12:35 Turffontein

Thursday 2 January 2025

All10:5011:2512:0012:3513:1513:5014:25

For Hospitality Bookings Call 011 681 1796 Middle Stakes

Off time: 12:36 | Winning time: 2m 2.21s

(6)

Home Of The Brave³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Trent Mayhew⁽³⁾| T: Tyrone Zackey| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 12 runs last year. Latest win at Vaal in October. Tenth of 12 in minor event at this course (15.9f, good, 20/1) 33 days ago. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 181200-

(5)

Rule Book^b²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Marco V'Rensburg| T: Alec Laird| C| D

22/1

6-time course winner. Seven wins from 23 Flat runs. Two wins from 5 runs last year. Last of 7 in handicap at this course (8f, good, 40/1) 26 days ago. Back up in trip. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 1/15317-

(4)

Whafeef²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Tyrone Zackey| C

15/2

Course winner. Fourth of 7 in handicap at this course (8f, good, 11/2) 26 days ago. Back up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 568724-

(8)

Hawkbill¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jarryd Penny| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Won 11-runner handicap at Vaal (9f, good, 16/1) 14 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 777611-

(7)

Tamarisk Tree⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lerena| T: Robbie Sage| BF| C

9/4

Course winner. 9/4, creditable third of 9 in minor event at this C&D (good) 40 days ago.

Form: 862223-

(1)

King's Express^b⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Fabian Habib| C

17/2

Course winner. Latest win here in August. Last of 11 in minor event at this course (8f, good, 6/1). Off 96 days. Up in trip.

Form: 736210-

(9)

Twenty Drachma's³³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: C Maujean| T: Stuart Pettigrew| C

10/1

Course winner. Ninth of 12 in minor event (10/1) at this course (15.9f, good) 33 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 023239-

(2)

Birthright^b¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Jason Gates| T: Alec Laird| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Latest win here in December. 7/1, creditable 2 lengths fifth of 11 to Hawkbill in handicap at Vaal (9f, good) 14 days ago.

Form: 353215-

(3)

Quatermain²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Malesela Katjedi| T: Robyn Klaasen

7/1

Respectable third of 7 in handicap at this course (8f, good, 7/2) 26 days ago. Up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 026023-

Non-Runners

(10)

Vesuvio³⁰

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: Tyrone Zackey J: Nathan Klink

Forecasts

Tamarisk Tree (9/4), Hawkbill (7/2), Birthright (9/2), Quatermain (7/1), Whafeef (15/2), King's Express (17/2), Twenty Drachma's (10/1), Home Of The Brave (12/1), Vesuvio (14/1), Rule Book (22/1)

HAWKBILL is in a good run of form and can land the hat-trick. Birthright is hard to ignore, while Tamarisk Tree could well have a say too.