05 March 2026 | Vaal | Race 6

CLASSIC DAY 7 MARCH MIDDLE STAKES (For All Horses)

Distance 1600m

Going Soft

Win Time 98.62s

Stakes R160,000

Pos	Horse	Jockey	Draw	Weight	MR Pre	MR Post	MR Curr	Lengths	Odds	Equip	Owner / Trainer
1	Open Highway	Mr M A Yeni	2	54.0kg	88	94	94	Won	11/2	B Y	O: Mr F Bronkhorst, Mr D V & Mrs R Woolley T: Mr F Bronkhorst
2	The Playboy Bomber	Mr C R Maujean	9	54.0kg	88	96	96	+2.00	5/1	TT Y	O: Mr G C Cornwall T: Mr A G Laird
3	Dark Silver Line	Mr Jace Botes	7	49.5kg*	85	83	83	+2.50	13/2	B Y	O: Messrs G A Basel, L Clark & W Volschenk T: Mr A G Laird
4	Birthright Line	Mr C J Habib	4	58.0kg	95	95	95	+3.70	11/2	B Y	O: Messrs G C Cornwall, L Clark & J P Rey T: Mr A G Laird
5	Bob's Your Uncle	Mr C Zackey	5	60.0kg	100	103	103	+4.50	8/1	B TT Y	O: Messrs E Miliotis, A J McNabb, Lucky Houdalakis, C F Strydom & Stone Hill Stud (Nom: Mr H C W Rix) T: Mr Lucky Houdalakis
6	Hotarubi	Mr P Mxoli	8	60.0kg	100	97	97	+4.75	25/1	B TT Y	—
7	Tommy Shelby	Mr B Marx - Jacobson	1	54.0kg*	101	100	100	+6.55	5/2Fav	F	—
8	Master Christmas	Mr K Matsunyane	10	58.0kg	95	94	94	+6.75	16/1	B EM Y	—
9	The Africa House	Mr R Munger	3	58.0kg	94	91	91	+9.25	25/1	Y	—
10	Taxhaven	Mr D W Schwarz	6	58.0kg	96	89	89	+11.50	100/1	Y	—

Open Highway

Mr M A Yeni · Dw 2 · 54.0kg

Won

11/2

MR 88 → 94

B Y

The Playboy Bomber

Mr C R Maujean · Dw 9 · 54.0kg

+2.00

5/1

MR 88 → 96

TT Y

Dark Silver Line

Mr Jace Botes (True) · Dw 7 · 49.5kg

+2.50

13/2

MR 85 → 83

B Y

Birthright Line

Mr C J Habib · Dw 4 · 58.0kg

+3.70

11/2

MR 95 → 95

B Y

Bob's Your Uncle

Mr C Zackey · Dw 5 · 60.0kg

+4.50

8/1

MR 100 → 103

B TT Y

Hotarubi

Mr P Mxoli · Dw 8 · 60.0kg

+4.75

25/1

MR 100 → 97

B TT Y

Tommy Shelby

Mr B Marx - Jacobson (True) · Dw 1 · 54.0kg

+6.55

5/2 Fav

MR 101 → 100

Master Christmas

Mr K Matsunyane · Dw 10 · 58.0kg

+6.75

16/1

MR 95 → 94

B EM Y

The Africa House

Mr R Munger · Dw 3 · 58.0kg

+9.25

25/1

MR 94 → 91

Taxhaven

Mr D W Schwarz · Dw 6 · 58.0kg

+11.50

100/1

MR 96 → 89

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.