12:10 Vaal

Thursday 16 January 2025

All09:5010:2511:0011:3512:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:05

Racing240 For Racing. For You Pinnacle Stakes

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 1m 29.72s

(11)

Main Defender³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: G Lerena| T: Tony Peter| OR: 106| D

2/5

Three wins from 9 runs last year. Career best when winning 5-runner minor event (46/100) at Turffontein (8f, good) 31 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 727201-

(7)

Melech⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: M Yeni| T: Roy Magner| C| D

3/1

Course winner. Six wins from 16 Flat runs. Very good 1¼ lengths third of 13 to Mount Pilatus in Gr 3 at Turffontein (5.8f, good, 33/1) 47 days ago. Back up in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 046453-

(3)

Mercantour⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Stuart Pettigrew| C

17/2

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2023. Creditable 2¼ lengths third of 8 to Fire 'n Flames in minor event at Turffontein (7f, good, 14/1) 47 days ago.

Form: 464263-

(8)

Fire 'n Flames²³

Age: 4| Weight: 7-12| J: Nathan Klink| T: Kobus Roux| C| D

18/1

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in November. 50/1, fifteenth of 18 in handicap at this course (7.3f, good to soft) 23 days ago.

Form: 065310-

(4)

Johnny Hero^b³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 7-12| J: Jason Gates| T: Tyrone Zackey| OR: 88| CD

40/1

Course winner. 19¼ lengths last of 5 to Main Defender in minor event (8/1) at Turffontein (8f, good) 31 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 93/8705-

(2)

Zuzan^b³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 7-12| J: Jarryd Penny| T: Paul Matchett| CD

28/1

4-time course winner. Eight wins from 30 Flat runs. 40/1, 3¾ lengths third of 5 to Main Defender in minor event at Turffontein (8f, good) 31 days ago.

Form: 070843-

Non-Runners

(6)

Barbaresco⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: Johan J Vuuren J: Craig Zackey

(9)

Gimme A Shot⁵

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: Mike/Adam Azzie J: Diego De Gouveia

(10)

Vulcanite⁵

Weight: 7-12| Age: 3

T: Paul Matchett J: Malesela Katjedi

(1)

Explosive Bond⁵

Weight: 7-12| Age: 4

T: Paul Matchett J: Girish Dookhit

(5)

Princeofgreen²⁸

Weight: 7-12| Age: 4

T: Paul Matchett J: Jeffery Syster

Forecasts

Main Defender (2/5), Melech (3/1), Barbaresco (5/1), Mercantour (17/2), Gimme A Shot (10/1), Vulcanite (14/1), Fire 'n Flames (18/1), Zuzan (28/1), Johnny Hero (40/1), Princeofgreen (40/1), Explosive Bond (40/1)

MAIN DEFENDER looks the one to be on if reproducing his latest effort and sets a solid standard. Melech rates the main opposition, while Fire 'N Flames is another to take into acount.