The NHRA handicappers have published their merit rating assessments after the weekend’s features.
Gauteng Guineas winner Malmoos goes to a 117 (Pic – JC Photos)
- World Sports Betting Gr2 Gauteng Guineas
MALMOOS has had his rating raised from 114 to 117 after his success in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 13 February.
The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed SECOND BASE made for the best line horse, which leaves his rating unchanged on 112. In assessing the race this way, MALMOOS achieves a mark of 116, but he was given a 117 rating to make him superior to runner-up CATCH TWENTY TWO, who is himself rated 116, but who has now been beaten by MALMOOS twice in as many encounters.
In other increases, 3rd placed COPPER MOUNTAIN is up from 109 to 113, BINGWA goes from 106 to 109, and NAMIB DESERT is up from 85 to 89.
The only drop was for MOUNT PLEASANT, who is down from 127 to 120.
- Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas
WAR OF ATHENA has seen her rating raised from 120 to 122 after she landed the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. In assessing the race, the Handicappers decided to use 2nd placed ANYTHING GOES to the net 110 she achieved when she finished second behind WAR OF ATHENA in her most recent start in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes in early January.
This approach was taken in the belief that ANYTHING GOES might have finished a little closer had she not been forced to switch for a run in the Fillies Guineas, in light of which the Handicappers were reluctant to use her to her rating of 120 to rate the race. This achieves the desired result of having WAR OF ATHENA rated superior to ANYTHING GOES, without taking the margin between them on this occasion literally. As such, ANYTHING GOES remains on 120, two pounds below WAR OF ATHENA.
There were also increases for 4th placed CASTLE DURROW, who is up from 93 to 97, and for ONLY THE BRAVE, who goes from 84 to 88. The only drop was for CARALLUMA, who was cut from 103 to 101.
- Wilgerbosdrift Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap
TRUE TO LIFE has seen her rating raised from 117 to 121 after she captured the Gr3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap over the 1000m straight course at Turffontein on Saturday.
It was 4th placed WINTER SMOKE who was used as the line horse, which leaves her rating unchanged on 109. Runner-up WINTER STORIES has had his rating increased from 111 to 114, while 3rd placed BOHICA goes up from 109 to 112. There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop.
ORAVAR is down from 102 to 100, OLD MAN TYME was cut from 104 to 102. MIRACLE FLIGHT, who failed to confirm her last improved run, drops from 109 to 104.
- Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 16 February 2021
