Malmoos Goes To 110

The NHRA Handicapping team have published their feature race analysis after the weekend.

Hudoo Magic – first stakes success (Pic – JC Photos)

• Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Handicap) 

HUDOO MAGIC has had his rating raised from 106 to 110 following his success in the Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Handicap) over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 31 October.

In selecting a line horse, the Handicappers were of the view that 6^th placed ASTRIX would not have run below his best in finishing two lengths off the winner in a race of this calibre and his mark remains unchanged on 110.

Runner-up CHARLES goes from 108 to 110, while 3^rd placed YOUCANTHURRYLOVE is up from 110 to 112.  4^th placed TREE TUMBO, who was 7 pounds or 3.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights and carried 0.5 kg overweight, was raised from 100 to 109 and is the only other horse to receive a ratings’ increase.

There were drops for several runners.  TIERRA DEL FUEGO is down from 122 to 120, VICTORIA PAIGE was cut from 110 to 108, HERO’S HONOUR is down from 112 to 110, and lastly GREEN HAZE was dropped from 116 to 114.

• Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes 

DUE DILIGENCE has seen her rating increased from 93 to 106 after she landed the HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.  It was 3^rd placed CARALLUMA who was used as the line horse when assessing this race, her rating remains unchanged on 103.

Runner-up GEE FOR GO was raised from 88 to 104, TANZANITE QUEEN is up from 91 to 95, and LOUIS GEM was raised from 81 to 88.  This way, the latter two would meet most of those who finished behind them on fairer terms all round in a handicap race.

The only drop was for TOTO, who is down from 88 to 86.

• Gr3 Palacebet.co.za Live Games Graham Beck Stakes 

Undefeated MALMOOS has had his rating raised from 100 to 110 after he recorded a third win from as many starts in the Grade 3 Palacebet.co.za Live Games Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Handicappers felt that previously unbeaten runner-up FOREVER MINE would not have run worse than the actual 107 he achieved when winning a Graduation Plate a fortnight earlier.  At the time, FOREVER MINE could not be given more than a six pound increase for winning that race in terms of the restrictions in place regarding plate races, hence his 101 rating going into Saturday’s race.

3^rd placed WINTER STORIES was raised from 99 to 105, while 4^th finisher CATCH TWENTY TWO goes from 99 to 104 to keep him one pound below the 3^rd placed horse.  In other increases, BINGWA is up from 82 to 96, and BOWIE goes to 91 from 89.

The only drop was for GOLD SEASON, who is down from 93 to 90.

• Gr3 Palacebet.co.za Sports Book Yellowwood Handicap 

SARAGON has had her rating increased from 105 to 107 after she defied top weight to land the Grade 3 Palacebet,co.za. Sports Book Yellowwood Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday.

In assessing this race, the Handicappers felt that runner-up HEART STWINGS would at least have equalled her season’s best mark of 93 in a race of this calibre.  Accordingly, she was used to that level as line horse and her rating goes up to 93 from 92.

There were no other increases, but a number of horses were given a ratings’ drop.  SHIVERS is down from 105 to 103, MASTER KEYS goes from 101 to 99 and KEEP SMILING drops from 102 to 99.  LEAGUE OF HER OWN, who raced off a mark of 80, had already been dropped to 78 following the publication of weights for this race and remains on 78.

Bold Ransom – won Golden Loom and goes to 104 Pic – JC Photos)

• Palacebet Home Of Winners Golden Loom Handicap (Listed)

BOLD RANSOM has had his rating raised from 99 to 104 following his win in the Listed Palacebet Home Of Winners Golden Loom Handicap over the Turffontein 1000m straight course on Saturday.  It was 4^th placed SINGFORAFA who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 119.

Runner-up ORAVAR, who was three pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, goes up from 96 to 102, while 3^rd placed GREAT SHAKA has had his rating raised from 99 to 101.

There were no other increases from this race, but three horses were given a ratings’ drop.  CALVARY is down from 95 to 92, GIMME A WAVE drops from 101 to 99 and WINTER STORM was cut from 106 to 103.

• Citizen Java Handicap (Listed)

ODD ROB has had his rating raised from 89 to 92 following victory in the Listed Citizen Java Handicap over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday.  The Handicappers were of the view that 3^rd placed IMPERIAL RUBY and 4^th placed FACTOR FIFTY made for the most suitable line horses here, their ratings remain unaltered on 107 each.

Runner-up AFRICAN ADVENTURE, who was 8 pounds or 4 kgs under sufferance at the weights and carried 0.5 kg overweight, was picked up from 81 to 92 and was the only other horse to receive a ratings’ increase, but there were drops for a number of runners.

BEFORE NOON drops from 88 to 86, SHENANIGANS is down from 92 to 90, DAWN ASSAULT goes from 110 to 108, SUNSHINE SILK is down to 100 from 102 and lastly, FACT drops from 89 to 87.

• Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup

MK’S PRIDE has had his rating increased from 96 to 109 after he won the Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.  In assessing this race, the Handicappers took the view that 5^th placed MISS ELEGANCE would not have run below her previous career lowest mark of 86 when runner-up in a juvenile plate at her penultimate start and used that performance as the line for this race.  MISS ELEGANCE was given a partial drop and is down from 95 to 91.

3^rd placed FLYING CARPET (who had no published rating going into the race having only run twice previously and being still a maiden) was given a mark of 108, to keep him in line with the winner at these weight terms.

There were no other increases, but in addition to MISS ELEGANCE there were drops for two other horses.  4^th placed AFTERNOON TEA is down from 97 to 95, while LADY OF THE FLAME was trimmed from 76 to 75.

• Listed Model Man Miles 

FIGHT SONG has had his rating raised from 91 to 97 after he won the Listed Model Man Mile for three-year-olds over 1600m on the Greyville Polytrack on Sunday 1 November.

4^th placed NATIVE TONGUE was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves his mark unchanged on 92.

Runner-up SHAVOUT was raised from 85 to 96, while in the only other increase HEY BILL goes from 78 to 85. There were drops for two horses, with TREAD SWIFTLY going from 93 to 90 and BOLD HORIZON being trimmed from 83 to 82.

• Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 3 November 2020