Paul Matchett’s Eye Of The Prophet has had his merit rating raised from 93 to 113 following his victory in the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 4 February.
The Handicappers were of the view that 4th finisher JIMMY DON made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 105.
The WSB Gauteng Guineas stampede (Pic – JC Photos)
There were also increases for 2nd finisher ROYAL VICTORY, who is up slightly from 111 to 112, and for 3rd placed ELECTRIC GOLD, who goes from 104 to 106. It is worth noting that ELECTRIC GOLD had run to a mark of 106 when finishing 2nd in the Grade 3 London News Stakes at his most recent start, but the specific conditions of that race did not permit for any increase to his merit rating.
The only other increases were for RULE BY FORCE, who goes up from 86 to 102, and for ATTICUS FINCH, who was upped from 88 to 92.
There were drops for two horses. GOLDEN PROSPECT is down from 96 to 91, while ALLEZ MORIS drops from 96 to 90.
Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas
LADY OF POWER has had her rating raised from 91 to 109 after capturing the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Here it was the runner-up FEATHER BOA who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 108.
3rd placed RENY goes up from 86 to 106, while 4th finisher EMIRATE GINA was raised from 99 to 105. EMIRATE GINA only raced here off a pre-rating of 99 due to the 6 pounds cap she enjoyed for her win in the Fillies Mile (Grade 3) where she actually achieved a performance figure of 108. There were also increases for BLESS MY STARS, who is up from 101 to 103, and for TIPSY TARRAGON, who is up from 95 to 101.
TIPSY TARRAGON had run to 101 when finishing 2nd at her last start in a Graduation Plate where her rating could not be raised, and a mark of 101 makes her correctly rated relative to the 97-rated BONETE, who finished four pounds behind TIPSY TARRAGON on Saturday.
The only other increase was for KINKY BOOTS, who is up from 82 to 88. KINKY BOOTS had achieved a considerably higher rating when finishing 2nd in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes five weeks earlier, but the specific conditions of that race did not allow for any increase in her rating.
The only drop was for ROCK THE FOX, who is down from 102 to 99.
Gr3 WSB Tommy Hotspur Stakes
ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES has had his rating raised from 104 to 110 after winning the Grade 3 Tommy Hotspur Stakes over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed Big Burn made for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 115.
In assessing the race this way ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES actually runs to a mark of 115, but the specific race conditions only allow for a maximum six-pound increase in the winner’s rating, and no increase at all for any other runner. Accordingly, 2nd placed FAR AWAY WINTER and 4th finisher DANILO DANILOVITCH remain unchanged on ratings of 102 and 103, respectively, despite actually running to marks of 112 and 106, respectively.
There were drops for three horses. VAL D’ORCIA is down from 110 to 108, VASEEM was trimmed from 105 to 104, and lastly SMORGASBORD drops to 114 from 117.
- Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 7 February 2023
