The NHRA handicappers have published their merit rating adjustments after the weekend feature action.
- Gr1 Cape Guineas
RUSSIAN ROCK has had his merit rating upped from 95 to 114 following his success in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas over 1600m on the Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 19 December. The handicappers felt that the ultra-consistent runner-up LINEBACKER made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 112.
3rd placed RASCALLION goes up slightly from 109 to 110, while 4th finisher JET DARK is up from 100 to 109, keeping him one pound below RASCALLION. There were also increases for THE GATEKEEPER, who is up from 104 to 109, and for INVINCABELLE, who was raised from 99 to 106.
Two horses were given a ratings drop, LOOK FOR HOUNDS was trimmed from 96 to 95, while WILLOW EXPRESS is down from 104 to 102.
- Gr2 Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap
NEXUS has had his rating increased from 113 to 117 after he captured the Gr2 Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 4th placed SEVENTH GEAR who was considered to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 103.
Runner-up SUPER SILVANO was raised from 102 to 104, while 3rd placed LOVE HAPPENS goes up from 100 to 102. The only other increase was on CAPTAIN FLINDERS, who was 8 pounds or 4 kgs under sufferance at the weights and who goes from 92 to 96.
Several horses were given a ratings drop. SACHDEV goes from 108 to 107, SILVER HOST was cut from 102 to 101, HERODOTUS is down from 101 to 100, CAT DADDY also drops from 101 to 100, and lastly, KING OF GEMS was dropped from 109 to 107.
Nexus wins the Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap
- Gr3 Cape Racing Victress Stakes
SILVANO’S PRIDE remains unaltered on a rating of 118 after her pillar-to-post success in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes for fillies and mares over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The handicappers felt that 4th placed RATTLE MOUSE made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on 95, and in fact by rating the race in this way, SILVANO’S PRIDE only runs to a mark of 112, six pounds below her rating.
Only one change was made to the rating of any horse in this event, with runner-up HEART STWINGS being increased from 93 to 106.
- Listed Secretariat Stakes
Undefeated PAISLEY PARK has had his rating increased from 87 to 92 after he posted a second career win from as many starts in the Listed Secretariat Stakes (handicap) for three-year-olds over 1400m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday.
4th placed BOLD JAZZ was used as the line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 91.
Runner-up COPPER MOUNTAIN has had his rating increased from 96 to 100, while 3rd placed INDLAMU goes up from 86 to 89. There were no other increases, but two horses had their ratings dropped. PURPLE PANTHER is down to 88 from 90, while KINGLEY’S HEART drops from 98 to 96.
Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 22 December 2020
