The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have completed their overview of the weekend’s feature race merit rating assessments.
- Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes
SPARKLING WATER remains unchanged on a rating of 109 after she captured the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 6 November.
The Victory Moon Stakes finish was a thriller! (Pic – JC Photos)
The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed ASTRIX made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 112. In assessing the race this way, SPARKLING WATER only runs to a rating of 106, hence her unaltered rating.
The only other increase was for runner-up GOLDEN PHEASANT, who goes from 111 to 112, seven horses received a ratings’ drop.
FLYING CARPET dropped from 109 to 107, SECOND BASE is down from 120 to 117, MATTERHORN was trimmed from 102 to 101, EXPRESSFROMTHEUS drops from 118 to 115, SAVANNAH STORM is down to 100 from 106, RUNNING BRAVE is down from 115 to 113, and lastly TREE TUMBO was dropped to 107 from 108.
There was no drop for PAMUSHANA’S PRIDE as he was effectively eased out of the race. The Handicappers felt it was impossible to reassess this runner under these circumstances and believe they have no choice but to leave him unchanged on a mark of 116.
- Listed Gardenia Stakes
HELLO WINTER HELLO has had her rating raised from 104 to 110 after she made a winning Highveld debut in the Listed Gardenia Stakes for fillies and mares over the Turffontein 1000m straight course on Saturday.
The consistent 5th placed MIND READER was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 105. In assessing the race this way, 8th finisher BEFORE THE DAWN also runs to her rating of 95, effectively making her a line horse as well.
Other ratings increases were for 3rd placed LUCY ENGLISH, who is up from 88 to 97, and for BELLA CHICA, who is up from 101 to 105. TRUE TO LIFE and NAARAH dropped 2 pounds each from 118 to 116 and 97 to 95 respectively while RAPID FIRE dropped only dropped 1 pound from 102 to 101.
- Listed Laisserfaire Stakes (Handicap)
CAPITANA has seen her rating climb from 101 to 106 after she won the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes (handicap) for fillies and mares over 1100m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Here it was 4th finisher PHIL’S DANCER who was considered to make for the best line horse, seeing as she is a highly consistent performer who competed with CAPITANA for a third race in succession, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 103.
There were increases also for runner-up KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, who goes from 99 to 103, and for 3rd finisher HAWKER TYPHOON, who was raised from 98 to 100. IRIS is dropped to 95 from 97.
- Listed Woolavington Stakes
SILVER HOST has had his rating increased from 112 to 115 following his fluent success in the Listed Woolavington Stakes over 2400m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Here it was 3rd placed ANSE LAZIO who was used as the line horse, leaving him on a mark of 103.
It should be noted that, in assessing the race this way, 2nd finisher CRIMSON KING achieves a mark of 112.
However, the specific conditions of the event do not allow for an increase in the rating of any horse except the winner, and accordingly CRIMSON KING remains unaltered on a mark of 110.
The only ratings drop was for DOUBLEMINT, who is down from 114 to 111.
Media release by NHA on Tuesday 9 November 2021
