The SA Champions Season kicked off in style at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have reported on the three feature race merit rating assessments.
Zapatillas nabs Supreme Warrior on the line (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
- Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas
ZAPATILLAS has had his merit rating raised from 111 to 118 following his success in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 7 May.
The Handicappers were of the view that 6th finisher WATERBERRY LANE made for the most suitable line horse when assessing the race, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 115.
The winner’s new rating makes him equal to 3rd placed POMP AND POWER, who remains on 118 although actually only running to a mark of 117.
Runner-up SUPREME WARRIOR had his rating raised from 97 to 117, making him one pound below the winner, while 4th placed COSMIC HIGHWAY has been picked up from 110 to 116. The only other increase was for 7th placed FIFTY FIVER, who goes up from 101 to 109 to make him at least the equal of the 109-rated 8th finisher SUPER EXCITED.
The Handicappers took into account the fact that the first nine finishers were separated by only some three lengths in a race which was run at a somewhat sedate early pace and chose to use a cautious approach when assessing the event.
There were no ratings drops for any runners in this race.
- Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas
UNDER YOUR SPELL remains unchanged on a rating of 119 following her victory in the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here it was the ever-consistent runner-up SUPREME QUEST who was used as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 108. In assessing the race this way, UNDER YOUR SPELL only runs to a mark of 110, hence her unaltered rating.
There were ratings increases also for 3rd placed Kailene, who is up slightly from 105 to 106, for 4th placed SILVER DARLING, who goes up from 90 to 105 to keep her in line with the 2nd and 3rd finishers, and lastly for 5th placed BON VIVANT, who was raised from 95 to 100.
There were no ratings drops for any runner in this race.
- Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes
SILVER OPERATOR remains unchanged on a rating of 119 following his win in the Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the view that SILVER OPERATOR himself made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this event, hence his unchanged rating.
There were ratings increases also for 2nd placed RUSSIAN ROCK, who is up slightly from 117 to 118, and for 3rd placed SMORGASBORD, who is up from 110 to 118.
Three horses received a ratings drop. PEARL OF ASIA is down from 119 to 117, IKIGAI drops to 108 from 110, and lastly ULTRA MAGNUS is down from 116 to 114.
- Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 10 May 2022
