Race 5: SA DERBY 4 APRIL MR 84 HANDICAP (Open)

VAAL RACECOURSE | Thursday, 15 January 2026 | 14:00

Distance: 2000m
Going: Good
Stakes: R125,000
Weight For Age(SSL) 3yrs:6.0 4yrs:0.5 Weight For Age(SNL) 3yrs:8.5 4yrs:1.5

Race Results

Pos Horse A.C.S. Weight Draw Jockey Len MR CMR Odds
- Equilateral 3 b. c 53.0kg 10 Mr L M van Rensburg - - 82 14/1
1st Titans Of War 2 b. c 56.0kg 8 Mr G J Lerena - 88 91 7/1
2nd Littlemisssplendid 2 b. f 53.5kg 6 Mr K Matsunyane 0.25 83 84 8/1
3rd Flashy Apache 6 b. g 58.5kg 4 Mr P Mxoli 0.3 81 78 14/1
4 One More Star 3 ch. c 58.0kg 11 Mr C Murray 0.7 81 87 6/1
5 Arumugam 6 b. g 57.0kg 1 Mr L Nhlapo 0.9 78 74 33/1
6 Storm Ahead 4 b. g 56.0kg 13 Mr S Khumalo 0.95 76 80 14/1
7 Palace Attack TF 2 b. g 56.5kg 3 Mr C J Habib 1.95 89 86 7/2
8 Bellerophon 3 b. g 53.0kg (54.5) 7 Miss R A Venniker 2.2 85 89 11/2
9 Military Moves 2 b. c 52.5kg 5 Mr M A Yeni 3.2 81 75 20/1
10 Diesel's Shadow 4 ch. g 55.0kg (59.0) 2 Ms S T Valjalo 4.2 82 80 7/1
11 Futurewolff 5 ch. g 55.0kg 9 Mr J R Syster 4.5 74 75 80/1
12 Eiger Sanction 3 b. c 58.5kg 10 Mr R Munger 5.5 81 79 33/1
13 Battleground 5 b. g 61.5kg (63.0) 12 Mickaelle Michel 6.6 90 92 33/1

Race Timing

Winning Time
119.93s
Average Time
123.77s
Difference
%.2fs
Total Pool
R1,192,500

Rating Analysis

Horse Pos MR Before MR After Official Δ Expected Δ Discrepancy
Titans Of War 1 88 91 +3 + 7 -4
Littlemisssplendid 2 83 84 +1 -1 + 2
Flashy Apache 3 81 78 -3 -1 -2
One More Star 4 81 87 +6 -1 + 7
Arumugam 5 78 74 -4 -1 -3
Storm Ahead 6 76 80 +4 -1 + 5
Palace Attack 7 89 86 -3 -1 -2
Bellerophon 8 85 89 +4 -1 + 5
Military Moves 9 81 75 -6 -2 -4
Diesel's Shadow 10 82 80 -2 -2
Futurewolff 11 74 75 +1 -2 + 3
Eiger Sanction 12 81 79 -2 -2
Battleground 13 90 92 +2 -3 + 5
Equilateral None - 82 - -193 -
Note: Expected changes are calculated using simplified algorithms. Official NHRA algorithms from the PDF will provide accurate benchmarking.

Stipes Report

THE STARTER REPORTED:
a)	STORM AHEAD (S Khumalo) was slow, losing one length.
b)	TITANS OF WAR (G Lerena) was slow into stride.	

THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED:
a)	All horses selected for TCO2 were within the required levels, and no retests were recorded.
b)	Leaving the 200m, DIESEL'S SHADOW (*S Valjalo) was steadied when tightened for galloping room on the inside of ARUMUGAM (L Nhlapo) and on the heels of PALACE ATTACK (C Habib) and as a consequence, DIESEL'S SHADOW (*S Valjalo) lost momentum. The Board, after giving regard to this incident, was of the opinion that blame could not be apportioned to any individual rider and deemed this to be a racing incident and therefore took no further action. 
c)	In view of the performance of BATTLEGROUND (M Michel), (distance 6,60 lengths, betting 33/1), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine.	
d)	An inquiry will be opened into Jockey S Khumalo's (STORM AHEAD) crop use during the running of this race. 
e)	TITANS OF WAR (G Lerena), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis.	
Assistant Trainer C Botha, acting on behalf of Trainer R R Magner, was advised (MS). 	
	
JOCKEY CHANGES:
None. 

RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER:
a)	FUTUREWOLFF raced with a cornell collar (declared 24 February 2024).		

THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED:
a)	BATTLEGROUND fatigued.	
b)	PALACE ATTACK fatigued.	

SCRATCHED:
a)	EQUILATERAL	sold without engagement. Advised 14 January 2026 at 07H31.

DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER:

None.