The NHRA handicappers have published their feature race assessments after the weekend.
- Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate
JET DARK has had his merit rating raised from 109 to 130 after the solitary three-year-old in the line-up saw off a high class field of older horses on WFA terms in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m on the Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 9 January.
Jet Dark team after winning the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
In assessing the race, the Handicappers felt that runner-up RAINBOW BRIDGE had performed very similarly as when finishing second in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes in his most recent start, and accordingly used him to the mark of 128 he actually achieved on that occasion. That said, it was deemed premature to drop Rainbow Bridge to a mark of 128 and accordingly his rating was trimmed from 134 to 132.
4th placed DO IT AGAIN was dropped from 133 to 131 in order to make him lower than RAINBOW BRIDGE, while the only other change was for SILVER OPERATOR, who is up from 109 to 112, which equates to his previous career best achieved rating.
- Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes
QUEEN SUPREME remains unchanged on a mark of 126 after she recorded a second successive win in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes (WFA) for fillies and mares over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
As the line horse, the Handicappers opted to use runner-up CLOUDS UNFOLD to the 119 she actually achieved when finishing 4th in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes at her previous start. Here too the Handicappers felt it is too soon to drop CLOUDS UNFOLD to a rating of 119 and opted to trim her mark from 124 to 122. In rating the race this way, QUEEN SUPREME actually runs two pounds below her rating of 126.
3rd placed PRINCESS CALLA was raised from 111 to 116, while her fellow three-year-old and 4th finisher CHAT CHING is up from 108 to 114, keeping her in line with PRINCESS CALLA. The only other increase was for SING OUT LOUD, who is up from 105 to 109, while in contrast DRIVING MISS DAISY was dropped from 115 to 112.
- Gr2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy
GOLDEN DUCAT remains unchanged on a rating of 128 after he fought on gamely to win the Gr2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Here it was 4th placed SUPER SILVANO who was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 104. In rating this way, GOLDEN DUCAT only runs to a mark of 113, hence his unchanged rating.
The only increase was for runner-up SACHDEV, who is up from 107 to 108, while AFRICAN NIGHT SKY was given the sole decrease and is down from 120 to 115.
- Gr3 Okapi Chairman’s Cup
SILVER HOST has seen his rating increased from 102 to 107 after he won the Gr3 Okapi Chairman’s Cup over 2500m at Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 3rd placed AZORES who was considered to make for best line horse, and as such he remains unaltered on a mark of 101.
Runner-up ATYAAB was given a drop from 115 to 113, while 4th finisher HOLY WARRIOR remains unchanged on a rating of 90 despite running to 97 as the specific conditions of this event do not allow for an increase for placed horses.
Two other runners were however given a drop, with CAT DADDY going from 100 to 97 and TROOP THE COLOUR dropping from 92 to 89.
- Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes
CELTIC SEA remains unchanged on a rating of 126 after she won the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m for a second year in succession at Kenilworth on Friday. Runner-up FAVORITA and 3rd placed HELLO WINTER HELLO were both used as line horses here, which leaves them both unchanged on a mark of 100. In assessing the race this way, CELTIC SEA only runs to a mark of 108, hence her unchanged rating.
The only increase was for 4th placed VERONICA MARS, who is up from 95 to 96, but there were drops for a number of runners. PRETTY YOUNG THING is down from 116 to 115, ROLL IN THE HAY drops from 102 to 100, POINT OF SALE is down from 102 to 99, THIRD RUNWAY drops to 107 from 109, and lastly TRICKSTER drops from 104 to 102.
- Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap
ELUSIVE FORTUNE has had her rating raised from 90 to 93 following her courageous success in the Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m at Kenilworth on Friday 8 January. 4th placed JACQUELINE was used as the line horse here, and as such she remains unchanged on a mark of 90.
2nd placed SLEEPING SINGLE goes up from 107 to 109, while 3rd finisher CATCHAFALLINGSTAR (who was 7 pounds or 3.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights) was raised from 83 to 92. 5th placed FOLLOW THE STAR also runs to her mark and remains as is on 90, having carried 1 kg overweight.
Two horses were given a drop. RATTLE MOUSE is down from 95 to 92, while FLAME TREE was cut from 97 to 93.
- Listed Swallow Stakes
ZIMBABA has had her rating raised from 89 to 98 after she comfortably won the Listed Swallow Stakes for three-year-old fillies over the 1160m straight course at Turffontein on Sunday.
Zimbaba upped to a 98 (Pic – JC Photos)
In a race rendered awkward to assess by soft going and a consequent strung-out finish, it was decided to use runner-up CELESTIAL LOVE as the line horse and so she remains unchanged on 90.
Aside from the winner there was no other increases, but two fillies were given a ratings’ drop. ANNA CAPRI is down from 110 to 107, while ECSTATIC GREEN was cut from 103 to 101.
