Piet Steyn and his new stable star, Katak (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Kenilworth Tuesday feature action was highlighted by another smooth win for rising star, Katak.
The NHRA Handicappers have published their assessments.
- Gr3 Abe Bloomberg Legal Eagle Stakes
Unbeaten KATAK has had his merit rating increased from 99 to 109 after he recorded a fourth win from as many appearances in the Grade 3 Abe Bloomberg Legal Eagle Stakes (formerly known as the Winter Classic) for three-year-olds over the Kenilworth winter course 1800m on Tuesday 7 July.
The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SILVER HOST made for the most suitable line horse.
Accordingly, his rating remains unaltered on 102, but runner-up SUPER SILVANO goes up from 102 to 105. In other increases, 4th placed BAYBERRY (who sported blinkers for the first time) goes up from 81 to 95, while 5th placed CAPTAIN FLINDERS was raised from 85 to 93.
The only drop was for CANE LIME ‘N SODA, who is down from 94 to 92.
- Listed Winter Solstice Stormsvlei Stakes
EVA EILEEN has had her rating raised from 81 to 98 after she won the Listed Winter Solstice Stakes for three-year-old fillies (while racing with blinkers for the first time) over 1800m at Kenilworth on Tuesday.
Here, the Handicappers felt that BOLD DIVA – while only finishing 7th – was the best line horse to use as she was beaten by the identical margin of 7.50 lengths as when finishing 3rd in a very similar race against largely the same opponents on 9 June. As such, her rating remains unchanged on 83.
Runner-up FLAME TREE had her rating increased from 94 to 97, while the only other horse to have a ratings increase was DOUBLE REWARD, who was raised from 74 to 78 (which is her previously best career mark achieved.) The only other change was for 3rd finisher DRAMA QUEEN, who was dropped from 98 to 95.
- Listed Casey Bloomberg Ladies Mile
SHAMROCK WIND remains unchanged on a rating of 107 after her hard-fought success in the Listed Casey Bloomberg Ladies Mile for fillies and mares over 1600m at Kenilworth on Tuesday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that 4th placed HEAVEN’S EMBRACE made for the best line horse, which leaves her rating unchanged on 93, and in assessing the race this way SHAMROCK WIND in fact runs seven pounds below her 107 rating.
2nd placed MIDNIGHT MOONLIGHT goes up from 82 to 88, while in the only other raise 3rd placed DUCHESS OF BOURBON goes up from 97 to 99.
There were however drops for a number of horses. STAR FIGHTER is down from 104 to 101, FORTUNE FLIES goes to 99 from 100, STAR OF SILVER was trimmed from 94 to 93, ESTEEMAL was dropped from 96 to 95, and lastly SAINT ALIVE is down from 87 to 86.
- Listed Cordocelli Olympic Duel Stakes
HELLO WINTER HELLO has had her rating raised from 89 to 94 after she won the Listed Cordocelli Olympic Duel Stakes (handicap over 1200m) at Kenilworth on Tuesday.
It was agreed by the Handicappers that consistent 3rd finisher RUSH HOUR GIRL made for the most suitable line horse and as such her rating remains unchanged on 90. On the other hand, 2nd placed ICON PRINCESS was raised from 95 to 96 and was the only horse other than the winner to receive a ratings increase.
There were however drops for several contestants. BOOMPS A DAISY is down from 90 to 88, CASINO QUEEN drops from 94 to 92, IN THE STARS is down to 89 from 91, ROLL IN THE HAY drops from 100 to 96, and lastly FLEECED was cut from 91 to 89.
