Dean Kannemeyer star Green With Envy was adjusted to a rating of 127 from 123 following his success in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 run over 2000m on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 25 May.
The Handicappers believed that MID WINTER WIND made for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remained unchanged on 116.
Craig Zackey is all smiles as the DKR team welcome Green With Envy after his courageous Daily News win (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
It was also considered that MID WINTER WIND was attempting the 2000m trip for the first time in his career and felt the evidence suggested that he saw out the extra distance comfortably.
MID WINTER WIND did appear to at least confirm his 5th place in the Grade 2 KZN Guineas in this event when also finishing in 5th place. Furthermore, the Handicappers also observed his official sectional time (courtesy of Hollywoodbets) found on the gallop.co.za website is as follows:
As is evident above, MID WINTER WIND produced a 800m to finish time of 47.951 in the KZN Guineas(1600m) and 47.861 in the Daily News 2000 (2000m) and a 400m to finish time of 23.159 in the KZN Guineas (1600m) and 23.274 in the Daily News 2000 (2000m). Given the factual evidence at hand, the Handicappers feel that MID WINTER WIND comfortably stayed the distance as a matter of fact.
In rating the race using MID WINTER WIND as the line, PURE PREDATOR runs to a rating of 116 which is a rating he achieved in the Grade 1 SA Classic and the Grade 1 SA Derby, this effectively makes him a line horse as well and there are certainly no stamina doubts about this horse who has been a model of consistency.
The previously unexposed runner up, FLAG MAN was adjusted to 126 from 92. His improvement here can be attributed to the fact that he has gone from winning a Middle Stakes race to narrowly losing a Grade 1 event. The 3rd place finisher, BARBARESCO was increased to 122 from 109 and has also recorded his 1st Grade 1 placing. These adjustments placed the top 3 horses in the correct Handicap rankings with PURE PREDATOR (119) and MID WINTER WIND (116).
HLUHLUWE was given a 1-point drop from 117 to 116 so that he is not rated higher than the 116 rated MID WINTER WIND. The only other horse to have received a change in rating was WILLIAM IRON ARM who was dropped to 114 from 117.
Please note that the connections of the winner, GREEN WITH ENVY, have lodged an appeal against the merit rating adjustment he received for this event. The NHA will do a press release after the appeal is heard by an independent appeals panel.
Tabgold Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1)
SILVER SANCTUARY remained unaltered on a rating of 116 after she won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here, the Handicappers believed that the winner made for the most suitable line horse, hence her unchanged rating.
In arriving at this decision, the Handicappers took into consideration that this race was run at a very sedate pace, this is evident in the fact that the time recorded for this event was 2.17 seconds slower than the time recorded for the Grade 1 Daily News 2000.
Runner-up HOLD MY HAND, who was the only runner to receive a rating increase in this event, was raised from 108 to 114.
The only horse to receive a drop in ratings was MY SOUL MATE, who dropped from 115 to 113.
Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Handicap) (Listed)
DOWN TO BUSINESS has had his rating raised from 98 to 101 after winning the Listed Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (handicap) over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Down To Business registers his first SA win under Tristan Godden (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Handicappers believed that the runner-up RAISEAHALLELUJAH made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on 99. In assessing the race this way 3rd finisher BARATHEON ran to a mark of 98 and 4th finisher INDIAN OCEAN ran to a mark of 95 and were both accordingly adjusted to their performance figures.
The only other horse to receive an increase in ratings was PIRATE PRINCE, who was adjusted to 92 from 89.
Two horses received drops to their ratings, NEBRAAS was dropped to 106 from 108 and GOOD COUNCIL was dropped to 103 from 105.
Pocket Power Stakes (Grade 3)
THE FUTURIST was adjusted to a rating of 104 from 98 after emphatically winning the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (winter course) on Sunday.
The Handicappers felt that OTTO LUYKEN made for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remained unchanged on 97. The winner was protected by a 6-point merit rating cap due to the specific race conditions which state that the first three finishers may receive up to a maximum of a 6-point increment.
In any case, the Handicappers were not going to take the 9,25 lengths winning margin literally given this horse’s overall profile and the probability that THE FUTURIST may well be flattered by an enterprising ride.
Three horses received a drop in ratings, NAVY STRENGTH was dropped to 101 from 102, FLOWER OF SAIGON dropped to 102 from 104 and FUTURE PRINCE was restored to 95 from 100 after failing to confirm the increment he received for his performance in the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile.
Stormsvlei Stakes (Listed)
RED PALACE remained unchanged on a mark of 108 after leading from start to finish to land the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (winter course) on Sunday.
PRINCESS IZZY was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse and she remained unchanged on a rating of 99. The runner up, LOVE IS A ROSE was increased from 101 to 104 after shouldering top weight while the 3rd placed TIME FOR LOVE was adjusted to 94 from 88. TIME FOR LOVE actually ran to a higher mark but her rating was capped to a 6 point increase due to the specific condition that state the first three finishers may only incur and increment of up to 6 points.
The following horses received drop in ratings, BROADWAY GIRL is down to 87 from 88, WINDRUNNER dropped to 83 from 86 and DOUBLE CHECK dropped to 85 from 88.
Milkwood Stakes (Listed)
PARIS LASS received an increase from 94 to 103 after she won the Listed Milkwood Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m on the Polytrack at Fairview on Friday. The race was originally scheduled for the turf course but was moved to the Polytrack because of weather-related reasons for the 2nd year running.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers felt that 3rd placed GIMME’S LASSIE made for the most suitable line horse, and she remained on a rating of 101. In rating the race this way, the runner-up THREE ROCKS ran below her rating hence her unchanged rating of 109.
The only other horse to receive and increase in the ratings was MISS GREENLIGHT, who was given a marginal increase from 88 to 92.
Three horses received drops to their ratings, GOLDEN PACIFIC was dropped to 100 from 101, ANCIENT EPIC was dropped from 90 to 88 and AUNTY LIZZY was dropped from 88 to 86.
- Media release by the National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 28 May 2024.
