Handicapping Ratings Update

Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1)

MK’S PRIDE remains unchanged on a rating of 122 after he captured the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 2 April. The Handicappers took the view that MK’S PRIDE himself made for the most suitable line horse when assessing this event, hence his unaltered rating. In assessing the race this way, 4th placed ASTRIX runs to his mark of 112, which effectively make him a line horse as well and which leaves his rating unchanged too.

The only ratings increase was for runner-up PUERTO MANZANO, who goes up from 111 to 120. The only ratings drop was for BINGWA, who is down slightly from 118 to 117.

WSB SA Derby (Grade 1)

ARAGOSTA remains unchanged on a mark of 109 following his victory in the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was ARAGOSTA himself who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse, which explains his unaltered rating.

All three of the placed horses received a rating’s increase. 2nd placed ZEUS is up from 99 to 108, third placed LONDON ROADS was raised from 80 to 100, and 4th finisher LITIGATION goes up from 97 to 99.

There were no ratings drops for any runners in this race.

Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (Grade 2)

RAIN IN HOLLAND remains unchanged on a rating of 118 after she completed a clean sweep of the Triple Tiara events by winning the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed EVENING PRIMROSE made for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 81. In assessing the race this way, 5th finisher GREENGROWTHELILACS also runs to her rating, making her a line horse as well and leaving her unaltered on a rating of 76.

In rating the race this way, RAIN IN HOLLAND only runs to a mark of 93, well below her 118 rating, and this is the reason for her unchanged mark.

Runner-up LIGHT OF THE MOON goes up from 76 to 92 (LIGHT OF THE MOON actually achieved a rating of 85 in her previous start, however, the specific conditions of Oaks Trial 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 and as such, LIGHT OF THE MOON was raised the maximum six pounds to 76). 4th placed ONTHEVERGE, was raised from 72 to 77.

The only drop was for last placed CLAFOUTIS, who is down from 105 to 102 to leave her rated lower than 8th placed ETERNITY RING, who remains unchanged on 103.

WSB Man O’ War Sprint (Grade 3)

MASTER ARCHIE has had his rating raised from 114 to 120 following his success in the Grade 3 WSB Man O’ War Sprint for three-year-olds over the straight 1100m course at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimously of the view that 3rd placed SOUND OF WARNING made for the best line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 111.

The winner aside, the only other increase was for runner-up CLEAVER GREENE, who goes up from 90 to 103.

There were no ratings drops for any of the runners in this event.

WSB Caradoc Gold Cup (Grade 3)

NEBRAAS has had his rating raised from 104 to 110 after he landed the Grade 3 WSB Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was the consistent 3rd placed finisher GREEN HAZE who was deemed to make for the ideal line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 100.

The specific conditions of the race do not allow for an increase in the rating of any horse other than the winner. Accordingly, runner-up BLACK THORN is unchanged on a rating of 91 even though he actually runs to a mark of 99.

Two horses were given a rating’s drop. 4th placed IMPERIAL RUBY is down from 106 to 104, while AFRICAN ADVENTURE goes down from 107 to 102.

Umzimkhulu Stakes (Grade 3)

SUPREME QUEST remains unchanged on a mark of 108 following her win in the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m on the Greyville turf course on Sunday 3 April. The race meeting, originally scheduled for Scottsville, was relocated to Greyville because of inclement weather.

It was SUPREME QUEST herself who was deemed to make for the best line horse, hence her unchanged rating. Runner-up KAILENE was picked up from 102 to 105, while the only other increase was for 5th placed SASHAY AWAY, who goes up from 89 to 92. SASHAY AWAY in fact runs to a mark of 99, but the Handicappers were reluctant to take this at face value especially given that there were only seven runners in the race and opted instead for a partial ratings increase.

There were ratings drops for two fillies, with 3rd placed BOLD ACT down from 105 to 103 and 4th finisher MERCURY RISING being cut from 105 to 101.

Byerley Turk (Grade 3)

WATERBERRY LANE has his merit rating raised from 111 to 115 after his success in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk for three-year-olds over 1400m at Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 4th placed FIFTY FIVER who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 101.

Runner-up HASTA MANANA was raised from 97 to 104, while the only other increase was for PASSAGE OF POWER, who is up from 75 to 86. PASSAGE OF POWER actually runs to a mark of 97, but the Handicappers were reluctant to take this literally and instead opted to pick him up by half the achieved improvement, 86 being half way between his old rating of 75 and his achieved 97.

The only drop was for WILLIAM ROBERTSON, who is down slightly from 105 to 104 to make him equal to – in preference to higher than – runner-up HASTA MANANA.

Kings Cup (Listed)

CAT DADDY had his rating increased from 101 to 106 after his success in the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m at Greyville on Sunday. It was 4th placed ORIGAMI who was used as the line horse here, which leaves his rating unchanged on 91. In assessing the race this way, 3rd placed NATIVE TONGUE also runs to his mark, which effectively makes him a line horse as well and leaves him unaltered on a rating of 107.

The winner aside, the only other increase was for 2nd placed SHAMPOMPO SHAMPIZI, who goes up from 89 to 93.

There were drops for no fewer than five horses. SPRING FLING is down from 93 to 91, LOVE BOMB drops from 96 to 92, CHIJMES is down to 94 from 97, MATTERHORN is down slightly from 101 to 100, and lastly PRICELESS RULER was cut from 105 to 100.

Kwazulu-Natal Stakes (Listed)

FULL VELOCITY has seen her rating adjusted from 95 to 99 following her victory in the Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Greyville on Sunday. It was 3rd placed VARVACIOUS who was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 86. In rating the race this way, 4th finisher AREA FIFTY ONE runs to her mark of 86, which effectively makes her a line horse as well and which leaves her rating unchanged.

There were no rating increases for any horse other than the winner, but no fewer than five runners received a drop. KEEP THE LIGHTS ON is down from 98 to 95, LADY CATHERINE goes from 86 to 84, VIHAAN’S PIE is down to 94 from 99, CIVIL RIGHTS drops from 88 to 83, and lastly SWEET SYMPHONY goes from 80 to 78.