The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have published their rating adjustments for the past weekend’s features.
- Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes
SMORGASBORD has had his merit rating raised from 106 to 110 following his win in the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes over the straight 1160m course at Turffontein on Saturday 12 March.
Smorgasboard wins the Senor Santa (Pic – JC Photos)
The Handicappers were of the view that 5th finisher CAPTAIN OUPIE made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this event in the firm belief that he would not have run below his best against a field of this nature, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 104.
The winner aside, the only other increase was for 2nd placed WARRIOR’S REST, who goes up from 107 to 112.
There were however ratings drops for four horses. 3rd placed UNDER YOUR SPELL is down slightly from 115 to 114, 4th finisher TRUE TO LIFE goes from 115 to 113, ULTRA MAGNUS is down from 118 to 116, and lastly CELESTIAL LOVE drops to 113 from 116.
- Listed Drum Star Handicap
ZILLZAAL has had his rating increased from 113 to 117 after he captured the Listed Drum Star Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein (standside track) on Saturday.
Here the Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 4th placed DONALD MCDONALD made for the correct line horse, leaving him with an unaltered rating of 102.
There were slight increases for 2nd placed SHANGO, who goes from 108 to 109, and 3rd finisher NEBRAAS, who is up from 103 to 104. No other horses received a rating’s increase, but no fewer than six runners were given a drop.
JOHNNY HERO has not come close in two subsequent starts to matching the 115 he achieved when he finished a close 2nd in the Grade 3 London News Stakes on 1 January and has had his rating cut from 113 to 110.
TIERRA DEL FUEGO is down slightly from 106 to 105, MARCHINGONTOGETHER was trimmed from 111 to 110, EXPRESSFROMTHEUS drops from 108 to 105, YOUCANTHURRYLOVE also drops from 108 to 105, and lastly AFRICAN ADVENTURE is down to 107 from 110.
- Listed Derby Trial
LITIGATION has had his rating raised from 91 to 97 following his success in the Listed Derby Trial for three-year-olds over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd finisher MY MASTER made for the most suitable line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 84.
The specific conditions of this race do not permit for the winner to be raised by more than six pounds and allow for no increase in the rating of any other horses. In assessing the race this way, LITIGATION actually achieves a rating of 98, but he could only be raised the maximum six pounds, hence his new mark of 97.
Runner-up TABEBUIA actually achieved a rating of 85, but as no increase in his rating is permitted, he remains on a mark of 81.
There were no ratings drops for any horse in this event.
- Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial
LIGHT OF THE MOON has had her rating raised from 70 to 76 after her victory in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial for three-year-old fillies over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that 5th placed ONTHEVERGE would not have run worse than the net 63 she achieved last time out when 4th in a FM 72 Handicap over 1800m and was accordingly adjusted to a gross 72 (net 63).
As with the DERBY TRIAL, the specific conditions of this race preclude the winner from being raised by more than six pounds and do not allow for any increase in the rating of any other runner.
As such, LIGHT OF THE MOON was raised the maximum six pounds to 76 even though she actually ran to a mark of 85 and PRINCESS KESH was left unaltered on a rating of 83 despite achieving a race rating of 90.
There were ratings drops for two other fillies. TRUMP MY QUEEN drops to 78 from 80, and GREENGROWTHELILACS was dropped from 78 to 76.
- Media release by the National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 15 March 2022.
