Russian Rock 114

PRESS RELEASE

DOMESTIC RATINGS UPDATE

● Cape Guineas (Grade 1)

RUSSIAN ROCK has had his merit rating upped from 95 to 114 following his success in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas over 1600m on the Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 19 December. The handicappers felt that the ultra-consistent runner-up LINEBACKER made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 112.

3rd placed RASCALLION goes up slightly from 109 to 110, while 4th finisher JET DARK is up from 100 to 109, keeping him one pound below RASCALLION. There were also increases for THE GATEKEEPER, who is up from 104 to 109, and for INVINCABELLE, who was raised from 99 to 106.

Two horses were given a ratings drop, LOOK FOR HOUNDS was trimmed from 96 to 95, while WILLOW EXPRESS is down from 104 to 102.

● Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap (Grade 2)

NEXUS has had his rating increased from 113 to 117 after he captured the Grade 2 Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 4th placed SEVENTH GEAR who was considered to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 103.

Runner-up SUPER SILVANO was raised from 102 to 104, while 3rd placed LOVE HAPPENS goes up from 100 to 102. The only other increase was on CAPTAIN FLINDERS, who was 8 pounds or 4 kgs under sufferance at the weights and who goes from 92 to 96.

Several horses were given a ratings drop. SACHDEV goes from 108 to 107, SILVER HOST was cut from 102 to 101, HERODOTUS is down from 101 to 100, CAT DADDY also drops from 101 to 100, and lastly, KING OF GEMS was dropped from 109 to 107.

● Cape Racing Victress Stakes (Grade 3)

SILVANO’S PRIDE remains unaltered on a rating of 118 after her pillar-to-post success in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes for fillies and mares over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. The handicappers felt that 4th placed RATTLE MOUSE made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on 95, and in fact by rating the race in this way, SILVANO’S PRIDE only runs to a mark of 112, six pounds below her rating.

Only one change was made to the rating of any horse in this event, with runner-up HEART STWINGS being increased from 93 to 106.

● Secretariat Stakes (Handicap) (Listed)

Undefeated PAISLEY PARK has had his rating increased from 87 to 92 after he posted a second career win from as many starts in the Listed Secretariat Stakes (handicap) for three-year-olds over 1400m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday. 4th placed BOLD JAZZ was used as the line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 91.

Runner-up COPPER MOUNTAIN has had his rating increased from 96 to 100, while 3rd placed INDLAMU goes up from 86 to 89. There were no other increases, but two horses had their ratings dropped. PURPLE PANTHER is down to 88 from 90, while KINGLEY’S HEART drops from 98 to 96.

Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team

Imo the ratings for the Guineas are about 8 to 10 points too high - time will tell :huh:

Frodo wrote: Imo the ratings for the Guineas are about 8 to 10 points too high - time will tell :huh:

I can't agree. Jet Dark ran 100 in open company previous start where he seemed to need the run, and got going late to beat the underrated Jean's Man. I had him at 104 before the Guineas. Malmoos got his rating of 110 in an open handicap at his second start. Linebacker and Rascallion have been consistently in the places in the feature races. So while the false pace of the Guineas does cast doubt over the relative ratings on the day, I have no doubt that all of Malmoos, Linebacker, Seeking the Stars and Rascallion are currently 110 plus. I think the handicappers had no choice but to put Russian Rock above Linebacker. All of these can and should improve further, as most of them only have 5 or 6 runs under the belt.
I think that Kommetdieding is currently underrated on 104.

PeterD wrote:

Frodo wrote: Imo the ratings for the Guineas are about 8 to 10 points too high - time will tell :huh:

I can't agree. Jet Dark ran 100 in open company previous start where he seemed to need the run, and got going late to beat the underrated Jean's Man. I had him at 104 before the Guineas. Malmoos got his rating of 110 in an open handicap at his second start. Linebacker and Rascallion have been consistently in the places in the feature races. So while the false pace of the Guineas does cast doubt over the relative ratings on the day, I have no doubt that all of Malmoos, Linebacker, Seeking the Stars and Rascallion are currently 110 plus. I think the handicappers had no choice but to put Russian Rock above Linebacker. All of these can and should improve further, as most of them only have 5 or 6 runs under the belt.
I think that Kommetdieding is currently underrated on 104.

I won't put money on it, but I THINK they are all too high - based on the Concorde Cup, where runners like Hoedspruit, Red Lark and Noir's Boy all would have had to run around 10 points above their ratings for Malmoos and Linebacker to have achieved 110+ .... time will tell

Although, the slow pace, my view is that Russian Rock will have been a very unlucky loser. Grant Behr did very well to re gather him because at the approximately the 300m mark, Linebacker drifted inwards impeding Russian Rock when making his run.

Despite winning at long odds first time, the next outing he ran second to the hyped about horse Speed Machine. He also ran third to the much talked about Kommetdieding, who could be anything. Russian Rock rating prior to the Guineas made us look elsewhere but I think he is a very smart horse.

On another note, Bequest is rated 97 now. Found extra when challenged.

naresh wrote: Although, the slow pace, my view is that Russian Rock will have been a very unlucky loser. Grant Behr did very well to re gather him because at the approximately the 300m mark, Linebacker drifted inwards impeding Russian Rock when making his run.

Despite winning at long odds first time, the next outing he ran second to the hyped about horse Speed Machine. He also ran third to the much talked about Kommetdieding, who could be anything. Russian Rock rating prior to the Guineas made us look elsewhere but I think he is a very smart horse.

You could be right - I am not convinced yet; from riding arrangements, I for one thought that Silvano's Timer was the stable elect; also in his previous start behind Kommetdieding, RR finished a short-head in front of Sachdev - who has not won in ages, and once again disappointed on Saturday - but as I said - time will tell :huh:

Frodo wrote:

naresh wrote: Although, the slow pace, my view is that Russian Rock will have been a very unlucky loser. Grant Behr did very well to re gather him because at the approximately the 300m mark, Linebacker drifted inwards impeding Russian Rock when making his run.

Despite winning at long odds first time, the next outing he ran second to the hyped about horse Speed Machine. He also ran third to the much talked about Kommetdieding, who could be anything. Russian Rock rating prior to the Guineas made us look elsewhere but I think he is a very smart horse.

You could be right - I am not convinced yet; from riding arrangements, I for one thought that Silvano's Timer was the stable elect; also in his previous start behind Kommetdieding, RR finished a short-head in front of Sachdev - who has not won in ages, and once again disappointed on Saturday - but as I said - time will tell :huh:

At the moment Sachdev rated 107 more of a July horse. They will run him in races not to incur a huge penalty like the Greyville 1900 maximum 6 points for a win. Rainbow Bridge and company rated 134 and below. Will come in with 53kgs. Note Belgarion, African Night Sky when they did almost similar.

Interestingly Super Silvano not gelded as yet and is 4 years. Rated 104 at the moment and another July contender. I think they will make this horse also to fly under the radar.

I see Russian Rock was gelded last week