Puerto Manzano has seen his merit rating increase from 123 to 125 after winning the Gr2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (handicap) over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 28 October.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that BLESS MY STARS made for the ideal line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 119.
The only other increase was for runner-up COUSIN CASEY, who was adjusted from 122 to 123.
BINGWA and MARIGOLD HOTEL were dropped by 1 pound each from 119 to 118 and 107 to 106 respectively.
The following horses were given a 2 pounds drop each, SHOEMAKER was dropped from 114 to 112, DAVE THE KING who failed to confirm his brilliant 3rd place finish in the Champions Cup behind PRINCESS CALLA and SEE IT AGAIN was dropped from 126 to 124, SAFE PASSAGE from 119 to 117 and LADY OF POWER was dropped from 109 to 107. Only one horse was given a 3 pounds drop, SECOND BASE saw his rating cut from 120 to 117.
Gr3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes
MAIN DEFENDER remains on a rating of 121 after winning the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Here it was 3rd placed GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 108.
Main Defender and Sandringham Summit slog it out (Pic – JC Photos)
It must be borne in mind that the top two runners here, conceded 2 and 3 kilograms respectively to their rivals. This explains the significant difference in their ratings over their rivals for 3,25 and more lengths superiority.
In rating the race this way, MAIN DEFENDER only achieves a rating of 119 hence his unchanged rating, SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT was increased to 121 as his performance was calculated to be better than the winner due to the greater penalty, he received at these weight terms for being a Grade 1 winner.
The specific race conditions do not permit increases of more than 4 pounds for the placed runners. Accordingly, THE AFRICA HOUSE had to be capped at a rating of 98 despite actually running to a higher figure.
There were no other changes made to the runners in this race.
Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes
EGYPTIAN MAU has had her rating picked up from 105 to 110 following her win in the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Here it was runner-up WHITE PEARL who was considered to make for the best line horse. The Handicappers believe that WHITE PEARL would not have run worse than the 109 she achieved in her last start and as such used that mark of 109 to rate this race. In doing so, WHITE PEARL goes up from 105 to 109.
The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 pounds for placed runners, LET’S GO NOW was only adjusted to a rating of 95 from 91 despite actually achieving a higher rating.
There were no other changes made in this race.
Listed Golden Loom Handicap
DYCE has had his rating raised from 106 to 116 after emphatically winning the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday.
It was 3rd placed I AM GIANT who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unaltered on a rating of 98.
Runner-up CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT was increased by 4 pounds from 106 to 110 for beating the line horse, I AM GIANT, by 2 lengths.
The only other change was for FULL VELOCITY, who was dropped from 104 to 102.
Listed Allied Steelrode Java Stakes
ZEUS has had his rating raised from 103 to 111 following his success in the Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
It was 3rd placed FLYING BULL who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 96.
In rating the race this way, ZEUS actually runs to a mark of 114 however, the specific race conditions only permit a maximum eight-pounds ratings rise for the winner so, accordingly the prolific ZEUS had to be capped at a rating of 111.
The runner-up BLACK THORN was raised by 3 pounds, from 99 to 102 which he also achieved in his previous start when 2nd in a Middle Stakes, this effectively makes BLACK THORN a line horse as well.
The only runner to receive a drop was last year’s winner ARUMUGAM, who was dropped from 102 to 98 after failing to confirm his Grade 3 Gold Cup run in two subsequent performances.
Gr3 Cape Classic
The hugely progressive QUESTIONING has had his rating raised from 91 to 111 following his win in the Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday.
Questioning and Bernard Fayd’herbe after the Cape Classic victory on Sunday (Pic – JC Photos)
It was 3rd placed GREEN WITH ENVY who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 101.
Runner-up SNOW PILOT was raised to 105 from 95 after beating, the 101 rated, GREEN WITH ENVY at level weights by 2.25 lengths.
GREETING MY MASTER and TENANGO were increased to 95 and 94 respectively so that they meet on correct Handicap terms with GREEN WITH ENVY and ZIL MORRIS in future handicaps, furthermore, their ratings will now also place them in the correct order for elimination purposes.
The following horses received ratings drops, JUST VAR from 94 to 90 and PARATROOPER was dropped to 96 from 97.
There were no other changes to this race.
- Media release by NHA on Tuesday 31 October 2023.
