Race 5: SA DERBY 4 APRIL MR 74 HANDICAP (Open)
VAAL RACECOURSE | Saturday, 17 January 2026 | 13:45
Distance:
2000m
Going:
Good
Stakes:
R100,000
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Bellerophon | 3 b. g | 58.0kg (59.5) | 3 | Mickaelle Michel | - | - | 89 | 5/1 |
| - | Equilateral | 3 b. c | 55.5kg (58.0) | 8 | Mr M Mbuto | - | - | 82 | - |
| 1st | Copper Cliff | 2 b. c | 56.5kg (58.0) | 9 | Miss R A Venniker | - | 71 | 75 | 25/1 |
| 2nd | Full Go | 6 b. g | 52.0kg | 7 | Mr M K Katjedi | 1.0 | 52 | 59 | 100/1 |
| 3rd | Repetition TF | 3 b. g | 60.0kg | 5 | Mr R Munger | 1.2 | 75 | 74 | 33/20 |
| 4 | Crepuscolo | 4 ch. g | 52.0kg | 6 | Mr J Gates | 1.4 | 58 | 58 | 6/1 |
| 5 | Romeo's Magic | 7 ch. g | 59.5kg | 3 | Mr G J Lerena | 1.5 | 73 | 73 | 20/1 |
| 6 | Real Stunner | 3 b. c | 60.0kg | 8 | Mr C Murray | 2.75 | 75 | 74 | 28/10 |
| 7 | Majalun | 3 b. c | 55.5kg (55.0) | 2 | Mr L M van Rensburg | 4.05 | 65 | 56 | 10/1 |
| 8 | Sky Pillar Rock | 3 ch. g | 57.5kg (61.5) | 4 | Ms S T Valjalo | 7.75 | 78 | 81 | 6/1 |
| 9 | Flag Bearer | 3 b. g | 52.5kg (55.0) | 1 | Mr Jace Botes | 11.0 | 64 | 60 | 100/1 |
Race Timing
Winning Time
122.53s
Average Time
123.13s
Difference
%.2fs
Total Pool
R1,273,938
Rating Analysis
| Horse | Pos | MR Before | MR After | Official Δ | Expected Δ | Discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Cliff | 1 | 71 | 75 | + 7 | -3 | |
| Full Go | 2 | 52 | 59 | -1 | + 8 | |
| Repetition | 3 | 75 | 74 | -1 | ||
| Crepuscolo | 4 | 58 | 58 | 0 | -1 | + 1 |
| Romeo's Magic | 5 | 73 | 73 | 0 | -1 | + 1 |
| Real Stunner | 6 | 75 | 74 | -1 | ||
| Majalun | 7 | 65 | 56 | -2 | -7 | |
| Sky Pillar Rock | 8 | 78 | 81 | -3 | + 6 | |
| Flag Bearer | 9 | 64 | 60 | -4 | ||
| Bellerophon | None | - | 89 | - | -193 | - |
| 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) ROMEO'S MAGIC (G Lerena) jumped inwards leaving the stalls. b) FULL GO (M K Katjedi) was slow losing one length. THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED: a) All horses selected for TCO2 were within the required levels, and no retests were recorded. b) Approaching the 300m, ROMEO'S MAGIC (G Lerena) and REPETITION (R Munger) were carried in by CREPUSCOLO (J Gates), which shifted in. Thereafter, at approximately the 200m, REPETITION (R Munger) and ROMEO'S MAGIC (G Lerena) came together and bumped when awkwardly placed on the inside of CREPUSCOLO (J Gates), which continued to shift in. As a consequence of this, REPETITION (R Munger) became unbalanced. A race review was called by a member of the Stipendiary Board, which was followed by an Objection being lodged by him on behalf of the fourth-placed horse, REPETITION (R Munger), against the second-placed horse, CREPUSCOLO (J Gates), on the grounds of interference and intimidation from the 300m. The Objection Board, after reviewing the patrol film of the race and hearing all the evidence put forward by the connections, was of the opinion that REPETITION (R Munger) would have finished in front of CREPUSCOLO (J Gates), barring this incident, and therefore upheld the Objection and amended the Judges' result to read as follows: 1st 7 COPPER CLIFF (R A Venniker) 2nd 11 FULL GO (M K Katjedi) 3rd 3 REPETITION (R Munger) 4th 10 CREPUSCOLO (J Gates) 5th 5 ROMEO'S MAGIC (G Lerena) An inquiry will be opened into this incident. c) COPPER CLIFF (R A Venniker), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer P F Matchett advised (MS). JOCKEY CHANGES: None. RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER: a) ROMEO'S MAGIC raced equipped with blinkers and without cheek pieces (declared 16 January 2026 at 07H11). THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED: a) SKY PILLAR ROCK not striding out right hind; blowing post-race. SCRATCHED: a) BELLEROPHON insufficient recovery time (Trainer) (Rule 53.5 applies). b) EQUILATERAL sold without engagement. Advised 14 January 2026 at 07H44. DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER: None.