Vaal Race 3 - SA Derby 4 April Maiden Plate (F & M)
WISPINTHEWILLOW (1) Narrowly beaten last time at Turffontein but carrying more weight than last time. Appears as a winning threat. GREENANDGOLD (7) Came in 4th last time at Turffontein. Overlooking the last run and having second race start. Will be pushing for a forward position early. Suited. GATHERING WINTER (2) Close to claiming the win last start at Turffontein. May see an upturn in form. Must be considered. CHARLESTON DAWN (4) Average effort when 8th last start at Turffontein but gets a favourable gate. Likely to get back in the field. Don't disregard.

Jockey: Kyle Strydom
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Close up last time at Turffontein but goes up in weight. Likeable type and a major player.
Last Starts 8 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/8 | 19/03/2026 | - | Flat | $114,008.00 | Turffontein | 1199m | GOOD | Blaine Marx Jacobson | 53.5kg | - | - | 4 |
| 0.2L | $13.00 |
| 5/5 | 24/02/2026 | - | Flat | $99,748.00 | Vaal | 1000m | GOOD | Taegan Demont | 57.5kg | - | - | 1 |
| 10.06L | $6.00 |
| 4/8 | 14/02/2026 | - | F & M | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | Mickaelle Michel | 58.5kg | - | - | 5 |
| 3.75L | $13.00 |
| 4/9 | 29/01/2026 | - | F & M | $90,250.00 | Vaal | 1000m | GOOD | Taegan Demont | 60kg | - | - | 8 |
| 5.25L | $23.00 |

Jockey: Jeffery Syster
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Was $12.00 and right in the mix last start at Turffontein. May see an upturn in form. Value runner.
Last Starts 8 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/11 | 19/03/2026 | - | Flat | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1200m | GOOD | Jeffery Syster | 60kg | - | - | 11 |
| 0.46L | $14.00 |
| 9/14 | 21/01/2026 | - | f & M | $85,512.00 | Durbanville | 1249m | GOOD | Gareth Wright | 55.5kg | - | - | 9 |
| 8.4L | $34.00 |
| 3/8 | 24/12/2025 | - | F & M | $85,512.00 | Kenilworth | 1199m | GOOD | Devin Ashby | 57kg | - | - | 5 |
| 2.75L | $51.00 |
| 8/11 | 10/12/2025 | - | Flat | $95,011.00 | Kenilworth | 2000m | GOOD | Brevan Plaatjies | 52.5kg | - | - | 3 |
| 6.25L | $71.00 |
| 10/11 | 19/11/2025 | - | F & M | $118,770.00 | Kenilworth | 1600m | GOOD | Craig Bantam | 58kg | - | - | 1 |
| 5.35L | $101.00 |
| 9/11 | 15/10/2025 | - | F & M | $75,991.00 | Durbanville | 1600m | GOOD | Varun Jodhee | 58kg | - | - | 11 |
| 4.8L | $0.00 |
| 5/9 | 09/07/2025 | - | Fillies | $118,770.00 | Scottsville | 1600m | GOOD | Gavin Lerena | 60kg | - | - | 4 |
| 6.55L | $5.50 |
| 4/9 | 04/06/2025 | - | Fillies | $118,770.00 | Greyville | 1399m | GOOD | Brevan Plaatjies | 58kg | - | - | 5 |
| 2.8L | $22.00 |
| 7/8 | 30/04/2025 | - | Fillies | $118,770.00 | Scottsville | 1399m | GOOD | Jabu Jacobs | 60kg | - | - | 5 |
| 5.5L | $34.00 |
| 7/9 | 11/02/2025 | - | Fillies | $118,982.00 | Kenilworth | 1199m | GOOD | Gareth Wright | 60kg | - | - | 4 |
| 5.55L | $126.00 |
| 8/8 | 28/12/2024 | - | 2Y MDN | $128,523.00 | Kenilworth | 1000m | GOOD | Gareth Wright | 57.5kg | - | - | 1 |
| 9.3L | $81.00 |
| 9/9 | 23/11/2024 | - | 2Y | $237,521.00 | Kenilworth | 800m | GOOD | Tristan Godden | 57.5kg | - | - | 9 |
| 15.85L | $17.00 |

Jockey: Jason Gates
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Jumped at $101.00 and finished 5th last run at Turffontein. Has not placed in 6 attempts this campaign. Prefer others.
Last Starts 13 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/9 | 14/03/2026 | - | Flat | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1000m | GOOD | Jason Gates | 60kg | - | - | 1 |
| 1.37L | $101.00 |
| 4/5 | 21/02/2026 | - | F & M | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | Jason Gates | 60kg | - | - | 3 |
| 8.75L | $51.00 |
| 8/9 | 28/01/2026 | - | Flat | $114,008.00 | Greyville | 1800m | GOOD | Mathew Thackeray | 54.5kg | - | - | 5 |
| 11L | $81.00 |
| 8/10 | 11/01/2026 | - | Flat | $85,512.00 | Scottsville | 1500m | GOOD | Damyan Pillay | 52.5kg | - | - | 2 |
| 7.55L | $22.00 |
| 10/11 | 19/12/2025 | - | F & M | $95,011.00 | Greyville | 1800m | GOOD | Jabu Jacobs | 58kg | - | - | 3 |
| 16.95L | $41.00 |
| 9/11 | 14/12/2025 | - | F & M | $95,011.00 | Scottsville | 1399m | GOOD | Tristan Godden | 59kg | - | - | 12 |
| 13.45L | $41.00 |
| 7/10 | 24/09/2025 | - | F & M | $75,991.00 | Greyville | 1399m | GOOD | Brevan Plaatjies | 57.5kg | - | - | 10 |
| 7.8L | $0.00 |
| 5/8 | 20/08/2025 | - | F & M | $104,510.00 | Scottsville | 1199m | GOOD | Cole Dicken | 60kg | - | - | 7 |
| 4.3L | $67.00 |
| 7/8 | 16/06/2025 | - | Fillies | $118,770.00 | Scottsville | 1000m | GOOD | Cole Dicken | 60kg | - | - | 5 |
| 10.85L | $41.00 |

Jockey: Jarryd Penny
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Had difficulty when 8th last start at Turffontein but has a positive gate. Will be giving the leaders a big start. Not at all out of this race.
Last Starts 13 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9 | 14/03/2026 | - | Flat | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1000m | GOOD | Jarryd Penny | 60kg | - | - | 2 |
| 2.06L | $51.00 |
| 13/14 | 24/01/2026 | - | F & M | $99,748.00 | Vaal | 1199m | GOOD | Kobeli Lihaba | 60kg | - | - | 14 |
| 8.75L | $41.00 |
| 3/7 | 30/12/2025 | - | Flat | $114,008.00 | Turffontein | 1000m | GOOD | Kobeli Lihaba | 56kg | - | - | 6 |
| 3.75L | $26.00 |
| 12/15 | 20/11/2025 | - | F & M | $99,748.00 | Vaal | 1399m | GOOD | Jarryd Penny | 58kg | - | - | 13 |
| 10.7L | $126.00 |
| 13/17 | 28/10/2025 | - | F & M | $90,250.00 | Vaal | 1199m | GOOD | Jarryd Penny | 59kg | - | - | 13 |
| 10.35L | $81.00 |
| 8/11 | 17/05/2025 | - | fillies | $90,014.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | Philasande Mxoli | 60kg | - | - | 2 |
| 13.5L | $34.00 |

Jockey: Kobeli Lihaba
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Resuming after a spell of 41 weeks. At $41.00 came in 8th last time at Turffontein but drawn the rails. Prefers to settle towards the rear. Entitled to be big odds.
Last Starts 292 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/12 | 08/06/2025 | - | F & M | $90,250.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | Kobeli Lihaba | 60kg | - | - | 3 |
| 8.2L | $81.00 |
| 5/7 | 11/11/2024 | - | f & M | $105,012.00 | Turffontein | 1600m | SOFT | Serino Moodley | 58kg | - | - | 8 |
| 10L | $34.00 |
| 8/8 | 19/10/2024 | - | F & M | $94,994.00 | Turffontein | 1000m | GOOD | Wesley Marwing | 59kg | - | - | 8 |
| 10.5L | $15.00 |

Jockey: Calvin Ngcobo
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Started $26.00 and sub-standard effort when 8th last start at Turffontein but having second career run. Might have to make up considerable ground. Looking elsewhere today.
Last Starts 20 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/9 | 07/03/2026 | - | F&M MDN | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | Calvin Ngcobo | 60kg | - | - | 7 |
| 5.94L | $31.00 |

Jockey: K De Melo
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
Started $3.25 and finished 4th last time at Turffontein. Overlooking the last run and was a debutant last start. K De Melo and Sean Tarry are highly regarded when paired. Will be there at the business end.
Last Starts 20 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/10 | 07/03/2026 | - | Flat | $114,008.00 | Turffontein | 1160m | GOOD | K De Melo | 57.5kg | - | - | 11 |
| 2.97L | $4.00 |

Jockey: Diego De Gouveia
Weight: 60kgs
Stats
Comments
At $6.50 close to claiming the win last start at Turffontein but was on debut last time. Likely to get back. Sound chance.
Last Starts 13 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/9 | 14/03/2026 | - | Flat | $99,748.00 | Turffontein | 1000m | GOOD | Diego De Gouveia | 60kg | - | - | 8 |
| 0.05L | $7.50 |