The NHRA Handicappers have published their assessments of the merit rating adjustments following the weekend racing.
- Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (WFA)
GOT THE GREENLIGHT remains unchanged on a rating of 124 following his win in the Grade 1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (WFA) over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 3 April.
Got The Greenlight wins his second start of the season (Pic – JC Photos)
It was GOT THE GREENLIGHT who was used as the line horse when assessing this race, albeit that he was used to the 122 he achieved when finishing second in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes on his seasonal debut four weeks earlier.
The Handicappers opted to go the slightly more lenient route when rating the race as, after moving through the field effortlessly to obtain the lead, GOT THE GREENLIGHT appeared to idle in front and needed encouragement to complete his task. It was felt that using the winner to his best would possibly inflate the placed runners as they may be flattered by their proximity to the winner.
2nd placed COPPER MOUNTAIN was raised from 113 to 121, while the only other increase was for 3rd finisher TIERRA DEL FUEGO, who is up from 110 to 116. Two horses were given a rating’s drop. IKIGAI is down from 118 to 115, while CHIJMES drops from 114 to 111.
- Gr1 World Sports Betting SA Derby
MALMOOS has had his rating raised from 120 to 125 after he rounded off the Triple Crown with a very easy win in the Gr1 World Sports Betting over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Malmoos is up to 125 (Pic – JC Photos)
The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 3rd finisher SECOND BASE made for the ideal line horse, given that he was placed behind MALMOOS in all three legs of the Triple Cown. Furthermore, in the Derby, SECOND BASE confirmed the form of the Grade 1 SA Classic with the likes of SHAH AKBAR and BINGWA, making him the ideal candidate for line horse and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 116.
Runner-up PAMUSHANA’S PRIDE was raised from 91 to 116, making him the equal of SECOND BASE, who finished a nose behind him in third.
It was PAMUSHANA’S PRIDE’s first attempt at this sort of distance and there can be no justification for rating him lower than the line horse. 4th placed SHAH AKBAR goes up from 102 to 108, although in fact running to a mark of 113, so that he is at least rated the equal of 5th placed BINGWA, who finished a short head further adrift and who remains unchanged on 108.
There were no other ratings adjustments out of the Derby.
- Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks
WAR OF ATHENA remains unchanged on a mark of 122 after she rounded off the Triple Tiara with victory in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 4th placed MAGICAL FLIGHT – who had earlier finished third behind WAR OF ATHENA in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic in March – who was used as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 98. In assessing the Oaks this way, WAR OF ATHENA runs to 112, fully ten pounds below her rating, and hence the reason for her unchanged mark.
Only one change of any kind was made to the rating of any runner in this event, 2nd placed SPARKLING WATER goes up from 98 to 109.
With the unplaced horses beaten 17 lengths or more and having any stamina doubts exposed in a strongly-run race, it was decided to effectively ignore their performances here and none were given a ratings adjustment.
- Gr3 World Sports Betting Man O’ War Sprint
CELESTIAL LOVE has had her rating increased from 96 to 105 after she ran out an easy winner of the Grade 3 Man O’ War Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was runner-up LAETITIA’S ANGEL who was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 93.
The winner aside, there were no ratings increases for any other runner in this race, while the solitary drop was for SLALOM QUEEN, who is down from 98 to 95.
- Gr3 World Sports Betting Caradoc Gold Cup
AFRICAN ADVENTURE has had his rating raised from 103 to 112 following his very easy success in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m at Turffontein on Saturday.
It was 3rd placed CAPTAIN CHORUS who was used as the line horse, leaving him unaltered on a mark of 90.
The winner was the only horse to receive a rating’s increase out of this race, but there were drops for three horses, OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE is down from 102 to 99, IMPERIAL RUBY drops from 102 to 100, and FACTOR FIFTY was cut from 107 to 105.
- Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes
PRINCESS CALLA remains unchanged on a rating of 118 after she ran out a comfortable winner of the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday 4 April.
It was 5th finisher VIHAAN’S PIE who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 90. In assessing the race this way, PRINCESS CALLA only runs to a mark of 107, eleven pounds below her rating.
4th placed FREESTATE STAR goes up from 87 to 92, while the only other increase was for CHANTY LANE, who is up from 81 to 84. Two fillies were given a rating’s drop. TRICKSTER is down from 102 to 99, and PEANUT BUTTER drops from 80 to 78.
- Gr3 Byerley Turk
SEEKING THE STARS remains unchanged on a rating of 117 after he captured the Gr3 Byerley Turk for three-year-olds over 1400m at Scottsville on Sunday.
In fact, it was SEEKING THE STARS himself who was used as the line horse, hence his unaltered rating.
Only one change was made to the rating of any horse in this event, with 2nd placed VAR’S VICKY going up from 112 to 115.
- Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes
MIRAGE has had her rating upped from 93 to 97 after she won the Listed KwaZulu-Natal Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Scottsville on Sunday.
It was ultra-consistent 3rd placed LINEAR who was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 100.
Three horses were given a drop. Runner-up VERNICHEY was trimmed from 114 to 113, SINGFORAFA is down slightly to 117 from 118, and CANDY GALORE also drops one pound from 96 to 95.
- Media release by NHRA on Wednedsay 7 April 2021
