World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1)

ROYAL VICTORY has had his rating increased from 119 to 125 after coming from off the pace to win the World Pool Premier's Champions Challenge (Grade 1) over 2000m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed ARAGOSTA made for the most suitable line horse and as such his rating remains unchanged on 118.

2nd WINCHESTER MANSION sees his rating raised from 121 to 124 after finishing half a length behind the now 125 rated winner ROYAL VICTORY.

There were no other upward adjustments in this race, however, SAFE PASSAGE was the only runner to receive a drop in ratings. His rating goes down slightly to 115 from 116.

Tab SA Derby (Grade 1)

PURPLE PITCHER remains unchanged on a rating of 120 after capturing the Grade 1 Tab SA Derby over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was the runner-up PURE PREDATOR who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on 116. In rating the race this way, PURPLE PITCHER only runs to a mark of 116, hence his unaltered rating.

3rd placed MONDIAL, was adjusted to 115 from 105 having finished 0.15 of a length behind PURE PREDATOR.

Notwithstanding the fact that the top 4 highest rated horses contested the finish in the race, the Handicappers took a conservative view of the rest of the horses here, as it was felt that this race was run at a sub optimal pace, with the time of the race being 160.38 seconds over the 2450m trip. Consequently, the race produced a compact finish and the Handicappers felt that this may flatter some of the performances of the other runners. Accordingly, TAXHAVEN was only adjusted to 96 despite running to considerably higher, having finished only 2.75 behind the 116 rated line horse at level weights.

HOTARUBI was the only runner in this race to receive a drop in ratings and goes down to 114 from 116 after twice failing to confirm his performance figure of 116 he achieved in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas.

Jonsson Workweak Computaform Sprint (Grade 1)

THUNDERSTRUCK remains unchanged on 124 after winning the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint (Grade 1) over 1000m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that THUNDERSTRUCK himself made for the most suitable line horse, hence his unchanged rating.

There were upward adjustments for four runners in this race. 3rd placed RULERSHIP was adjusted to 119 from 115, while 4th placed KISS ME CAPTAIN was increased to 112 from 110. IPHIKO goes up to 111 from 108 and lastly, ZIYASHA was adjusted to 116 from 114.

No runner received a rating’s drop in this race.

Tab Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1)

GIMME A NOTHER remains unchanged on a rating of 125 after winning the Tab Empress Club Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that long-time leader HUMDINGER made for the most suitable line horse to rate this race. Accordingly, her rating remains unchanged on 116. In rating the race this way, 5th place finisher PERFECT WITNESS also runs to her mark of 105, effectively making her a line horse as well.

There were no increases in ratings of any runner in this race. 4th place finisher GILDED BUTTERFLY was the sole runner to receive a rating’s drop and goes down slightly to 108 from 109.

Wilgersbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks (Grade 2)

The hugely progressive FRANCES ETHEL has had her rating increased from a mark of 94 to 118 after winning the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks over 2450m at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that the runner up MY SOUL MATE made for the most suitable line horse, and she remains on a mark of 115.

Three other runners received increases in their ratings. 4th placed BEATING WINGS, went from 108 to 112 after finishing 2.00 lengths behind the 115 rated line horse here. The Handicappers also noted that BEATING WINGS ran to a 112 in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic when it ran 5th behind GIMME A NOTHER. She was only adjusted to a rating of 108 on that occasion as it was taken into consideration that she only finished 5th in a field of 9 runners, and the Handicappers opted not to take that performance literally. However, the Handicappers were comfortable to adjust her to 112, having now confirmed that level in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks.

EXPLOSIVE BOND received a partial increase from 90 to 96. The only other runner to be adjusted was BE REAL, who was rated to run last of 10 but finished in 7th position, goes up to 83 from 76 despite running to considerably higher. This adjustment ensures that she will meet the 82 rated MOUNT ETNA on correct terms should they meet in a handicap, having beaten that rival here at level weights.

There were no rating’s drop for any runner in the race.

TAB Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2)

SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT remained on a mark of 123 after winning the Grade 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was 4th placed CELTIC RUMOURS, who was used to rate the race and she remained on a rating of 106.

In rating the race this way, the winner only achieves a rating of 121. The only runner to receive a ratings increase was the runner up LUCKY LAD, who went from 117 to 119.

AT MY COMMAND is down from 124 to 119 after failing to confirm the 124 rating he achieved in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes in four subsequent starts. The only other runner to receive a drop was ANFIELDS ROCKET, who is down 2 from 115 to 113.

4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup (Listed)

RULE BOOK had his rating only increased to 96 from 90 even though running to a higher mark here after winning the Listed 4 Racing Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m on Saturday. It should be noted that due to the specific conditions of the race, the winner can only receive a maximum of 6 points and placed runners a maximum of 3 points. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed BREEZE OVER made for the most suitable line horse and remained unchanged on 93.

The only other runner to receive a ratings increase was POSITIVE ATTITUDE, who finished 4.80 lengths ahead of the line horse and goes up to 89 from 86 even though he ran to a much higher mark here.

NEBRAAS was the only runner to receive a drop in ratings and is down to 111 from 112.

Variety Club Mile (Grade 3)

RASCALLION remained on a mark of 122 after winning the Grade 3 Variety Club Mile over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Here it was 5th placed WECANGOALLNIGHT who was used to rate this race and remained on a mark of 109. In rating the race this way, the winner only run to a mark of 120.

No less than three horses received increases in ratings. The runner up PORT LOUIS, who was unlucky in running went up to 111 from 109. Both 4th placed FUTURE PRINCE and 6th placed GREETING MY MASTER received partial rating increases from 95 to 101 and 88 to 95 respectively.

Two runners received rating drops, MONTIEN is down to 116 from 119 and SOMERSET MAUGHAM drops to 100 from 102.

Sweet Chestnut Stakes (Listed)

PRINCESS IZZY has had her rating increased from 91 to 99 after winning the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed KYALAMI GIRL made for the most suitable line horse here and she remained on a mark of 91.

The only other runner to receive a rating increase was MY FLOWER FATE, who went to 87 from 85 after running on well from the back of the field.

Four runners received a drop in ratings, SIDDELEY is down to 92 from 95, LADY MISTICO goes to 85 from 87, FUN ZONE drops to 90 from 92 and lastly TRIP TO MAPUTO drops from 89 to 87.

By NHA Handicapping Team