Cape star Charles Dickens remains unchanged on a merit rating of 132 after capturing the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on WFA terms over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 10 June.
It was the son of Trippi himself who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse, which is the reason for his unchanged mark.
In assessing the race this way, 6th finisher Rascallion also runs to his mark, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 122 and effectively making him a line horse as well.
Charles Dickens (Aldo Domeyer) beat Al Muthana (Grant van Niekerk) in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Two horses received a rating’s increase. 3rd placed Zapatillas is up from 122 to 126, while Royal Aussie goes to 118 from 116.
Four horses were given a drop. Runner-up Al Muthana is down to 130 from 132 to make him lower than Charles Dickens, Safe Passage was trimmed from 124 to 123, Bingwa drops from 122 to 120, and lastly Do It Again was dropped from 124 to 121.
East Coast Radio Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes
Humdinger has had her rating raised from 108 to 110 after winning the East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner-up Marigold Hotel made for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 107.
There were increases for 4th placed Miss Cool, who is up from 102 to 106, while 5th finisher Mrs Browning is up from 97 to 103. The only other increase was for 7th finisher Macara, who goes up slightly from 97 to 98 to at least have her higher than 11th placed Hollywoodbound, who drops from 99 to 97.
Aside from Hollywoodbound, the only other horse to receive a ratings drop was Bon Vivant, who is down from 112 to 110.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial (Handicap)
Winchester Mansion has had his rating upped from 103 to 112 after easily winning the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. It was 3rd placed Lord William who was used as the line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 107.
Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for runner-up Quasiforsure, who is up from 110 to 112.
There were ratings drops for three horses. Union Square is down from 116 to 114, Litigation drops from 112 to 110, and lastly Silvano’s Timer is down to 106 from 108.
Gr3 Jubilee Stakes
Puerto Manzano remains unchanged on a mark of 123 after winning the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Sunday 11 June.
It was the Argentinian-bred galloper himself who was used as the line horse here, hence his unaltered rating. In assessing the race this way 3rd placed Electric Gold runs to his mark as well, effectively also making him a line horse and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 103.
The specific conditions of this race do not allow for any ratings increase for any horse beyond the winner and accordingly runner-up Whafeef remains unchanged on a rating of 107 although actually achieving a mark of 108.
There were ratings drops for four horses.
Pyromaniac drops from 106 to 104, Laguna Verde drops from 104 to 101, Another Level is down from 99 to 98, and lastly Indlamu drops from 99 to 98 as well.
- Media release by NHA on Monday 12 June 2023.
