The NHRA handicappers have published their assessment of the merit ratings after the weekend’s feature action at Kenilworth and Turffontein.
- Gr1 Cape Town Met
RAINBOW BRIDGE has had his rating raised from 132 to 134 after he recorded his second win in the Gr1 Cape Town Met over 2000m on the Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 30 January.
Cape Town Met winner Rainbow Bridge – a 134 after Saturday (Pic -Chase Liebenberg)
As it happens RAINBOW BRIDGE also achieved a mark of 134 when he won the race in 2019, and again when finishing 2nd behind the subsequently retired ONE WORLD in the 2020 renewal of the Met.
It was 2nd placed BELGARION who was used as the line horse to assess the race, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 130, while 3rd placed SOVEREIGN SPIRIT goes up from 106 to 124.
The only other increase was for PRINCESS CALLA, who is up from 116 to 118.
Three horses were given a ratings’ decrease. 4th finisher DO IT AGAIN is down from 131 to 129, CIRILLO was trimmed from 126 to 125, and AFRICAN NIGHT SKY is down from 115 to 110.
- Gr1 Cape Flying Championship
RUN FOX RUN remains unchanged on a mark of 122 following her success in the WFA Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. RUN FOX RUN herself was used as the line horse, along with ERIK THE RED, who accordingly remains unchanged on a rating of 114.
In assessing the race this way, TEMPTING FATE and ELUSIVE TRADER run to their ratings as well, which leaves them unchanged on 113 and 105, respectively.
2nd placed RIO QUERARI is up from 113 to 125, while the only other increase was for CARTEL CAPTAIN, who is up from 107 to 109. There were ratings drops for four horses. 3rd placed CELTIC SEA was cut from 126 to 124, 4th finisher BOLD RESPECT is down from 120 to 118, RUSSET AIR was dropped from 125 to 123, and lastly PACIFIC TRADER goes from 123 to 120.
- Gr1 Majorca Stakes
CAPTAIN’S RANSOM has had her rating raised from 116 to 126 after she ran out a very easy winner of the WFA Gr1 Majorca Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Captain’s Ransom is a 126 after her second Gr1 success (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up CLOUDS UNFOLD had run to the same mark of 119 as when also finishing second in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes three weeks earlier and used this level to rate the Majorca Stakes.
The decision was made to drop CLOUDS UNFOLD from 122 to 120.
Aside from the winner, there were ratings’ increases for two horses. 3rd placed KELPIE is up from 107 to 115, while 4th placed SING OUT LOUD is up from 109 to 111.
KELPIE in fact runs to a mark of 119, but the Handicappers decided to peg her at 115 to keep her higher than 4th placed CHAT CHING, who remains at 114.
Three runners were given a ratings’ drop. SILVANO’S PRIDE is down from 118 to 116, PRETTY YOUNG THING drops to 116 from 118, and lastly THIRD RUNWAY drops from 107 to 104.
- Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers
ATYAAB remains unchanged on a rating of 113 after his success in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the view that ATYAAB – who was the highest rated runner in the race – made for the best line horse, hence his unaltered rating.
Two horses were given a ratings’ increase. Runner-up SILVER HOST goes up from 107 to 110, while 3rd placed CATCHAFALLINGSTAR was raised from 92 to 97.
There were drops for three horses. KAMPALA CAMPARI is down from 108 to 105, MOON IN JUNE drops from 110 to 107, and lastly HOLY WARRIOR is down from 90 to 87.
- Gr3 Politician Stakes
Unbeaten KOMMETDIEDING has had his rating raised from 112 to 117 after he recorded his fourth win from as many starts in the Grade 3 Politician Stakes for three-year-olds over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Smart Kommetdieding goes to a 117 (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Handicappers were of the view that consistent 3rd finisher RASCALLION made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 110.
2nd placed LEGITIMATE has been raised from 81 to 101, 4th finisher HOEDSPRUIT is up from 107 to 108, JUAN CARLOS goes up from 85 to 90, and DUBAI LIGHTS was raised from 91 to 93.
There were ratings drops for three horses. CRIMSON KING is down from 108 to 103, FAST LOVE drops from 92 to 89, and lastly RED LARK drops from 103 to 100.
- Listed Wolf Power 1600 (Handicap)
WHORLY WHORLY has had his rating raised from 104 to 110 after his success in the Listed Wolf Power 1600 (handicap) over the Vaal 1600m, straight course on Saturday. The race was moved from Turffontein for weather-related reasons.
Consistent 3rd placed GOLDEN PHEASANT – who has been beaten by WHORLY WHORLY four times in just over two months – was considered to make for the best line horse and remains unchanged on a mark of 106.
The winner aside, the only other increase was for 2nd placed PACK LEADER, who is up from 109 to 110.
There were drops for three horses. CAPTAIN OF TORTUGA is down from 98 to 97, APPROACH CONTROL drops from 106 to 104, and D’ARRIVEE goes from 93 to 92.
- Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 2 February 2021
