12:45 Vaal

Thursday 1 October 2026

All11:3012:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

www.tab.co.za Open Mr 97 Handicap (3 Year Olds)

Off time: 12:47 | Winning time: 1m 8.67s

(8)

Trompe L'oeil²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Blaine Marx-jacobson| T: Xander/cor Spies| C

13/2

Course winner. 2 wins from 5 runs this year. Latest win here in August. 3/1, good second of 7 in minor event at this C&D (good to soft) 21 days ago. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 12162-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Sands Of Valhalla¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Kabelo Matsunyane| T: Tony Peter| BF| CD

7/2

C&D winner. Winner here in May. Creditable third of 7 in handicap at Turffontein (8f, good, 18/10) 19 days ago. Back down in trip. Difficult ask.

Form: 2173-

(4)

Gone Cold¹³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Calvin Habib| T: Alec Laird| D

7/4

1 win from 3 runs this year. 46/100, won 13-runner minor event at Turffontein (5.8f, good). Off 138 days. Makes handicap debut. Shortlist material.

Form: 321-

(6)

Impressive⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: M Yeni| T: Paul Matchett| C

14/1

Course winner. Winner here in June. 8¼ lengths eighth of 10 to Marchland in Gr 2 at Greyville (8f, good, 33/1) 67 days ago. Back down in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 234138-

(5)

Staggerwing⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Callan Murray| T: Mike/mathe Kock| C

5/1

Course winner. Winner here in May. 15/10, good second of 5 in minor event at Turffontein (5.5f, good) 72 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 224122-

(1)

Whatsdamatterwithu¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Craig Zackey| T: Clinton Binda| D

10/3

Latest win at Turffontein in July. 5/1, good second of 6 in handicap at Turffontein (6f, good) 19 days ago.

Form: 631132-

Non-Runners

(2)

Walkinginthewoods⁶³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: Michael Nicholas Houdalakis J: Non Runner

(3)

Navigatrix⁴

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: Paul Matchett J: Philasande Mxoli

Forecasts

Gone Cold (7/4), Whatsdamatterwithu (10/3), Sands Of Valhalla (7/2), Walkinginthewoods (9/2), Staggerwing (5/1), Trompe L'oeil (13/2), Navigatrix (7/1), Impressive (14/1)

STAGGERWING continues to operate somewhere near current peak and just about gets the nod in this field. Gone Cold is the most realistic next preference, while Whatsdamatterwithu commands respect as well.