After Saturday’s WSB Gold Cup day meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the National Horseracing Authority have published the revised merit ratings.
- World Sports Betting Gold Cup (Grade 3)
PATHS OF VICTORY has had his rating raised from 101 to 105 after he made almost every inch of the running to win the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 29 August.
The Handicappers felt that 5th placed SUNSHINE SILK – who has plenty of form in races of this nature – made for the best line horse and as such her rating remains unchanged on 103.
Paths Of Victory goes to a 105 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
2nd placed PAYBACKTHEMONEY goes up from 92 to 99, while 3rd finisher FLICHITY BY FARR was picked up from 100 to 103.
The only other increase was for BEFORE NOON, who is up from 84 to 88, however, numerous horses were given a ratings’ drop.
EYES WIDE OPEN goes from 114 to 113, MAGNIFICENT SEVEN drops from 112 to 110, DHARMA was trimmed from 100 to 99, WEALTHY drops from 98 to 96, DARK MOON RISING is down to 103 from 105, FACTOR FIFTY is down from 108 to 107, and lastly SHENANIGANS goes from 98 to 96.
- World Sports Betting Mercury Sprint (Grade 1)
VAN HALEN remains unchanged on a rating of 122 after he captured the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Mercury Sprint (Weight For Age) over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
It was noted that the three highest rated horses in the field, KASIMIR, CHIMICHURI RUN and RUSSET AIR, jumped from the three widest draws and no change was made to any of their ratings, either. In contrast, VAN HALEN jumped from the lowest draw.
Runner-up WARRIOR’S REST was increased from 116 to 118, while 3rd placed FABIAN goes up from 108 to 116.
There were no other increases, while the only drop was for SUNSET EYES, who is down from 116 to 115.
- World Sports Betting Champions Cup (Grade 1)
GOLDEN DUCAT has had his rating raised from 122 to 128 after he wore down his stable companion and older half-brother RAINBOW BRIDGE to snatch a narrow win in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup (Weight For Age) over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Handicappers of the view that the ultra-game 3rd placed CIRILLO made for the most suitable line horse, and he accordingly remains unchanged on 127.
There was no change for either RAINBOW BRIDGE or 4th placed DO IT AGAIN, but TRISTFUL goes up from 110 to 112 MAJESTIC MOZART goes up from 102 to 107, while SOVEREIGN SPIRIT was raised from 103 to 106. There were no drops for any runners in this race.
The Handicappers took cognisance of the compact nature of the field at the finish and only gave partial increases to unplaced horses.
- Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1)
Unbeaten ANYTHING GOES has had her rating raised from 103 to 111 after she posted her fourth win from as many outings in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes for newly-turned three-year-old fillies over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
5th placed CARALLUMA was considered to be the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on 103.
Runner-up WAR OF ATHINA goes up from 103 to 110, while 3rd finisher PRINCESS CALLA goes from 87 to 105 after taking a huge rise in class, having won a lower stakes Monday maiden race in her only previous start. 4th placed TRICKSTER is up from 99 to 104, while MARIA COROLINA is up from 85 to 90, (which is a partial increase only, given the relatively compact nature of the finish.)
There were no other increases, and none of the runners was given a ratings’ drop.
- Premiers Champion Stakes (Grade 1)
SENTBYDESTINY has had her rating raised from 98 to 105 after she came from last earlier on a day which seemed to largely favour horses racing from or near the front and gave her male rivals something to remember her by in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes for the new crop of three year-olds over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Sentbydestiny goes to a 105 (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Runner-up NOURBESE was used as the line horse when assessing this event and as such remains unchanged on 108.
3rd placed CRIMSON KING goes up from 90 to 108, while 4th finisher RED TEN is up to 107 from 99.
There were also increases for PURE SOUTH, who goes up from 87 to 104, while KINGSLEY’S HEART is up from 92 to 98. FIRST LOVE, who was badly hampered in running, goes up from 91 to 94, while FIGHT SONG was raised from 86 to 91. The only drop was for VALIDUS, who is down from 93 to 91, making him the equal to FIGHT SONG.
Here again unplaced horses were given only a partial increase to allow for the close nature of the overall finish.
- Prosport International Debutante (Grade 2)
ECSTATIC GREEN remains unchanged on a rating of 103 after she landed the Prosport International Debutante (Grade 2) for three-year-old fillies over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
It was ECSTATIC GREEN herself who was used as the line horse, hence her unaltered rating.
Runner-up KEEP THE LIGHTS ON was raised from 87 to 97, while 3rd placed FIFTYSHADESDARKER is up slightly from 94 to 95. 4th placed THUMBS UP goes from 86 to 93 and is the only other runner to receive a ratings’ increase.
However, there were drops for three fillies. VIVID JET is down from 96 to 93, SWEET SENSATION goes from 102 to 97, and SLALOM QUEEN was dropped to 92 from 94.
- Epol Umkhomazi Stakes (Grade 2)
ERIK THE RED remains unaltered on a mark of 107 after he won the Grade 2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes for three-year-olds over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the view that ERIK THE RED himself made for the most suitable line horse here and hence the reason for his unchanged rating.
Runner-up GARRULOUS was raised from 98 to 106, but 3rd finisher PRAY FOR RAIN remains unchanged on 109.
In contrast, 4th placed ACTION PACKED goes up from 87 to 98. There were also increases for CAPTAIN MORISCO, who is up to 97 from 91, while MK’S PRIDE was raised from 85 to 91. THE CONTRACTOR goes up from 92 to 95, while in the only drop for this race TAI GOLD goes down to 88 from 91.
Again, unplaced runners were given only partial increases as it was felt that a literal reading of the distance by which they were beaten would be flattering.
- Kuda Gold Bracelet (Grade 2)
RUNNING BRAVE remains unchanged on a rating of 114 after she posted a second successive win in the Grade 2 Kuda Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Handicappers opted to use the winner herself as the line horse, which is the reason for her rating remaining as it was.
Second placed PERFECT AIR goes up from 91 to 105, but 3rd placed MIYABI GOLD was given a drop from 115 to 113.
4th placed SNOW PALACE is up from 97 to 104 and was the only other runner to receive an increase.
There were drops for no fewer than five horses. VICTORIA PAIGE drops from 112 to 110, PERFECT TIGRESS was trimmed from 105 to 104, KELPIE goes from 111 to 109, KEEP SMILING is down to 105 from 108, and lastly ESCAPE CLUB was dropped from 94 to 92.
- New Turf Carriers Darley Arabian (Handicap) (Listed)
GURU’S PRIDE has had his rating raised from 94 to 102 after he ran on well to win the Listed New Turf Carriers Darley Arabian (handicap) over 1600m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack on Saturday.
GURU’S PRIDE was in fact 4 pounds under sufferance at the weights, which was accounted for when applying the new rating. It was 3rd placed MORE MAGIC who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse. Which leaves his rating unchanged on 101, but runner-up DUC D’ORANGE goes up to 101 from 99.
There were no other increases, but several horses were given a drop. INDY GO is down from 99 to 97, HERODOTUS drops from 104 to 102, and lastly LIBERTY HALL was cut from 100 to 97.
Interestingly, in winning this race GURU’S PRIDE established a new course record – which was previously held by runner-up DUC D’ORANGE.
- Terrance Millard Umngeni Handicap (Listed)
CELTIC VOYAGER has had his rating raised from 97 to 101 after he won the Listed Terrance Millard Umngeni Handicap over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Polytrack) on Saturday.
Here it was 4th placed GOLIATH HERON who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse and as such he remains unchanged on 100.
2nd placed TRACES goes up from 100 to 101, while 3rd finisher AD ALTISIMA (who was one pound under sufferance at the weights) had his rating raised from 95 to 97.
There were no other increases, but several horses were given a drop. ISHNANA was dropped from 110 to 108, FILIPPO is down from 103 to 100, CHIEF OF STATE goes from 104 to 103, and lastly DI MAZZIO is down from 94 to 92.
Media release by the NHRA on Tuesday 1 September 2020
