Race 5: FOR HOSPITALITY BOOKINGS CALL 011 681 1796 MIDDLE STAKES (For All Horses)

VAAL RACECOURSE | Saturday, 28 March 2026 | 14:30

Distance: 1200m

Going: Yielding

Stakes: R160,000

Race Results

Pos	Horse	A.C.S.	Weight	Draw	Jockey	Len	MR	CMR	Odds
1st	The Specialist TF	2 ch. c	58.0kg	3	Mr K de Melo	-	95	101	9/2
2nd	Lead The Charge	2 b. c	54.0kg	10	Mr T J Mayhew	0.5	89	89	7/1
3rd	The Last Duke	2 b. g	58.0kg	7	Mr P Mxoli	2.0	102	102	6/1
4	Vibe Sa	2 b. c	56.0kg	2	Mr C J Habib	3.0	92	92	10/1
5	Plus Four	2 b. c	54.0kg	6	Mr K Matsunyane	4.1	88	87	16/1
6	Blizzard Snow	3 b. f	52.0kg	4	Mr L M van Rensburg	5.6	87	86	10/1
7	Gimmethegoodlife	3 b. g	56.5kg (58.0)	1	Mickaelle Michel	7.8	97	96	8/1
8	Dantonfromsandton	3 ch. g	60.0kg	9	Mr C Zackey	9.1	98	96	20/1
9	Rollwiththepunches	6 b. g	53.5kg (56.0)	13	Mr Jace Botes	9.3	90	90	40/1
10	Potberrie	2 b. c	62.0kg	11	Mr M A Yeni	12.3	105	105	20/1
11	Secret Chord	4 ch. g	56.0kg	5	Mr C Ngcobo	12.5	93	92	40/1
12	Halberdier	4 b. g	52.0kg	12	Mr J Penny	13.5	83	83	25/1
13	Echo Check	2 b. g	53.5kg (56.0)	8	Mr B Marx - Jacobson	14.25	98	98	11/2

Race Timing

Winning Time

68.76s

Average Time

69.06s

Difference

%.2fs

Total Pool

R1,080,500

View Official NHA Assessment

Rating Analysis

Horse	Pos	MR Before	MR After	Official Δ	Expected Δ	Discrepancy
The Specialist	1	95	101	+6	+ 7	-1
Lead The Charge	2	89	89	0	-1	+ 1
The Last Duke	3	102	102	0	-1	+ 1
Vibe Sa	4	92	92	0	-2	+ 2
Plus Four	5	88	87	-1	-2	+ 1
Blizzard Snow	6	87	86	-1	-2	+ 1
Gimmethegoodlife	7	97	96	-1	-3	+ 2
Dantonfromsandton	8	98	96	-2	-4	+ 2
Rollwiththepunches	9	90	90	0	-4	+ 4
Potberrie	10	105	105	0	-5	+ 5
Secret Chord	11	93	92	-1	-5	+ 4
Halberdier	12	83	83	0	-5	+ 5
Echo Check	13	98	98	0	-5	+ 5

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

Stipes Report

THE STARTER REPORTED:
a) 	THE LAST DUKE (P Mxoli) and VIBE SA (C Habib) were stubborn loading.
b)	ECHO CHECK (*B Marx-Jacobson) was restless in the stalls.

THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED:
a)	All horses selected for TCO2 were within the required levels, and no retests were recorded.
b)	At approximately the 600m, LEAD THE CHARGE (*T Mayhew) was directed outwards and raced in isolation, parallel to the outside running rail. 
c)	In view of the performance of POTBERRIE (M Yeni), (distance 12,30 lengths, betting 20/1), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine.	
d)	In view of the performance of SECRET CHORD (C Ngcobo), (distance 12,50 lengths, betting 40/1), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine.	
e)	In view of the performance of HALBERDIER (J Penny), (distance 13,50 lengths, betting 25/1), the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine.	
f)	Jockey B Marx-Jacobson reported that ECHO CHECK made an abnormal respiratory noise in running. 
The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine. 	
g)	THE SPECIALIST (K de Melo), the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis.	
Trainer S G Tarry was advised (MS).	
	
JOCKEY CHANGES:
a)	PLUS FOUR was ridden by Jockey K Matsunyane (declared 28 March 2026 at 09H15).	

RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER:
None.

THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED:
a)	POTBERRIE not striding out left front.
b)	SECRET CHORD examined post-race, nothing obvious detected.
c)	HALBERDIER examined post-race, nothing obvious detected.
d)	ECHO CHECK examined post-race, nothing obvious detected.

THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS. 

DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER:

None.