The NHRA Handicappers have published their weekend feature assessments.
- Gr2 Track & Ball Oaks
KEEP ON DANCING has had her merit rating raised from 82 to 88 after she captured the Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks for fillies and mares over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 19 June.
The Handicappers were of the view that ultra-consistent third finisher SILVA MAGIC made for the best line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 85.
Trainer Wendy Whitehead and her team greet Keep On Dancing (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
2nd placed ELECTRIC SURGE was raised from 78 to 85, while 4th finisher MAMA PYJAMA is up from 76 to 82.
There were no other ratings increases, but five horses received a drop. JASMINE is down from 100 to 98, CHITENGO was trimmed from 109 to 108, CATCHAFALLINGSTAR is down to 90 from 92, FLICHITY BY FARR drops from 91 to 88, and lastly CHERRY ROAD goes from 83 to 82,
- Gr3 Track & Ball Derby
SILVER HOST remains unchanged on a mark of 110 following his success in the Gr3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
It was 4th placed FAVOUR who was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 97. In assessing the race this way, the winner only runs to a mark of 104, hence his unaltered rating.
Second placed DREAM DESTINY was raised from 73 to 98, making him one pound higher than the line horse. In fact, DREAM DESTINY runs to a mark of 101, but the Handicappers opted not to take this literally as it reflects major improvement on anything DREAM DESTINY had previously achieved and opted instead to make him a minimal one pound higher than FAVOUR.
There were no other increases, but two horses were given ratings drop. MARCHINGONTOGETHER is down from 102 to 100, while PAYBACKTHEMONEY was dropped from 97 to 92.
- Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup
MASTER SUPREME has seen his rating raised from 77 to 83 following his victory in the Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup over 3200m on the Fairview turf course on Friday, 18 June.
Master Supreme charges home under Stallone Naidoo (Pic – Pauline Herman)
It was 3rd placed AFRICA’S GOLD – who won this race in 2020 – who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 89. In rating the race this way, runner-up STRATHDON also runs to his mark of 105 and remains unchanged, effectively making him a line horse as well.
In winning, MASTER SUPREME actually runs to a mark of 88, but the specific conditions of this race do not permit an increase of more than six pounds for the winner, hence his 83 rating.
The race conditions do not permit any increase in the ratings of placed horses, and so 4th finisher ONESIE (who won this race in 2019, when it was run over 3600m) remains unchanged on 80 even though she runs to a mark of 84.
The only drop was for SAN VERDE, who is down from 78 to 74.
- Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 22 June 2021
