After a big weekend of feature racing, the National Horseracing Authority handicappers have published their merit rating assessments.
Al Muthana has been upped to a 125 (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
- Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge
AL MUTHANA has had his merit rating raised from 122 to 125 following his success on WFA terms in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf course on Saturday 11 June.
The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed MK’S PRIDE made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this event, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 122.
Runner-up LINEBACKER remains unchanged on a rating of 126, but 3rd placed JET DARK was dropped slightly from 130 to 129. It was noted that JET DARK had not been able to run to a rating of 130 in three starts since he achieved that mark in the Gr1 L’ Ormarins Queen’s Plate five months earlier, hence the slight ratings drop.
5th placed RUSSIAN ROCK was raised from 118 to 120, while 6th placed BINGWA goes up from 117 to 119 to at least make him the equal of the 119-rated 7th finisher SILVER OPERATOR. The final increase was for PRINCE OF FIRE, who is up from 110 to 114.
There were ratings drops for two horses aside from JET DARK. CROWN TOWERS is down from 117 to 116, while EDEN ROC was trimmed from 111 to 110.
- Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes
HOMELY GIRL has had her rating raised from 104 to 108 after winning the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
It was 4th placed BOLD ACT who was considered to make for the ideal line horse here, which leaves her rating unchanged on 103.
Runner-up ECSTATIC GREEN was picked up from 99 to 107, while 6th placed KWINTA’S LIGHT gets a slight increase from 102 to 103.
The only other increase was for 9th placed OSCAR’S WINNER, who goes from 90 to 96. She in fact achieved a rating of 101, but the Handicappers opted to raise her to the equal of the 96-rated 11th finisher KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.
The only drop was for ZARINA, who is down to 114 from 116.
- Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial
AIRWAYS LAW has had his rating raised from 90 to 108 after he captured the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (handicap) over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
It must be borne in mind that this sizeable increase is in large part due to the fact that AIRWAYS LAW was 10 pounds or 5 kgs under sufferance at the weights. It was 4th placed WARRIOR who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 108.
Runner-up MOUNT ANDERSON was raised from 104 to 110, while 3rd finisher GENTLEMAN’S WAGER – who met with interference in running and was therefore not considered to be a suitable line horse – goes up slightly from 105 to 106.
There was a slight raise for 5th placed GAINSFORD, who is up from 99 to 100. The only other ratings increase was for 6th placed CHOLLIMA, who was 14 pounds or 7 kgs under sufferance at the weights. He was raised from 90 to 102 and was made one pound higher than 7th finisher NEVER ENDING RAIN, who drops from 104 to 101.
Aside from NEVER ENDING RAIN, there were ratings drops for two horses. CRIMSON KING is down from 109 to 108, while TRISTFUL drops to 107 from 110.
- Gr3 WSB Jubilee Stakes
PUERTO MANZANO remains unchanged on a rating of 120 after he captured the Grade 3 WSB Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Sunday 12 June.
It was PUERTO MANZANO himself who was considered to make for the best line horse, hence his unchanged rating, and in the process, he confirmed the mark of 120 he had achieved when finishing 2nd in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes in early April.
The specific conditions of the race do not allow for a rating’s increase for any horse other than the winner, and accordingly 3rd placed NAVAL GUARD remains on 90 even though he actually runs to a mark of 103.
The only drop was for EXPRESSFROMTHEUS, who is down from 105 to 103.
- Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 14 June 2022
