lengths seventh of 9 to Thunderstruck in Gr 2 at Kenilworth (6f, good, 100/1) 74 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 188-097

Non-Runners

(3)

Main Defender⁶⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Tony Peter J: Card Scratching

(5)

Texas Red³²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: Robyn Klaasen J: Card Scratching

Forecasts

Main Defender (9/10), Royal Aussie (5/2), Cousin Casey (11/4), Gladatorian (3/1), Gimmeanotherchance (7/2), Humdinger (8/1), Al Muthana (12/1), Waterberry Lane (33/1), Texas Red (40/1), Archimides (150/1)

HUMDINGER was narrowly beaten last time and won a similar Grade 2 here last season so could be the way to go. Cousin Casey is feared, while Royal Aussie can also feature.