12:30 Vaal

Thursday 5 March 2026

All09:4010:1010:4511:2011:5512:3013:0513:4014:2014:55

Classic Day 7 March Middle Stakes

Off time: 13:39 | Winning time: 1m 38.62s

(5)

Bob's Your Uncle^b⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Craig Zackey| T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis| CD

7/1

4-time course winner. Three wins from 10 runs last year. Latest win at Turffontein in October. Creditable third of 9 in minor event at this course (7.2f, good) 42 days ago.

Form: 70015-3

(8)

Hotarubi^b²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Philasande Mxoli| T: Chris Jonker| C| D

14/1

Course winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2025. 5/1, second of 4 in minor event at this course (9.9f, good) 23 days ago. Back down in trip.

Form: 06-2642

(1)

Tommy Shelby²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Blaine Marx-jacobson⁽⁹⁾| T: Fabian Habib| CD

2/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 10 runs last year. 6/1, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Turffontein (9f, good) 21 days ago.

Form: 0004-41

(6)

Taxhaven¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Denis Schwarz| T: Paul Matchett| C

33/1

Course winner. 100/1, tenth of 11 in handicap at Turffontein (7f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 41867-0

(4)

Birthright^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Calvin Habib| T: Alec Laird| CD

9/2

25/2, won 7-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 28 days ago.

Form: 4213-71

(10)

Master Christmas^b⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Tony Peter| CD

12/1

5-time course winner. 8/1, creditable tenth of 21 in handicap at this course (7.3f, good) 75 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 415362-

(3)

The Africa House¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Ryan Munger| T: Tyrone Zackey| C

20/1

Course winner. Latest win at Fairview in September. Last of 5 in minor event at Fairview (7f, 25/2). Off 111 days. First run for yard after leaving A. C. Greeff. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 781765-

(2)

Open Highway^b⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: M Yeni| T: Fanie Bronkhorst| C| D

9/2

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in December. Eighth of 9 in handicap (7/1) at this course (8.4f, good) 47 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 55421-8

(9)

The Playboy Bomber³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: C Maujean| T: Alec Laird| D

11/2

Latest win at Turffontein in January. Good second of 11 in handicap (15/4) at this course (9.9f, good) 35 days ago. Back down in trip. On the upgrade recently.

Form: 6525-12

(7)

Dark Silver^b⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Jacey Botes⁽⁶⁾| T: Alec Laird| C| D

7/1

Course winner. Latest win at Turffontein in November. Eleventh of 14 in handicap at Turffontein (9f, soft). Off 93 days. Not taken lightly.

Form: 321210-

Forecasts

Tommy Shelby (2/1), Open Highway (9/2), Birthright (9/2), The Playboy Bomber (11/2), Dark Silver (7/1), Bob's Your Uncle (7/1), Master Christmas (12/1), Hotarubi (14/1), The Africa House (20/1), Taxhaven (33/1)

OPEN HIGHWAY should be thereabouts. Dark Silver is a threat, while The Playboy Bomber is another with the potential to be on the premises.

Prize Money

1st: R95,011.002nd: R30,405.003rd: R15,203.004th: R7,590.005th: R3,795.00

Classic Day 7 March Middle Stakes

Forecasts

Prize Money

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Classic Day 7 March Middle Stakes

Forecasts

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