Desert Miracle remains unchanged on a merit rating of 124 after winning the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares on WFA terms over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 15 April.
The Handicappers were unanimous in their opinion that 3rd placed MARIGOLD HOTEL made for the ideal line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 107.
In assessing the race this way DESERT MIRACLE only runs to a mark of 117, hence her unchanged rating.
The only ratings increase was for 2nd placed FEATHER BOA, who goes up from 108 to 114.
Craig Zackey guides Desert Mirace to victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The solitary drop was for MISS DAISY, who is down from 108 to 106.
Listed WSB Spook Express Stakes
RED MAPLE has had her rating increased from 80 to 85 after winning the Listed Spook Express Stakes for fillies and mares over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
In assessing this race, the Handicappers took the view that RED MAPLE would not have run below the 85 she actually achieved when finishing 2nd in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial five weeks earlier.
However, as the specific conditions of that event did not allow for a rating’s increase for any horse beyond the winner and the Handicappers were obliged to leave RED MAPLE on a mark of 80.
The specific conditions of this event also do not permit for a rating’s increase to any horse other than the winner, and accordingly 2nd placed KIND JUDY and third finisher APACHE FIGHTER both remain on marks of 81 although both of them actually ran to a rating of 83.
There were drops for five horses. 4th placed LIGHT OF THE MOON is down from 109 to 107, FLYING FIRST CLASS is down slightly from 89 to 88, ELECTRIC SURGE drops to 78 from 80, PERFECT WITNESS drops from 99 to 97, and lastly OPERA GLASS was trimmed from 85 to 84.
WSB Listed The Scarlet Lady
DAWNOFANEWDAY has had her rating raised from 99 to 101 after winning the Listed WSB Scarlet Lady for fillies and mares over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SUPREME QUEST made for the best line horse, leaving her unaltered on a mark of 95. In rating the race this way 5th placed MACARA and 6th finisher SISTER LIGHT both run to their marks, effectively making them line horses as well and leaving them unchanged on marks of 97 and 90, respectively.
There were increases also for runner-up SOUTHERN CAPE, who was raised from 87 to 93, and for her 4th placed stable companion BELLA SICCOME, who is up slightly from 93 to 94.
No horses from this race were given a ratings drop.
Listed WSB Sledgehammer
LORD WILLIAM has had his rating raised from 104 to 107 after he landed the Listed Sledgehammer (handicap) over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. Here it was 3rd placed INDLAMU who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 99.
Aside from the winner the only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed FLYING BULL, who goes up from 101 to 103.
The only drop was for SILVANO’S TIMER, who is down slightly from 109 to 108.
Listed Glenlair Trophy
AMERICAN LANDING has had his rating raised from 74 to 80 after he won the Listed Glenlair Trophy over 2800m on the turf track at Fairview on Friday. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up JAEGER MOON made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 102.
In assessing the race this way AMERICAN LANDING actually runs to a mark of 91, but the specific conditions of the event do not permit for a more than six pounds increase in the rating of the winner, and accordingly the Handicappers were obliged to cap AMERICAN LANDING on a mark of 80.
The race conditions also do not permit for a rating’s increase for any horse beyond the winner, and accordingly 3rd placed WILDEST DREAMS and 4th finisher LIGHT WITHOUT remain on marks of 75 and 67, respectively, despite actually achieving ratings of 76 and 81, respectively.
No horses from this race were given a rating’s drop.
- Media release by NHA on 18 April 2023.
