Handicapping ratings update

WSB Legal Eagle Stakes (Grade 3)

GEM KING (pictured above) has had his merit rating raised from 98 to 104 following his success in the Grade 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes for three-year-olds over 1800m on the winter course at Kenilworth on Saturday 21 May.

The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that ultra-consistent third finisher FUTURE PRINCE made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 97.

Runner-up WINCHESTER MANSION was raised from 85 to 99, while fourth placed BARATHEON and fifth finisher NAVY STRENGTH go up to 90 and 85 from 84 and 76, respectively. In the case of the latter two, the Handicappers were of the view that both horses may have been somewhat flattered by their proximity to the principals at the finish and opted to raise them both by half of the achieved amount.

In rating the race the way it is, Baratheon and Navy Strength actually run to marks of 97 and 94 respectively.

The only drop was for PACAYA, who is down from 105 to 100.

WSB Stormsvlei Stakes (Listed)

MARIA QUEROL remains unchanged on a rating of 96 following her success in the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Here it was third placed PEUT ETRE MOI who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 84. In rating the race this way, MARIA QUEROL only runs to a mark of 87, hence her unaltered rating.

Second placed FLEETING goes up from 79 to 85, making her 1 pound higher than PEUT ETRE MOI, whom she beat by one pound at level weights.

There were no other ratings increases from this race, but two fillies were given a drop. Fourth finisher GOING UP drops from 94 to 92, while SHE’S A RAINBOW is down from 97 to 90. These two were given drops because they both failed to repeat what they had shown in the very slow-run (and thus false-run) Sweet Chestnut Stakes run at Kenilworth on 24 April.

The Handicappers took a conservative view when assessing the Sweet Chestnut Stakes and that approach was justified by the result of the Stormsvlei Stakes as observed by the form reversals.