HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATE

Daily News 2000 (Grade 1)

SEE IT AGAIN, who was rated to win on official merit ratings, remains unchanged on a rating of 124 following his success in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 over 2000m on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 27 May. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that SEE IT AGAIN himself made for the best line horse, which explains his unchanged rating. In assessing the race this way 2nd placed DAVE THE KING, who was rated joint 2nd on official merit ratings, also runs to his mark effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a rating of 122.

In the process of winning here SEE IT AGAIN fully vindicated the 124 rating he received after winning the Grade 1 Cape Derby in February.

WITHOUT QUESTION’s twenty pounds adjustment for running 3rd in the Grade 1 Cape Derby proved fully justified after confirming that the run was no fluke when running 3rd in the Daily News 2000. WITHOUT QUESTION actually got 0,5 of a length closer to SEE IT AGAIN when compared to his run in the Cape Derby and accordingly goes up from 119 to 120.

There were also increases for the relatively unexposed recent Handicap winners, RIVER ROMEO and STREET ART. RIVER ROMEO was adjusted from 84 to 107, and STREET ART, was raised from 88 to 103.

The only ratings drop was for EAST COAST, who is down slightly from 112 to 111.

Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1)

RAIN IN HOLLAND remains unaltered on a rating of 120 after she won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here too the Handicappers believed that the winner made for the most suitable line horse, hence her unchanged rating.

Runner-up TIME FLIES was raised from 96 to 117, while 4th finisher HOLD MY HAND goes up from 104 to 115. There were also increases for the 7th placed dead-heaters LIGHT OF THE MOON and PEACH DAIQUIRI, who both go up to 110 from 105 and 106, respectively.

There were drops for two horses. 3rd placed SILVER DARLING is down from 120 to 117, keeping her in line with the two who beat her, while 5th placed MARINA was dropped from 117 to 115 to make her the equal of 4th finisher HOLD MY HAND, bearing in mind that there was no more than a short head between them here.

Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Handicap) (Grade 3)

SEA MASTER has had his rating raised from 95 to 99 after winning the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (handicap) over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers believed that 2nd placed RAISEAHALLELUJAH and 3rd finisher ARAGOSTA made for the most suitable line horses, leaving them unchanged on 99 and 114, respectively. In assessing the race this way 7th finisher REX UNION also runs to his mark, effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 97.

SEA MASTER was three pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, which largely explains the five-point raise in his rating.

4th finisher OTTO LUYKEN was no fewer than 14 pounds or 7 kgs under sufferance at the weights. Accordingly, his rating goes up from 90 to 103. There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop.

ONE WAY TRAFFIC is down slightly from 110 to 109, SHANGO is down to 107 from 108, and lastly SENSO UNICO was dropped from 111 to 110.