The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have reported on the past weekend’s feature races merit ratings adjustments.
- Gr2 Colorado King Stakes
SECOND BASE has had his merit Rating raised from 116 to 118 after his success in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 26 March.
Colorado King Stakes winner Second Base (Pic – JC Photos)
The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that both runner-up ZILLZAAL and 4th placed JOHNNY HERO made for the most suitable line horses, which leaves them unchanged on marks of 117 and 110, respectively.
There were increases also for 3rd finisher SPARKLING WATER, who goes up from 112 to 114, and for 5th placed SHANGANI, who goes up from 105 to 108 to make him the equal of 6th finisher GOLDEN PHEASANT, who was dropped from 110 to 108.
Aside from GOLDEN PHEASANT, the only other ratings drop was for MARCHINGONTOGETHER, who is down from 110 to 107.
- Listed East Cape Guineas
SAFARI BLUE has had his rating increased from 93 to 99 after he ran out a fluent winner of the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 25 March. It was 4th placed SWEET THE SOUND who was deemed to make for the correct line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 85.
The winner aside, the only other increase was for 3rd finisher YOU KNOW WHO, who is up from 88 to 90.
Two horses were given a rating’s drop. PEACE IN OUR WORLD is down from 94 to 90, while BUSH TRACKER drops to 98 from 99.
- Listed East Cape Sprint Cup
GLOBAL DRUMMER remains unchanged on a mark of 113 after his victory in the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup over the straight 1200m course at Fairview on Friday.
It was GLOBAL DRUMMER himself who was used as the line horse here, hence his unchanged rating. In assessing the race this way, 4th finisher FLY MY FLAG also runs to her mark of 100 as a consequence of carrying 1 kg overweight and she effectively becomes a line horse as well.
There were increases also for runner-up PLEASEDTOMEETYOU, who is up from 105 to 110, and for 3rd finisher INHERIT THE RAIN, who was raised from 97 to 103.
There were ratings drops for four horses. WHATEVER NEXT is down from 105 to 103, JOYFUL NOISE drops to 101 from 104, REGIMENTAL was trimmed from 100 to 99, and lastly SPEED MACHINE is down from 109 to 108.
- Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 29 March 2022
