After another big weekend of feature racing countrywide, the NHA have published the merit rating adjustments.
- Gr1 WSB SA Classic
RED SAXON has had his merit rating raised from 107 to 118 following his success in the Gr1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 5 March.
The Handicappers took the view that 5th placed ARAGOSTA made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 109.
Red Saxon and trainer Joey Soma (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
There were increases also for runner-up SAFE PASSAGE, who goes from 116 to 117, for 3rd finisher CAPTAIN LANNISTER, who goes up from 105 to 115, and for 4th placed SUPER EXCITED, who was raised from 107 to 109.
There were no other ratings increases, and there were no drops for any of the runners in this event.
- Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic
RAIN IN HOLLAND has had her rating raised from 115 to 118 after her victory in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Here it was the runner-up SPRINKLES who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, especially given that she had also finished 2nd behind RAIN IN HOLLAND in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas in February, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 110.
3rd placed PERFECT WITNESS was raised from 103 to 109, while 5th finisher DEFINITELY MAYBE was picked up from 79 to 92. DEFINITELY MAYBE in fact ran to a mark of 105, but the Handicappers chose not to take this literally and only gave her half of the achieved adjustment – 92 being halfway between 79 and 105.
This adjustment makes her higher that the 88 rated LOOK YOURSELF which she beat by 2.5 lengths at level weights.
There were drops for two fillies. 4th placed DESERT MIRACLE was cut from 117 to 115, while ETERNITY RING drops to 103 from 105.
- Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes
AL MUTHANA has had his rating raised from 115 to 122 after his success in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Handicappers were unanimously of the view that 4th placed BINGWA made for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 118.
In rating the race this way, 5th finisher PUERTO MANZANO also runs to his mark of 111, effectively making him a line horse as well.
The only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed FREED FROM DESIRE, who goes up from 110 to 116.
There were drops for two horses. VARS VICKY was trimmed from 109 to 108, while CIRILLO is down from 116 to 114.
- Gr3 WSB Club Prive Acacia Stakes
PIN UP has had her rating increased from 89 to 93 after she won the Grade 3 WSB Club Prive Acacia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up ROUGE ALLURE who was considered to make for most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 90.
Pin Up wins in good style (Pic – JC Photos)
The specific conditions of this event do not permit an increase in the rating of any horse except the winner, and as such 3rd placed OPERA GLASS remains on 84 despite actually achieving a mark of 86.
There were ratings drops for no fewer than five horses. 4th placed SEEHAAM is down from 99 to 98, SENTBYDESTINY goes from 102 to 100, SARAGON drops to 90 from 93, ROSAPRIMA was dropped from 90 to 88, and lastly VICTORIA PAIGE is down from 101 to 98.
- Listed Wsb.co.za Aquanaut Handicap
SHANGANI has had his rating increased from 98 to 105 after he captured the Listed wsb.co.za Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was runner-up GREEN HAZE who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 100.
3rd placed BLACK THORN (who was 4 pounds or 2 kgs under sufferance at the weights) was raised from 87 to 91, while 4th finisher BARAK (who was 10 pounds or 5 kgs under sufferance at the weights) goes up from 80 to 88.
There were no other increases, but two horses were given a rating’s drop. OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE is down from 104 to 102, while DON’T LOOK BACK drops from 98 to 95.
- Listed Breeders Guineas
EUROPEANA has seen her rating increase from 77 to 92 after she landed the Listed Breeders Guineas for three-year-old fillies over 1600m on the Fairview turf track on Friday 4 March. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up ZAMBAQ made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 90.
4th placed SWEET THE SOUND is up slightly from 84 to 85, 5th finisher WINTER SCOUT also goes up to 85 (from 83), while DO SI DO was raised from 69 to 74. In rating the race this way DO SI DO in fact runs to a rating of 83, but the Handicappers opted not to take this literally and only gave her partial ratings increase.
There were drops for two horses. TWICE TO HEAVEN is down slightly from 82 to 81, while LOLLAPALOOZA was dropped from 88 to 85.
- Media release by NHA on Tuesday 8 March 2022
