12:00 Vaal

Thursday 15 January 2026

All09:4010:1510:5011:2512:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:55

SA Derby 4 April Mr 84 Handicap

Off time: 12:00 | Winning time: 1m 59.93s

(13)

Battleground³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-13| J: Mickaelle Michel⁽³⁾| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis

28/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2024. Good fifth of 10 in handicap at this course (9f, good, 25/2) 35 days ago. Booking of Michel a plus.

Form: 809835-

(2)

Diesel's Shadow^b⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Savanna Valjalo⁽⁹⁾| T: Erico Verdonese| C

7/1

Course winner. Career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Turffontein (9f, soft) 44 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Flashy Apache. Booking of Valjalo a plus. Likely to continue in form.

Form: 565001-

(11)

Eiger Sanction⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Ryan Munger| T: D Gray St John| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in October. 9 lengths ninth of 14 to Diesel's Shadow in handicap () at Turffontein (9f, soft) 44 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 625179-

(4)

Flashy Apache^b¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Tyrone Zackey| CD

14/1

C&D winner. Twenty nine runs since last win in 2022. 10/1, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Turffontein (9.9f, good) 16 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 556284-

(12)

One More Star²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callan Murray| T: Alec Laird| CD

9/2

11/2, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 23 days ago.

Form: 960071-

(1)

Arumugam^b³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: L Nhlapo| T: Kobus Roux| D

40/1

Thirty one runs since last win in 2022. Good sixth of 10 in handicap at this course (9f, good, 100/1) 35 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 068476-

(3)

Palace Attack²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Calvin Habib| T: Alec Laird| C

3/1

Course winner. Winner here in August. 9/2 and tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable third of 9 in handicap at this course (8.4f, good) 28 days ago.

Form: 451253-

(8)

Titans Of War³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lerena| T: Roy Magner| D

7/1

Latest win at Turffontein in September. Creditable third of 7 in handicap at Turffontein (11.9f, good, 25/2) 30 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 881343-

(14)

Storm Ahead^b³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: S Khumalo| T: Fanie Bronkhorst

9/1

25/1, career best when winning 13-runner handicap at Turffontein (7f, good) 30 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 362191-

(9)

Futurewolff¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Jeffery Syster| T: Heather Adamson| C| D

66/1

Course winner. Latest win here in August. 33/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Turffontein (8f, good) 12 days ago. Back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 13858-5

(7)

Bellerophon²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rachel Venniker⁽³⁾| T: Fabian Habib| C

9/2

Course winner. Winner here in September. 9/2, respectable fifth of 9 in handicap at this course (8.4f, good) 28 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 321945-

(6)

Littlemisssplendid¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Robyn Klaasen

13/2

Very good second of 9 in handicap at Turffontein (9f, good, 7/2) 14 days ago. Shortlist material.

Form: 52594-2

(5)

Military Moves¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: M Yeni| T: Robbie Sage| D

16/1

C&D winner. Winner here in November. Sixth of 9 in handicap at Turffontein (9.9f, good, 9/2) 16 days ago.

Form: 7216-

Non-Runners

(10)

Equilateral¹⁶

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: Fabian Habib J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Palace Attack (3/1), One More Star (9/2), Bellerophon (9/2), Littlemisssplendid (13/2), Titans Of War (7/1), Diesel's Shadow (7/1), Storm Ahead (9/1), Equilateral (12/1), Flashy Apache (14/1), Military Moves (16/1), Eiger Sanction (28/1), Battleground (28/1), Arumugam (40/1), Futurewolff (66/1)

LITTLEMISSSPLENDID appeals most of these on the back of a very good second 2 weeks ago and can build on that to double her career tally. Flashy Apache is most likely the leading challenger, while Bellerophon is another with a place chance.