Hollywoodbets CAPE GUINEAS (Grade 1)
JAN VAN GOYEN’S official merit rating remains unchanged at 118 following his commanding victory in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers noted that JAN VAN GOYEN, who entered the race at least eight merit rating points superior to any other runner, did not need to improve on his pre-race figure to secure the win under level weight conditions. As a result, he was used as the line horse to assess the race, and his rating stays at 118.
To establish the correct pecking order, the Handicappers applied merit‑rating increases based on each runner’s proximity to the winner and line horse:
- HAPPY VERSE (2nd): raised from 103 to 113
- RANDOLPH HEARST: increased from 106 to 112
- GIMMIE RULES: lifted from 102 to 111
- FOX ON THE RUN: adjusted from 95 to 110
- STAR MAJOR: moved from 101 to 109
- BEWARE: up from 91 to 103
Three horses received merit‑rating reductions following this contest:
- MALMESBURY MISSILE: lowered from 110 to 108
- ARISTOCRATIC: dropped from 103 to 101
- ABSOLUTELY YES: reduced from 103 to 100
RIDGEMONT GREEN POINT STAKES (Grade 2)
The official merit rating for DAVE THE KING remains unchanged at 128 following his gutsy victory in the Grade 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes over 1600m. The Handicappers were of the opinion that DAVE THE KING was the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, hence his unchanged rating.
Two horses received merit‑rating increases:
- GARRIX: raised from 118 to 123
- JET FORCE: raised from 93 to 120 after finishing 6th in a field averaging 122, a performance well above his pre-race ranking where he had been rated to finish last
The following horses received merit‑rating drops:COSMIC SPEED: reduced from 126 to 125
- SNOW PILOT: reassessed from 125 to 122
SplashOut CAPE MERCHANTS (Grade 2)
OUTLAW KING has earned a revised rating of 118, up from 115, after successfully defending his Grade 2 SplashOut Cape Merchants title over 1200m. In this event, third‑placed O’TENIKWA was deemed the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, and his rating remains unchanged at 118.
The runner up, I AM GIANT, increased from 122 to 124 for finishing a full length ahead of the line horse.
No fewer than three horses received merit‑rating reductions in this race:
- CAFE CULTURE: lowered from 122 to 120
- DANCE VARIETY: reduced from 113 to 112
- AIR RAID: dropped from 97 to 94
1Voucher VICTRESS STAKES (Grade 3)
SUKHUMVIT has had her rating increased from 94 to 100 following her victory in the 1Voucher Victress Stakes (Grade 3) over 1800m. Although she achieved a higher performance figure in this race, her rating was capped at 100 in accordance with the race conditions, which prevent Handicappers from raising the winner by more than six points. The Handicappers identified the runner‑up, RAINBOW LORIKEET, as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving her rating unchanged on 113.
LITTLE SUZIE and TIME FOR LOVE received two points drops each, from 113 to 111 and from 104 to 102 respectively.
OWNPAY PENINSULA HANDICAP (Grade 3)
REGULATION has had his merit rating adjusted from 99 to 105 following his victory in the Grade 3 OwnPay Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. Third‑placed ZEITZ was identified as the most suitable key horse for assessing the race, and his rating remains unchanged on 101. The runner‑up, MAJOR MASTER - who was 1 point (0.5kg) under sufferance at the weights and finished three lengths ahead of the line horse - was raised accordingly from 96 to 102. PROMETTERE was the only runner to receive a drop in the ratings, going down to 100 from 101.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
