The chances of gaining a run in the WSB Gauteng Summer Cup were boosted for St John Gray’s Damage Is Done colt Christopher Robin who was an emphatic winner of Saturday’s Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes.
Here’s how the NHRA handicappers assessed the weekend’s feature races.
- Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 3)
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN has had his merit rating raised from 98 to 109 after his easy success in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 14 November.
The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that runner-up ASTRIX made for the ideal line horse here and his rating remains unchanged on 110.
The only other increase was for 4th finisher DANCE CLASS, who goes up from 92 to 98, but there were drops for several horses. One of these was 3rd placed VICTORIA PAIGE, who is down from 108 to 105 after failing to confirm her status as comfortably the best weighted horse in the field.
In other drops, DARK MOON RISING is down from 102 to 100, TILBURY FORT goes from 107 to 105, SNOW PALACE drops from 104 to 101, and lastly GREEN HAZE was cut from 114 to 111.
Christopher Robin merit rating goes up (Pic – JC Photos)
- Gardenia Stakes (Listed)
SINGFORAFA remains unchanged on a rating of 119 after she won the Listed Gardenia Stakes for fillies and mares over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein straight on Saturday.
It was runner-up TRUE TO LIFE that was used as the line horse here off her current mark of 117, in assessing the race this way the winner actually runs one pound below her 119 rating.
There were however increases for several runners. 3rd placed VERNICHEY is up from 104 to 114, 4th finisher ANNA CAPRI was picked up from 96 to 110, BEFORE THE DAWN goes from 96 to 100, SHEER TALENT is up to 90 from 88, and lastly SLALOM QUEEN goes up from 96 to 98.
Two fillies were given a ratings drop, with MIRACLE FLIGHT going from 103 to 101 and SPRING BREAK being cut from 95 to 93.
- Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 17 November 2020
