28 March 2026 | Vaal | Race 5

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

Distance 1200m

Going Yielding

Win Time 68.76s

Avg Time 69.06s

Stakes R160,000

Pos	Horse	Jockey	Draw	Weight	MR Pre	MR Post	MR Curr	Lengths	Odds	Equip	Owner / Trainer
1	The Specialist	Mr K de Melo	3	58.0kg	95	101	101	Won	9/2Fav	TT Y	O: Messrs T Gujadhur, D J Michael, L M Michael, R M Sewgoolam & Wernars Family T: Mr S G Tarry
2	Lead The Charge	Mr T J Mayhew	10	54.0kg*	89	98	98	+0.50	7/1	TT Y	O: Mr B G Gardner, Mrs J P Gardner & Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) T: Mr M G Azzie
3	The Last Duke Line	Mr P Mxoli	7	58.0kg	102	101	101	+2.00	6/1	Y	O: Mrs K Finch & Mr B P Finch T: Mr P F Matchett
4	Vibe Sa	Mr C J Habib	2	56.0kg	92	92	92	+3.00	10/1	B Y	O: Mr G G Palmer & Mrs D Palmer T: Mr A P Peter
5	Plus Four	Mr K Matsunyane	6	54.0kg	88	89	89	+4.10	16/1	B TT Y	O: Gary Player Stud Farm (Pty) Ltd & D D MacLean T: Candice & Tammy Dawson
6	Blizzard Snow	Mr L M van Rensburg	4	52.0kg	87	85	85	+5.60	10/1	Y	—
7	Gimmethegoodlife	Mickaelle Michel	1	56.5kg	97	96	96	+7.80	8/1	Y	—
8	Dantonfromsandton	Mr C Zackey	9	60.0kg	98	92	92	+9.10	20/1	TT Y	—
9	Rollwiththepunches	Mr Jace Botes	13	53.5kg*	90	90	90	+9.30	40/1	Y	—
10	Potberrie	Mr M A Yeni	11	62.0kg	105	105	105	+12.30	20/1	Y	—
11	Secret Chord	Mr C Ngcobo	5	56.0kg	93	91	91	+12.50	40/1	B TT Y	—
12	Halberdier	Mr J Penny	12	52.0kg	83	83	83	+13.50	25/1	TT Y	—
13	Echo Check	Mr B Marx - Jacobson	8	53.5kg*	98	91	91	+14.25	11/2	Y	—

The Specialist

Mr K de Melo · Dw 3 · 58.0kg

Won

9/2 Fav

MR 95 → 101

TT Y

Lead The Charge

Mr T J Mayhew (True) · Dw 10 · 54.0kg

+0.50

7/1

MR 89 → 98

TT Y

The Last Duke Line

Mr P Mxoli · Dw 7 · 58.0kg

+2.00

6/1

MR 102 → 101

Vibe Sa

Mr C J Habib · Dw 2 · 56.0kg

+3.00

10/1

MR 92 → 92

B Y

Plus Four

Mr K Matsunyane · Dw 6 · 54.0kg

+4.10

16/1

MR 88 → 89

B TT Y

Blizzard Snow

Mr L M van Rensburg · Dw 4 · 52.0kg

+5.60

10/1

MR 87 → 85

Gimmethegoodlife

Mickaelle Michel · Dw 1 · 56.5kg

+7.80

8/1

MR 97 → 96

Dantonfromsandton

Mr C Zackey · Dw 9 · 60.0kg

+9.10

20/1

MR 98 → 92

TT Y

Rollwiththepunches

Mr Jace Botes (True) · Dw 13 · 53.5kg

+9.30

40/1

MR 90 → 90

Potberrie

Mr M A Yeni · Dw 11 · 62.0kg

+12.30

20/1

MR 105 → 105

Secret Chord

Mr C Ngcobo · Dw 5 · 56.0kg

+12.50

40/1

MR 93 → 91

B TT Y

Halberdier

Mr J Penny · Dw 12 · 52.0kg

+13.50

25/1

MR 83 → 83

TT Y

Echo Check

Mr B Marx - Jacobson (True) · Dw 8 · 53.5kg

+14.25

11/2

MR 98 → 91

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.