Wayne can bounce back
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
David Thiselton A MR 100 handicap over 1600m is the main race of the Vaal Classic track eight race meeting today and Wayne looks the one to beat This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Vercingetorix gelding won his second start over 1400m, beating the promising Jaffa, and he followed up with an easy win over 1475m. He disappointed […]
David Thiselton
A MR 100 handicap over 1600m is the main race of the Vaal Classic track eight race meeting today and Wayne looks the one to beat
This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Vercingetorix gelding won his second start over 1400m, beating the promising Jaffa, and he followed up with an easy win over 1475m. He disappointed last time in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, but he had a wide draw and was up against some of the country’s best three-year-olds. Interestingly, the only horse he beat home in that race, his stablemate Agoge, came out and won next time out. Wayne should relish the step up in trip as he out of an unraced Tiger Ridge daughter of Fort Wood mare Carolina Cherry, who won the Gold Circle Oaks. Wayne sneaks into the handicap carrying the minimum weight and has drawn 4 out 7 runners with Muzi Yeni up. Birthright has disappointed in his last two starts and has a wide draw, but he’ll appreciate the step back up in trip to 1600m meters and he is off a competitive mark. Hopefully he can overcome the draw to get into a handy to front-running position. Tenjiku has been a bit disappointing lately, but he now has Craig Zackey aboard and could bounce back. Beynac is capable of a good performance and Callan Murray up gives him a chance. Player is capable of earning on his day. Hotarubi is talented but frustratingly unreliable. However, he has his 3rd run for Chris Jonker and the change of environment could perhaps help him.
In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, Indian Spice has improved with blinkers and gets a good opportunity to prevail here over an ideal trip from a good draw of three. Smuggler ran fifth, beaten 5,40 lengths, when stepped up to 1600m second time out and as the winner was the talented Agoge he could have the ability to earn here, although on the downside he has a tough draw of nine. Millennium Warrior was 2,30 lengths behind Smuggler in that race and could possibly earn here. Palace Guard has shown enough to able to earn here. Underdog and Terrence are others to consider for places.
In the second leg, a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares, Future Date is a progressive sort and can overcome a four point raise for her good win last time as she is thriving over middle distances and has a good draw. Futura’s progeny are capable of continual improvement. Dimako’s Jet beat Future Date the last time they met and is now 1kg better off, so has the latter held on paper, but Future Date strikes as one who is on the up and she can defy that form. Art Nouveau is 1.5kg better off with Future Date for a one length beating. Boom Boom has the potential to be a runner here as she is distance suited and has a fair draw. Todoque could be dangerous from pole position.
In the fifth race over 1800m Duchess Of Paloma has caught the eye lately as one with plenty of scope and she has a fine chance from pole position. Lady Blunt is in cracking form and will love this trip so can go close from draw five. Rosy Lemon is another one who could have a shout as she is admirably consistent especially against her own gender. Kensal Green was thrashed by Duchess Of Paloma last October, but has run two good races since and can’t be ignored. Chickasaw and Surprise Party are hard to ignore.
In the seventh over 1450m Peregrine Falcon is knocking hard and could earn over a suitable trip if able to overcome a draw. Monkey Puzzle has shown enough to be able to earn in this line up. Longsword is capable of a strong finish and could be in the shake up. Gulf Of America won well in the maidens and the form has been franked. Never Never Land won well last time and Gavin Lerena stays up off a three point higher mark.
In the eighth over 1000m Precocious, who had some fair form in Cape Town, won well last time and can follow up off an 86 merit rating. Magic Carpet Ride is capable of a much better showing than her last two and can bounce back over the minimum trip. Blindfire has pace and with a 1,5kg claimer up has a chance here.
In the first over 1800m Falconfly should relish the step up in trip and can go close from draw 2.
In the second over 1600m Utsaah will be hard to beat if repeating her last performance, which was the first time she had run in blinkers.
Vaal Classic Thursday 5 February 2026 – Comments by David Thiselton
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
RACE 1 6 FALCONFLY 2 ANNEWITHANE 5 SKY PILLAR ROCK 1 PEACE TREATY Preview: 6 FALCONFLY ran well first time out the maidens and will enjoy this step up in trip. 2 ANNEWITHAN E is in fine form and should be in the shake up from pole position. 5 SKY PILLAR ROCK is capable of […]
RACE 1
6 FALCONFLY 2 ANNEWITHANE 5 SKY PILLAR ROCK 1 PEACE TREATY
Preview: 6 FALCONFLY ran well first time out the maidens and will enjoy this step up in trip. 2 ANNEWITHAN E is in fine form and should be in the shake up from pole position. 5 SKY PILLAR ROCK is capable of better than last time and will enjoy the slight step down in trip but does have a tricky draw. 1 PEACE TREATY is in good form and should be involved in the finish. (David Thiselton 6-2-5-1)
RACE 2
1 UTSAAH 2 MADE TO MEASURE 7 GREENSIDE GIRL 5 COOL REGGAE
Preview: 1 UTSAAH has improved and should go one better than last time. 2 MADE TO MEASURE has shown some ability and could earn here. 7 GREENSIDE GIRL has not been disgraced in two starts and could earn a cheque here. 5 COOL REGGAE is moderate but has a chance to earn in this line up. (David Thiselton 1-2-7-5)
RACE 3
1 INDIAN SPICE 9 SMUGGLER 2 MILLENNIUM WARRIOR 3 PALACE GUARD
Preview: 1 INDIAN SPICE has shown enough to be able to have a winning chance in this uninspiring line up. 9 SMUGGLER ran a decent race behind a promising sort second time out and has a chance. 2 MILLENNIUM WARRIOR was not far behind Smuggler last time. 3 PALACE GUARD has not been disgraced in three starts and can earn here. (David Thiselton 1-9-2-3)
RACE 4
1 FUTURE DATE 2 DIMAKO’S JET 5 ART NOUVEAU 7 BOOM BOOM
Preview: 1 FUTURE DATE is a progressive sort and can overcome a four point raise for her good win last time. 2 DIMAKO’S JET beat Future Date the last time they met and is now 1kg better off but the latter would have improved since. 5 ART NOUVEAU is 1.5kg better off with Future Date for a one length beating. 7 BOOM BOOM has the potential to be a runner here but the wide draw is a concern. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-7)
RACE 5
4 DUCHESS OF PALOMA 2 LADY BLUNT 8 ROSY LEMON
Preview: 4 DUCHESS OF PALOMA is a progressive sort who can win again. 2 LADY BLUNT is in cracking form and will love this trip. 8 ROSY LEMON is an admirable sort who is always capable of earning a cheque. (David Thiselton 4-2-8)
RACE 6
8 WAYNE 1 MONEY HEIST 6 BIRTHRIGHT
Preview: 8 WAYNE disappointed last time but showed plenty of ability before that and can bounce back. 1 MONEY HEIST has the ability to be a contender here from a fair draw and a 4kg claimer relieves the 63kg he has to carry. 6 BIRTHRIGHT has plenty of ability and and can earn here if able to overcome a wide draw. (David Thiselton 8-3-1-6)
RACE 7
6 PEREGRINE FALCON 4 MONKEY PUZZLE 3 LONGSWORD
Preview: 6 PEREGRINE FALCON is knocking hard and could earn over a suitable trip if able to overcome a draw. 4 MONKEY PUZZLE has shown enough to be able to earn in this line up. 3 LONGSWORD is capable of a strong finish and could be in the shake up. (David Thiselton 6-4-3)
RACE 8
1 PRECOCIOUS 3 MAGIC CARPET RIDE 5 BLINDFIRE
Preview: 1 PRECOCIOUS won well last time and can follow up off an 86 merit rating. 3 MAGIC CARPET RIDE is capable of a much better than last time and can bounce back. 5 BLINDFIRE with likely give it and has an outside chance. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-5)
Sectional timing master class
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
David Thiselton The 2026 WSB Met run in 123 seconds was the fastest Met since One World’s 122.48 seconds of 2020. The race record of 122,1 seconds set by Bunter Barlow in 2001. Before analysing the 226 sectionals let’s just look at the running order. Okavango was the early pacemaker before The Equator took it […]
David Thiselton
The 2026 WSB Met run in 123 seconds was the fastest Met since One World’s 122.48 seconds of 2020.
The race record of 122,1 seconds set by Bunter Barlow in 2001.
Before analysing the 226 sectionals let’s just look at the running order.
Okavango was the early pacemaker before The Equator took it up just as they entered the first turn.
Next best was Legal Counsel and then Native Ruler who was caught wide.
Behind that was Sail The Seas and Eight On Eighteen was on the rail inside of the latter.
See It Again was three wide down the back straight, but fortunately Native Ruler had been kept wide and he was able to follow him.
When Native Ruler managed to get into a two wide position alongside Legal Counsel rounding the turn See It Again was not inconvenienced because Fortune managed to slot in behind Sail The Seas, although not without apparently inconveniencing Garrix slightly.
The stipendiary stewards read that incident differently and have the best view of things. Garrix was rousted when See It Again began moving across and he cramped Cosmic Speed on his inside before being snatched up to avoid See It Again.
The Stipendiary report simply read: At the 1000m COSMIC SPEED (G Lerena) took an awkward stride when tightened for galloping room between the inside running rail and GARRIX (K de Melo).
Behind Cosmic Speed was Gladatorian, who had jumped slowly and lost a length.
The Real Prince was sitting in last place and Craig Zackey had likely read it correctly, because the sectionals had been fast.
Using a sectional timing method of viewing each sectional as a percentage of the average speed for that section, Okavango did the first sectional in 116% and followed with fast sectionals of 90%, 90% and 91%, which took him to the 1200m mark.
With The Equator in front it slowed down either by accident or design as Okovango’s next three sectionals were 96%, 98% and 96%, which took them to the 600m mark.
If Callan Murray’s role on Okavango had been to set a pace for See It Again and Eight On Eighteen, who are from the same Snaith yard and under the same Nick Jonsson ownership, then he had done a fine job as he had gone fast enough early to ensure that stamina was going to be one of the chief credentials required in the run in, and he had not gone so fast that any of the others could afford to ignore him and dictate their own pace.
This was unlike the Hollywoodbets Durban July in which they had gone at a crawl, and had thus favoured a horse who stayed but who also had speed, which was better for The Real Prince than Eight On Eighteen, especially at the weights.
It was also unlike the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in which the pacemaker Dave The King had gone so fast that he and those who had followed him, like Jan Van Goyen and Legal Counsel, were sitting ducks for the class acts in the field.
South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Newcastle (UK) 4 February 2026
PUBLISHED: February 4, 2026
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Newcastle (UK) 4 February 2026
Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Newcastle (UK) 4 February 2026
Soccer Updates and Carryovers – Friday 6 , Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February 2026
PUBLISHED: February 3, 2026
Soccer10 Friday 6 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1. Soccer6 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R50 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 2 and Pool 2. Soccer10 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool […]
Soccer10 Friday 6 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 19h00. Sport 12 and Pool 1.
Soccer6 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R50 000. Estimated Pool: R 400 000. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 2 and Pool 2.
Soccer10 Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 17h00. Sport 15 and Pool 1.
Soccer Any 13Xtra Saturday 7 February 2026. Carryover R100 000. Estimated Pool: R400 000. Pool Closes at 14h30. Sport 13 and Pool 1.
Soccer13 Saturday 7 February 2026.ALL 13 CORRECT JACKPOT POOL: R 18 Million (If only One 13 of 13 Winner). Pool Closes at 16h30. Sport 10 Pool 1.
Soccer10 Sunday 8 February 2026. Carryover R150 000. Estimated Pool: R 1.7 Million. Pool Closes at 15h00. Sport 7 and Pool 1.
