After another busy weekend of feature racing, the National Horseracing Authority handicapping team have provided their reports on the merit rating adjustments.
- Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint
WARRIOR’S REST has had his merit rating raised from 113 to 116 after his success in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (Handicap) over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday 4 July. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 3rd placed KASIMIR and 4th finisher CHIMICHURI RUN made for the correct line horses to use and accordingly they remain unchanged on 128 and 126, respectively.
Runner-up ULTRA MAGNUS was raised from 113 to 115, while 5th placed CARTEL CAPTAIN (who was 7 pounds under sufferance at the weights) goes up from 106 to 109. There was also an increase for 6th finisher INVIDIA, who was 5 pounds under sufferance and who carried 0.5 kg overweight. He goes up from 108 to 111.
The only drop was for FROSTED GOLD, who goes from 112 to 110.
- The Witness Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint
CELTIC SEA remains unchanged on 126 after she grabbed a last stride success in the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday. The Handicappers took the view that the 122-rated runner-up RUN FOX RUN was the best line horse to use in assessing this Weight-For-Age contest and as such her rating remains unchanged. In rating the race this way, CELTIC SEA also runs to 122.
3rd placed SINGFORAFA was raised from 116 to 119. She in fact runs to 121, but the Handicappers were cognisant of the fact that the Scottsville track was running very fast on the day and that this suited the very speedy SINGFORAFA to the point where she is probably a little flattered to have found herself in a three-way photo finish with the two highest rated runners in the race.
There was an increase also for 6th placed LINEAR, who ran well above her rating in this high class field and who goes up from 92 to 97. There were drops for three horses. MISS FLORIDA is down from 105 to 102, TRAVELLING LIGHT drops from 97 to 95, and WINTER SUN goes from 95 to 93.
- Gr3 World Sports Betting Cup Trial
CAPOEIRA has had his rating raised from 110 to 115 following his victory in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Cup Trial (handicap) over 1750m at Scottsville on Saturday. Here, it was decided that 4th placed PACK LEADER made for the most suitable line horse and his rating remains unchanged on 111.
Runner-up NEXUS was raised from 105 to 107, while fourth placed SOVEREIGN SPIRIT (who was 3 pounds under sufferance and carried 0.5 kg overweight) was raised from 95 to 100. There were no other ratings increases, but three horses received a drop. MORE MAGIC was trimmed from 102 to 101, TILBURY FORT drops from 112 to 109, and HERODOTUS is down to 107 from 109.
- Gr3 Jubilee Handicap
DIVINE ODYSSEY has had his rating increased from 114 to 117 after he won the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein (standside track) on Sunday 5 July. Here, it was decided that 3rd placed FULL MAST made for the best line horse, but as he carried 0.5 kg overweight his rating goes up from 101 to 102. Runner-up MARSHALL FOCH (who was 1 pound under sufferance) goes up from 98 to 100.
No other horses received a ratings increase, but there were several drops. PERFECT TIGRESS goes from 106 to 105, LEOPOLD is down from 108 to 106, D’ARRIVEE was cut from 106 to 105, DAWN ASSAULT goes from 115 to 114, and lastly ALIBI GUY drops from 101 to 98.
- Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby
AMERICAN PRINCESS remains unchanged on a rating of 90 following her win in the World Sports Betting East Cape Derby over 2400m at Fairview (turf track) on Friday 3 July. 3rd placed MISS LA DEE DA (a proven stayer with a win over 2500m to her name) was deemed to be the most suitable line horse and remains unaltered on 78. In rating the race this way, the winner runs to 89 and hence the reason for her unchanged rating.
Runner-up ROCK ALOE was given a slight increase from 91 to 92, while 4th placed AUGUST LEAVES was raised from 80 to 83.
There were no other increases, but two horses received a drop. BLUSHING BRIDE was trimmed from 82 to 81, while BHALTAIR goes from 97 to 95.
The Handicappers noted that, while BHALTAIR had won his penultimate start, that was in a novice plate where he only ran to a rating of 82, and as such were happy to give him a drop only two runs later.
- NHRA Media Release on Tuesday 7 July 2020
