David Thiselton

 

A Progress Plate over 1700m is the main race at the Vaal today – the meeting moved from Turffontein because of a waterlogged track – and King Harald could be the one to beat.

 

He disappointed in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas when fading tamely in the straight, but before that had been close to I’m A Fireball when the latter broke the course record for 1450m at the Vaal Classic track and he then won in commanding style over 1600m last time. He has landed a good draw of two. Chronicle King will be a threat. This Gr 2 winner over 1400m gave King Harald 3kg and a 4,25 length beating in a Graduation Plate over 1450m in October. However, before that there was only a neck between them at level weights in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and that was despite King Harald having to come from a wide draw. Last time out Chronicle King faded late in the 4Racing Wolf Power over 1600m at Turffontein Standside, admittedly after being used early to get the lead from a wide draw. Chronicle King seems at his best over 1400m and he not only has a worse draw than the latter of five compared to two but King Harald also receives 3kg from him on the race card and in fact receives 2,5kg if the claim of the country’s most in-form apprentice, Blaine Marx-Jacobson, is included. So King Harald gets the nod, but the race does not end there as Jimmy Don is also in the field. At his best this talented horse would be the one to beat and he is in fact so well treated at the weights that he is 3,5kg better off with the second best treated horse, Chronicle King. However, his comeback run in February, where he finished a running on 4,20 length fifth, followed  layoff of more than two-and-a-half years, so there have been some issues. The filly Gerbera represents the in-form Sean Tarry yard and on her day she would have a chance but she comes off a below par run over course and distance. The Tarry-trained Storm Brasco seemed to have potential at one stage, but has not run since last October.

 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 is over 1200m. Geostorm is a full-brother to Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody and returns from a rest of close to six months after a good debut, but can get away with it over this trip. Hammer Blow is improving and should be in the shake up. Tiger’s Captain has the form to be a contender and Highwayman Harry could still improve.

 

In the fifth race over 1200m Echo Check has some fine form and should be a big runner here. The Last Duke is talented and will enjoy the step down in trip.  Gimmethegoodlife has consistent sprint form and should be in the shake up. The Specialist has class and has bounced back to form with two wins in his last two, so he must be respected. Dantonfromsandton can’t be ignored off a competitive merit rating.

 

In the sixth over 1700m Frangipani has not been disgraced against feature company and is potentially well handicapped here. Chieftain’s Shield is a bit off form but from pole position could bounce back as he has a good finish on his day. Mocha Frappe has been a bit disappointing, but could be dangerous off this lowly merit rating from a good draw. Pretty Analia packs a strong finish if things go her way, but she will need luck from a wide draw. Unsolved Riddle won well last time over 1450m and has a chance off a four point higher mark, but interestingly Blaine Marx-Jacobson has not retained the ride and instead rides Deception Pass.

 

In the eighth over 1000m Precocious goes for a five-timer and Marx-Jacobson stays on top having been on for her last three wins. She could defy the handicapper again as she won by a cosy length last time after a six point raise and she only has to overcome a four point raise this time. On the downside Marx-Jacobson only claims 2,5kg this time compared to 4kg last time. Fiery Rose could be the one to pick up the pieces as she won impressively last time and is on the up.

 

In the ninth over 1000m Amazonian has disappointed in her last two starts but was drawn on the wrong side both times and has now come down five points in the merit ratings and gets a nice middle to high draw in the ten horse field. She looks to have scope and can bounce back.

 

In the first race Moana is the one to beat on the weight turnaround with Within Reach.

 

In the second Dear Doc was a runaway winner last time and now has an acid test carrying a 3kg penalty from a tricky draw, but he looks up to it.

 

In the third race Wispinthewillow looks hard to oppose from a fair draw.

Race 1

 

4 MOANA 2 DOESYOURMOTHERKNOW 1 WITHIN REACH 6 PROUD MARY

 

Preview: 4 MOANA went close on debut and with expected improvement can go one better. 2 DOESYOURMOTHERKNOW was only a short-head behind Moana and should also be right there. 1 WITHIN REACH but the latter pair but is 3kg worse off for a 0,80 length beating of Moana. 6 PROUD MARY looks capable of earning here. (David Thiselton 4-2-1-6)

 

Race 2

 

1 DEAR DOC 2 PRAYERSANDPROMISES 3 DADS DREAM 5 HIGHWAY CODE

 

Preview: 1 DEAR DOC won easily last time when stepped up to this trip category and has a chance again although he has a tricky draw. 2 PRAYERSANDPROMISES looks promising but also has a wide draw. 3 DADS DREAM has been thereabouts against good sorts and from pole position over a suitable step up in trip he could go close. 5 HIGHWAY CODE has seven lengths to make up on Dear Doc nut is only 3kg better off. (David Thiselton 1-2-3-5)

 

Race 3

 

1 WISPINTHEWILLOW 2 GATHERING WINTER 4 CHARLESTON DAWN 3 ADA LOVELACE

 

Preview: 1 WISPINTHEWILLOW ran well last time and has a fair opportunity here. 2 GATHERING WINTER is usually thereabouts and a high draw might aid her cause. 4 CHARLESTON DAWN has the form to have a chance here. 3 ADA LOVELACE is moderate but could earn a cheque in this line up. (David Thiselton 1-2-4-3)

 

Race 4

 

9 GEOSTORM 2 HAMMER BLOW 4 TIGER’S CAPTAIN 1 HIGHWAYMAN HARRY

 

Preview: 9 GEOSTORM is a full-brother to Gr 1-winning sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody and can do well here despite returning from a rest of close to six months after a good debut. 2 HAMMER BLOW is improving and should be in the shake up. 4 TIGER’S CAPTAIN has the form to be a contender. 1 HIGHWAYMAN HARRY could still improve and is a contender for a place. (David Thiselton 9-2-4-1)

 

Race 5

 

3 THE LAST DUKE 4 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 5 THE SPECIALIST 6 ECHO CHECK

 

Preview:  6 ECHO CHECK has some fine form and should be a big runner here. 3 THE LAST DUKE is talented and will enjoy the step down in trip. 4 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE has consistent sprint form and should be in the shake up. 5 THE SPECIALIST has class and has bounced back to form with two wins in his last two so he must be respected. (David Thiselton 6-3-4-5)

 

Race 6

 

2 FRANGIPANI 3 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD 9 MOCHA FRAPPE 10 PRETTY ANALIA

 

Preview: 2 FRANGIPANI has not been disgraced against feature company and is potentially well handicapped here. 3 CHIEFTAIN’S SHIELD is a bit off form but from pole position could bounce back as he has a good finish on his day. 9 MOCHA FRAPPE has been a bit disappointing but could be dangerous off this lowly merit rating from a good draw. 10 PRETTY ANALIA packs a strong finish if things go her way, but she will need luck from a wide draw. (David Thiselton 2-3-9-10)

 

Race 7

 

4 KING HARALD 1 CHRONICLE KING 3 JIMMY DON 5 GERBERA

 

Preview: 4 KING HARALD has class and from a good draw with an in-form rider aboard he should go close. 1 CHRONICLE KING has some class and should be in the shake up. 3 JIMMY DON is well weighted on is best form but he did have a two-and-a-half year layoff before his last run. 5 GERBERA could earn a cheque here. (David Thiselton 4-1-3-5)

 

Race 8

 

1 PRECOCIOUS 7 FIERY ROSE 8 MYSTICAL MISS 5 BOSUM BUDDY

 

Preview: 8 MYSTICAL MISS has two lengths to make up on Precocious and is 9kg better off. 1 PRECOCIOUS has been in devastating form on the Highveld and she might defy the handicapper again. 7 FIERY ROSE beat a fair sort easily last time and has a chance.  5 BOSUM BUDDY could earn a cheque if reproducing her best. (David Thiselton 1-7-8-5)

 

Race 9

 

7 AMAZONIAN 8 MRS STORMIATRIX 3 TEMPRANILLO 1 BLINDFIRE

 

Preview: 7 AMAZONIAN looks to have scope for improvement and could be the one to beat. 8 MRS STORMIATRIX is on the up and should be right there. 3 TEMPRANILLO has pace and could be a threat. 1 BLINDFIRE is an honest sort who should make another bold bid. (David Thiselton 7-8-3-1)

 

Please note that the Turffontein meeting scheduled for tomorrow, 28/03/2026, has been moved to the Vaal main track.

A further 12mm of rainfall was recorded at Turffontein overnight, while the Vaal received no rainfall in the same period.

Both centres have, however, experienced significant rainfall over the past week.*

A track inspection conducted now has shown that the back straight on Turffontein Standside is waterlogged and has surface water.

An early decision has therefore been taken to relocate the meeting.

Distance changes are as follows:

Races 3, 4 and 5 will now be run over 1200m

Races 6 and 7 will be run over 1700m.

Race times remain unchanged.

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Lingfield and Newcastle (UK) – 27 March 2026

Andrew Harrison

You know when South Africa’s Champion Season is on the horizon when the out-of-province raiders start arriving and the first feature warm-up races headline the cards.

It starts at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening with the running of the Gr3 Byerley Turk and the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes for fillies, both races for three-year-olds over 1400m. It must also be noted that races 3,4 and 5 will be run on the poly track.

The Byerley Turk has attracted a small but competitive field but first blood can go the way of local hope Wild Justice. Gareth van Zyl’s colt only made his debut in September last year and the son of Vercingetorix was quick to make a name for himself, winning three of his first four starts before finishing second, touched off by shock winner Miami Mountain in a Turffontein feature last month. Wild Justice goes this trip for the first time and takes on some smart opposition but will be racing fit whereas some of the most likely opposition are returning from breaks.

Not so I’m A Fireball who was a winner over the distance last run and currently looks to be over his best trip. His one poor run was in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas where he was never in the hunt from a wide draw behind stable companion Splittheights.

Dean Kannemeyer has arrived with an armada from his Cape Town base and Green Gateway arrives off the back of a recent victory. He won well on debut and won well last time out but has not been out since November last year. However, fit and well he will go close.

The Michael Roberts-trained Fortress Of Fire is out at the weights but has consistent form over shorter and the step up in trip could see him in with a shout.

Last season’s Gold Medallion winner Good For You has been off the boil at his last two and has to give 6kg to the opposition. He doesn’t make much appeal but is capable.

The Umzimkhulu Stakes has attracted a high class field which will shed some light on the way forward for the season. Justin Snaith opened his winter season account with Okavango at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Sunday and saddles the progressive Gimme What I Want. She just caught Quickstepgal in the Sceptre Stakes  over 1200m back in January and now meets her rival on 1kg better terms. She followed up with a close-up fourth in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes jumping from a wide draw.

Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Quickstepgal ran a cracker for Tienie Prinsloo in the Sceptre Stakes, making most of the running before being collard late by Gimme What I Want. She is better suited to this extended trip and should go close in spite of being 1kg worse off with Gimme What I Want.

Kannemeyer saddles the daughter of United States Keukenhof who has not been disgraced in Cape feature company over their season and was running on late behind Double Grand Slam in the Majorca Stakes and was less than a length behind Gimme What I Want. She is now 3kg better off at the weights which puts her in with a strong winning chance.

Mike Miller saddles the relatively unexposed Infinity Edge who has a high rating courtesy of her close-up third to Princess Of Gaul in the Gr2 Debutante Stakes at the end of last season and could surprise.

Best bet could come in the card opener where Glen Kotzen saddles Lady Nancy who has the widest draw but arrives in KZN with some solid Cape Town form against winners including the smart Red Spice and should prove hard to beat.

The second could see Viking Leader home in a competitive maiden. He looked a possible winner on debut before Kazenoyoni swept past. He started at long odds and with expected improvement he should go close again.

Better Never Ends started favourite in the race won by Kazenoyonibut has run two promising races to date and has a good draw. Bright Blue started at long odds on debut but was under four lengths behind Kazenoyoni . Serino Moodley stays with the ride.

Mike Miller has a host of runners, best of which could be Royal Sceptre the mount of in-form stable rider Tristan Godden. He finished just ahead of Bright Blue but did have a 4kg claimer aboard.

The first leg of the Pick 6 has a modest Maiden field on the poly. Higher Love has solid poly form over the trip and looks the part in this line-up with a 4kg claimer aboard. Tickalox has been rested and struggling for his first win. However, his recent form over 1400m is solid enough and if not in need of the outing he will be a factor. Levitator is another long-time maiden but the switch back to the poly saw improvement last outing and he gets lumps of weight from his two more fancied rivals. Give Me A Chance is a well-bred first timer and one to watch in the market.

In the fourth, Sail The Horizon gives weight all round but was a close-up second first up on the poly and over a mile. Garth Puller has declared blinkers so one can expect further improvement. Light The Fire was a neck behind Sail The Horizon when they met last time out. He is now 0.5kg better off and there should not be much between the two again. Wonderful Tonight made his local debut over 2400m. He was not far back but the drop in trip could bring out the best.

Louis Goosen sends out Acasia’s Blossom in the fifth who  has been touched off at her last three over 1200m and is the obvious choice. She goes very well on the poly and the extra furlong should not be an issue. Sanbeenee also goes well on the poly and has not been far back at recent outings. She gets first time blinkers and can make further improvement. Goosen has a second string in Saudi Sweep who had been contesting Open Maidens on the poly under fair weights before her maiden success. She appeared to enjoy the extra furlong and Rachel Venniker stays aboard.

The last is a competitive handicap. Blue Poppy has the widest draw to contend with but has been narrowly beaten at her last two over the distance. She has a big weight but looks progressive and can go one better. Gulf Of America is one of two of Sean Tarry’s raiders on the night. She is a recent maiden winner and was not far back in her handicap debut when stepping up in trip. Silver Salute comes off steady Cape form and shed her maiden over this distance. Cape form has generally proven to be a touch stronger than local which puts Kannemeyer’s filly right into the picture.