Race 6: CLASSIC DAY 7 MARCH MIDDLE STAKES (For All Horses)

VAAL RACECOURSE | Thursday, 05 March 2026 | 15:35

Distance: 1600m

Going: Soft

Stakes: R160,000

Race Results

Pos	Horse	A.C.S.	Weight	Draw	Jockey	Len	MR	CMR	Odds
1st	Open Highway	4 ch. g	54.0kg	2	Mr M A Yeni	-	88	94	11/2
2nd	The Playboy Bomber	4 b. g	54.0kg	9	Mr C R Maujean	2.0	88	88	5/1
3rd	Dark Silver	4 gr. g	49.5kg (52.0)	7	Mr Jace Botes	2.5	85	84	13/2
4	Birthright	4 b. g	58.0kg	4	Mr C J Habib	3.7	95	95	11/2
5	Bob's Your Uncle	5 b. g	60.0kg	5	Mr C Zackey	4.5	100	103	8/1
6	Hotarubi	4 b. g	60.0kg	8	Mr P Mxoli	4.75	100	98	25/1
7	Tommy Shelby TF	2 b. c	54.0kg (58.0)	1	Mr B Marx - Jacobson	6.55	101	101	5/2
8	Master Christmas	4 b. g	58.0kg	10	Mr K Matsunyane	6.75	95	94	16/1
9	The Africa House	4 b. g	58.0kg	3	Mr R Munger	9.25	94	93	25/1
10	Taxhaven	4 b. c	58.0kg	6	Mr D W Schwarz	11.5	96	96	100/1

Race Timing

Winning Time

98.62s

Total Pool

R1,120,000

View Official NHA Assessment

Rating Analysis

Horse	Pos	MR Before	MR After	Official Δ	Expected Δ	Discrepancy
Open Highway	1	88	94	+6	+ 7	-1
The Playboy Bomber	2	88	88	0	-1	+ 1
Dark Silver	3	85	84	-1	-1
Birthright	4	95	95	0	-2	+ 2
Bob's Your Uncle	5	100	103	+3	-2	+ 5
Hotarubi	6	100	98	-2	-2
Tommy Shelby	7	101	101	0	-3	+ 3
Master Christmas	8	95	94	-1	-3	+ 2
The Africa House	9	94	93	-1	-4	+ 3
Taxhaven	10	96	96	0	-4	+ 4

Note: Expected changes are calculated using simplified algorithms. Official NHRA algorithms from the PDF will provide accurate benchmarking.

Stipes Report

THE START OF THIS RACE WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE 25-MINUTE INTERVAL BETWEEN RACES.

THE STARTER REPORTED:
a)	THE AFRICA HOUSE (R Munger) 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)	At approximately the 200m, and then at approximately the 100m, HOTARUBI (P Mxoli) was tightened for galloping room when awkwardly placed between BIRTHRIGHT (C Habib) and the outside running rail. 
c)	Trainer A G Laird was charged with a contravention of Rule 39.7.5 in that he failed to vaccinate DARK SILVER against Equine Influenza in accordance with the programme of vaccinations as published from time to time in the Racing Calendar. 
Trainer A G Laird signed an Admission of Guilt and was fined R1000.
d)	OPEN HIGHWAY (M Yeni), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis.	
Trainer F Bronkhorst advised (MduP).
	
JOCKEY CHANGES:
None.

RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER:
a)	THE AFRICA HOUSE raced with a tongue tie on (declared 3 March 2026 at 07H40).	

THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED:
a)	TAXHAVEN brush wound right front.
b)	THE AFRICA HOUSE fatigued.	

THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS. 

DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER:

None.	
Race 6 contd.