HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)
GLADATORIAN, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup, retains his merit rating of 127 after producing his trademark strong finish to land the 1800m contest at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The Handicappers determined that GLADATORIAN had performed at the same level as in his previous outing in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in June, where he also achieved a rating of 127. Consequently, he was used as the line horse for this race. Only one horse received an increased rating:
- THE REAL PRINCE (2nd): increased from 125 to 126 after finishing 0.4 lengths behind the 127-rated line horse at level weights.
Merit rating reductions were applied to the following runner:
SEE IT AGAIN: lowered from 127 to 125.
MONTIEN, who failed to reproduce his efforts in both the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Met, was reduced from 126 to 122.
MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)
Three-year-old gelding BUFFALO STORM CODY has had his merit rating increased from 113 to 125 after his victory in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, contested run at weight-for-age conditions. The Handicappers identified the third-place finisher, ASIYE PHAMBILI, as the most suitable line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 116. Rating increases:
- CATS PAJAMAS: raised from 115 to 121 following an improved performance.
Rating reductions:
CAFE CULTURE: adjusted from 126 to 124, failing to replicate his Grade 2 Diadem Stakes win across subsequent runs.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON: lowered from 128 to 127.
SURJAY: reduced from 124 to 122
QUESTIONING: down from 123 to 122.
BET WITH THE WORLD GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2)
RAINBOW LORIKEET’S merit rating has been adjusted from 111 to 113 after winning the Grade 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The Handicappers unanimously selected third-place finisher VJ’S ANGEL as the line horse, with her rating remaining at 114.
Additional increases:
LITTLE SUZIE (2nd): raised from 108 to 113 after beating the 114-rated line horse by 1.1 lengths while receiving 1.5kg
MOCHA BLEND: adjusted from 102 to 104.
Rating reductions
KNOCKOUT: reduced from 102 to 101
INDIAN OCEAN: dropped from 109 to 107
MISS PLATINA: lowered from 94 to 92.
WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)
KING PELLES has had his merit rating increased from 118 to 122 following his commanding victory in the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. The Handicappers elected to use the ever-consistent SHOOT THE RAPIDS, who finished fourth, as the line horse for this assessment, leaving his rating unchanged at 112.
In addition to the winner, several other runners received merit rating adjustments:
HOLDING THUMBS (2nd): increased from 110 to 113
FUTURE SWING (3rd): raised from 115 to 116
FIELD MARSHAL: up from 105 to 107.
TAXHAVEN: increased from 90 to 96.
Decrease:
NEBRAAS was the only runner to receive a rating reduction, dropping from 103 to 102.
HKIR IN DECEMBER UMNGENI HANDICAP (Listed)
FUTURE VARIETY’S merit rating has been increased from 110 to 114 following her win in the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Third-place finisher UN BEL DI was chosen as the benchmark to assess the race, retaining his rating of 99.
Additional rating increase:
OUTLAW KING (2nd): up from 110 to 112.
Rating reductions
RODE DRIVE: 104 to 103
SYMPHONY IN WHITE: 105 to 104
DONQUERARI: 96 to 93.
ADDRESS THE NATION: 94 to 93
LION RAMPART: 109 to 107
KING OF THE GAULS: 111 to 110
CHOCOLATE SOLDIER: 112 to 110
NO FILTER: 101 to 100.
HITEMHARDSUNSHINE: 106 to 105.
MICHEL NAIRAC APPRECIATION STAKES – DARLEY ARABIAN (Listed)
I SALUTE YOU has had his merit rating increased from 103 to 107 following his victory in the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes (Darley Arabian) over 1600m. Runner up WINTER GAMES was deemed the most suitable line horse and remains unchanged on 98.
Third-place finisher HAT’S PRIDE, who was three points (1.5kg) under sufferance at the weights, was raised from 91 to 94.
Rating reductions:
GUY GIBSON: lowered from 101 to 100.
NARINA TROGON: reduced from 106 to 105
THE AFRICA HOUSE: dropped from 90 to 88.
CHERRY ANO: adjusted down from 109 to 108.
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