PRESS RELEASE
HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATE
Lebelo Sprint (Handicap) (Grade 3)
ANNA CAPRI has had her merit rating raised from 109 to 112 following her success in the Grade 3 Lebelo Sprint (handicap) over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Tuesday 28 December. The race, originally scheduled for Monday 27 December, was postponed because of inclement weather.
The Handicappers felt that runner-up GALLIC PRINCESS made for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 114. In assessing the race this way, 3rd finisher BARD OF AVON (who was 3 pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights) runs to his rating of 105, which leaves his mark unchanged and which effectively makes him a line horse as well.
The winner aside, there were no other ratings increases, but five horses were given a ratings drop. INVIDIA is down from 105 to 104, MIND READER drops from 105 to 103, RAPID FIRE is down to 99 from 101, VARS VICKY was cut from 115 to 112, and lastly SINGFORAFA drops from 119 to 116.
Flamboyant Stakes (Grade 3)
ZIMBABA remains unchanged on a rating of 106 after she captured the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m on the Greyville turf track on Sunday 26 December. It was 2nd placed MOUNT LAUREL who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 104. Rating the race this way, ZIMBABA runs to her mark of 106, effectively making her a line horse as well and explaining her unchanged mark.
3rd placed LYRICAL DANCE was raised from 95 to 98, while the only other increase was for 7th placed ANOTHER LOVE, who goes up from 87 to 93 to make her the equal of 8th placed GLORY DAYS, the two having met here at level weights.
There were ratings drops for five runners. 4th placed LOVE BOMB is down from 106 to 104, FREESTATE STAR drops from 105 to 102, PETRA was trimmed from 94 to 93, AISLING is down slightly to 92 from 93, and lastly, LA QUINTA drops from 91 to 90.
Christmas Stakes (Listed)
IKIGAI has seen his rating upped from 107 to 110 after he won the Listed Christmas Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Sunday. Here, both 4th placed TREAD SWIFTLY and 5th finisher GENTLEMAN’S WAGER were used as line horses, leaving them unchanged on ratings of 95 and 103, respectively.
The specific conditions of the race do not allow for an increase in the rating of any horse other than the winner. Accordingly, 3rd finisher SOUND OF SUMMER remains on 103, although achieving a mark of 104, while 6th placed LET’S TWIST AGAIN remains on a mark of 80 even though he actually runs to a rating of 102.
However, three horses received a ratings drop. Runner-up TRISTFUL was given a slight drop from 113 to 112, SIR MICHAEL is down from 92 to 90, and lastly NEWS STREAM goes from 95 to 93.
ADDENDUM
Victress Stakes (Grade 3)
The Handicappers reviewed and adjusted the original manner in which they assessed the Grade 3 Victress Stakes for fillies and mares, run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday 18 December. It was agreed that 5th placed SO FLAWLESS made for a better line horse than the original choice of winner MARINA. In rating the race this way, MARINA now runs to 104, four pounds below her rating of 108, but nevertheless she remains unchanged on that mark of 108. SO FLAWLESS stays unaltered on a mark of 96.
2nd placed RAIN IN NEWMARKET now goes up from 102 to 103, while 3rd placed VERONICA MARS (who carried one pound or half-a-kilo overweight) goes up from 96 to 99.
There was a bigger drop for SCENTED MISTRESS, who now goes from 108 to 96.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
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