After Tuesday’s weather-delayed WSB Summer Cup meeting, the NHA Handicappers have published their merit rating assessments.
- Gr1 WSB Gauteng Summer Cup
FLYING CARPET has had his merit rating increased from 107 to 116 following his success in the Grade 1 WSB Gauteng Summer Cup (handicap) over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track on Tuesday 30 November.
What a race it was! (Pic – JC Photos)
The Handicappers took the view that consistent 3rd finisher GOLDEN PHEASANT made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 112.
It must be taken into account that FLYING CARPET was 4 kgs or 8 pounds under sufferance at the weights, especially as the specific conditions of the Summer Cup pegged the minimum weight to be carried at 54 kgs and not the standard handicap 52 kgs. This goes a long way towards the nine-pound ratings increase that FLYING CARPET incurred for his victory.
Similarly, runner-up MAJESTIC MOZART was 2 kgs or 4 pounds under sufferance and accordingly his rating was raised from 110 to 114. 4th placed JOHNNY HERO, who was 4 kgs or 8 pounds out at the weights but finished 0.75 lengths or 2 pounds behind the line horse has been raised from 106 to 110 and was the only other horse to receive ratings increase.
There were however ratings drops for three horses. TIERRA DEL FUEGO was trimmed from 107 to 106, SECOND BASE drops to 115 from 117, and lastly SEEHAAM was dropped from 107 to 105.
- Gr2 WSB Dingaans
SAFE PASSAGE has seen his rating raised from 100 to 110 following his victory in the Grade 2 WSB Dingaans for three-year-olds over 1600m at Turffontein on Tuesday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 5th placed CASTLETOWN made for the best line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 99.
2nd placed RED SAXON goes up from 84 to 107, 3rd finisher ARAGOSTA is up from 96 to 105, and 4th placed SUPER EXCITED was raised up from 100 to 102.
There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop. OCEAN WARRIOR is down from 96 to 94, BALOUCHI drops from 87 to 85, and lastly STARRYWINTERNIGHT is down from 90 to 85.
- Gr2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge
BOLD FORTUNE has had her merit rating raised from 103 to 105 after she captured the Grade 2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge for fillies and mares over 1600m at Turffontein on Tuesday. Here it was runner-up PERFECT WITNESS who was used as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 103.
There were also ratings increases for 3rd placed RAIN IN HOLLAND, who is up slightly from 105 to 106, and for 4th finisher CLAFOUTIS, who was raised from 92 to 95.
There were no other ratings increases, but there were drops for three runners. MOUNT LAUREL was cut from 108 to 104, ROUGE ALLURE is down to 100 from 102, and lastly RUNNING BRAVE drops from 113 to 111.
- Gr3 WSB Magnolia Handicap
SOUND OF WARNING has had her rating upped from 107 to 111 following her win in the Grade 3 WSB Magnolia Handicap for fillies and mares over the straight 1160m at Turffontein on Tuesday. The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that ultra-consistent 4th finisher FULL VELOCITY was the correct line horse to use when assessing this event, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 95.
In rating the race this way, 3rd placed ZIMBABA also runs to her mark and effectively also becomes a line horse, leaving her unaltered on a mark of 106, but there was a rating increase for 2nd placed Big Burn, who is up from 110 to 113.
There were no other ratings increases, but four horses received a drop. WINTER SMOKE was trimmed from 104 to 103, PETRA is down from 95 to 94, KAYLA’S CHAMP is down to 97 from 98, and lastly TROPIC SUN was dropped from 109 to 107.
Please click on the cover of the Sprint to read more:
- Gr3 WSB Merchants
ALESIAN CHIEF has had his rating raised from 112 to 116 after he captured the Grade 3 WSB Merchants (handicap) over 1160m at Turffontein on Tuesday. Here it was 4th finisher IKIGAI who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unaltered on a rating of 107.
2nd placed BARTHOLDI (who was 1 kg or 2 pounds under sufferance at the weights) goes up from 100 to 104, while the only other ratings increase was for 3rd placed CARTEL CAPTAIN, who is up from 115 to 117.
There were ratings drops for four runners. ULTRA MAGNUS is down slightly from 120 to 119, TEMPTING FATE was trimmed from 112 to 111, CHIMICHURI RUN is down to 118 from 120, and lastly SAVANNAH STORM was dropped from 100 to 98.
- Listed Racing Association Stayers
MARCHINGONTOGETHER has had his rating increased from 101 to 104 after he captured the Listed Racing Association Stayers over 3200m at Turffontein on Tuesday. Here it was 4th finisher CAPTAIN CHORUS who was used as the line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 90.
In rating the race this way, 2nd placed BARAK and 3rd finisher SUPER HANDSOME both run to marks of 95. However, the specific race conditions do not allow for an increase in the rating of placed horses and accordingly these two remain unaltered on marks of 80 and 89, respectively.
There were however drops for four horses. PAYBACKTHEMONEY is down from 90 to 88, DON’T LOOK BACK is down to 98 from 100, OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE drops from 108 to 107, and lastly IMPERIAL RUBY is down from 104 to 102.
- Media release by the National Horseracing Authority on Thursday 2 December 2021.
