The Cape feature Saturday provided drama and thrills for racing fans. The NHA Handicappers were also kept busy and have published their feature MR adjustments report.
- Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas
CHANSONETTE has had her merit rating raised from 104 to 110 following her success in the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m on the summer course at Kenilworth on Saturday 4th December.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that 5th placed MARIA QUEROL made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 101.
The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that the 117-rated runner-up DESERT MIRACLE should not be used as a line horse as she appeared to race green on her first attempt on a left-handed racecourse and as such did not want to greatly inflate the rating of every other runner in the race and are content for now to leave her on a higher mark than the winner.
Third placed HOMELY GIRL goes up from 94 to 105, while 4th finisher MERCURY RISING also goes to 105 (from 101) as they both beat the line horse MARIA QUEROL (101) by 4 pounds.
The only other increase was for 6th placed SHE’S A RAINBOW, is adjusted to 97. This is to give her a higher rating than 7th placed DANCETILDAYLIGHT (unchanged on 96) and 8th finisher QUEEN OF SHADOWS (unchanged on 94).
There were no ratings drops for any horse in this race.
- Gr2 WSB Live Casino Southern Cross Stakes
KITTY CAT CHAT has had her rating raised from 98 to 107 after her victory in the Gr2 WSB Live Casino Southern Cross Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers believed that the ever-consistent runner-up CAPITANA made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this race, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 106.
Other ratings increases were for 3rd placed SANTA MARIA, who goes up from 100 to 106, and for 5th finisher FAVORITA, who was raised from 101 to 104.
The only ratings drop was for VERNICHEY, who is down from 120 to 119.
- Gr2 WSB Club Prive Green Point Stakes
SEEKING THE STARS remains unchanged on a mark of 121 following his win in the Gr2 WSB Club Prive Green Point Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Seeking The Stars beats Rainbow Bridge and Linebacker in a tactical affair (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
It was in fact the enterprisingly ridden SEEKING THE STARS himself who was deemed to make for the best line horse, considering that only SEEKING THE STARS and last placed CAPTAIN FONTANE had had at least one previous start this season.
Given that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed finishers in a 5-runner field were all making their seasonal debuts, the Handicappers opted not to decrease the merit rating of any of these contestants.
- Gr3 Bet With The Best Cape Summer Stayers Handicap
CROME YELLOW has had his rating increased from 108 to 110 after he won the Gr3 Bet With The Best Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m at Kenilworth on Saturday for a second year in succession. It was runner-up BLACK KNAP who was deemed to make for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 102.
The winner aside, the only other increase was for 4th placed HOLY WARRIOR, who was 4 pounds or 2 kgs under sufferance at the weights and who goes up from 90 to 93.
There were ratings drops for three horses. CATCHAFALLINGSTAR is down from 97 to 95, RETRO EFFECT is down to 91 to 93, and lastly MAGNIFICENT SEVEN drops from 103 to 101.
Media release by the National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 7 December 2021
