HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATE

Tab Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2)

PARISIAN WALKWAY has had his rating adjusted from 101 to 121 after capturing the Grade 2 Tab Gauteng Guineas for 3-year-olds over 1600m at Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that sixth placed, BACCHUS made for the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unaltered on 101.

The winner aside, there were upward adjustments for three more horses. Runner up, GREATERIX, went up to 120 from 109 and third place finisher, ARISTOTLE, was raised from 94 to 113.  Lastly, MUSICAL SCOREwas adjusted to 104 from 100.

Two horses received merit ratings drops following this race.  LEGEND OF ARTHUR dropped to 109 from 111 and Waheed was reduced to 101 from 105


Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2)

The unbeaten SPUMANTE DOLCE has seen her official merit rating increased from 89 to 119 following her third victory in as many starts in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas for 3-year-olds over 1600m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers opted to use second-placed VJ'S ANGEL as the line horse to rate this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 119.

There were also merit rating increases for five other runners besides the winner. QUID PRO QUO, who finished third, was raised to 118 from 115, while FIERY PEGASUS was increased from 107 to 115.  Additionally, fifth-place finisher POBLANO was adjusted from 93 to 107. TOO LATE MY MATE, and BAKWENA were also raised, with TOO LATE MY MATE increasing from 83 to 100, and BAKWENAmoving from 95 to 97.

There were no drops for any runner in this race.

Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team

PRESS RELEASE

MERIT RATING APPEAL

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an independent Merit Rating Appeal panel consisting of Messrs G Soma, K Miedema and J Vermaak met virtually on 18 February 2025. The panel considered a Merit Rating Appeal lodged by Trainer Mr A Laird against the published adjusted merit rating of PARISIAN WALKWAY (an increase of 20 points) and ARISTOTLE (an increase of 19 points) following Race 7, The Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein Racecourse on 1 February 2025.

The Merit Rating Appeal Panel is tasked with evaluating whether the handicapper has acted reasonably in selecting the line horse when deciding a horse's merit rating. If the panel finds the choice to be unjustified, it may recommend an adjustment to ensure fairness and consistency within the handicapping system.

In this matter, the Merit Rating Appeal Panel believed BACCHUS, which was the line horse selected by the Handicappers to assess this race, to be the most appropriate choice.

Consequently, the Merit Rating Appeal was dismissed, and the published adjusted merit ratings of PARISIAN WALKWAY and ARISTOTLE remain unaltered.

The Appeal Panel decided that the deposit fee in relation to the Appeal be refunded.

Enquiries: