Winchester Mansion was hammered in the latest ratings update issued by the NHA on Tuesday. The messy Gr2 Charity Mile affair where numerous runners had issues in the run also saw Gladatorian increased. Summer Cup second favourite, Frances Ethel, was left on the same rating with the handicappers using Barbaresco as the line horse. Here is a full graded race assessment for the day at Turffontein and Kenilworth. 

Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (Handicap) (Grade 2)

WINCHESTER MANSION has seen his merit rating increase from 124 to 129 after winning the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (handicap) over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday, 2 November. The Handicappers were of the opinion that BARBARESCO made for the ideal line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 122.

The only other increase was for runner-up GLADATORIAN, who was adjusted from 120 to 123.

Four horses received a drop of 1 point each, LITIGATION dropped to 114 from 115, SAFE PASSAGE dropped to 108 from 109, ZINOVI dropped from 113 to 112 and GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE dropped from 116 to 115.

Betway Graham Beck Stakes (Grade 3)

MOONLIGHT TRADER had to be capped on a rating of 101 after winning the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here, it was 4th placed WAHEED who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 107.

In rating the race this way, the winner MOONLIGHT TRADER, runs to a considerably higher mark than his current adjusted figure of 101 but had to be capped due to the arbitrary restrictions imposed on the Merit Rating system in this Grade 3 event. The specific conditions, referred to above, state that the winner will not incur an adjustment of more than 8 points and placed horses will not incur an adjustment of more than 4 points.

MOONLIGHT TRADER (101) will actually now receive 3kg from WAHEED (107) and receive 5kg from LEGEND OF ARTHUR (111) in future handicaps after beating them at level weights in this Grade 3 race. This restriction inhibits the Handicappers from equalizing their chances in Handicaps in the immediate future. Furthermore, the winner of the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes will now be rated 9 points lower than FATAL FLAW despite winning a race of equal status, while producing a faster time – 84.88 vs 85 on the same day. This restriction also means that the Cape Classic winner GREAT PLAINS is rated a full 9 points superior to MOONLIGHT TRADER despite winning races of similar status and quality.

Only two horses received drops in this event, OMBUDSMAN dropped to 88 from 89 and ZIP CODE dropped from 96 to 94.

HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes (Grade 3)

FATAL FLAW has had her rating picked up from 107 to 110 following her easy win in the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up WORLD OF ALICE who was considered to make for the best line horse, she remained unchanged on a rating of 101.

The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 pounds for placed runners. STARS AND BRA’S was only adjusted to a rating of 90 from 86 despite actually achieving a higher rating, while POBLANO was only adjusted from 87 to 90 despite achieving a higher mark. The Handicappers opted to only adjust POBLANO by 3 points to 90 so that she would not be rated higher than the 90 rated STARS AND BRA’S who beat her here at level weight terms.

The only finisher in this race to receive a drop was VALIEVA, who was dropped to 90 from 94.

Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap (Grade 3)

OLIVIA’S WAY had her rating increased to 110 from 97 after landing the Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap (Grade 3) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. The runner-up SUKHUMVIT was used to her pre-rating of 91 to rate this race and accordingly she remained on that figure of 91. The only other increase in this event went to FORGIVENESS who went up to 88 from 87.

The following received drops to their ratings, LADY FALLON was dropped to 95 from 97, UNITED COUNCIL was dropped to 93 from 94 and JULIET TANGO was dropped to 88 from 90

Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap (Listed)

CHYAVANA has had his rating raised from 100 to 104 after impressively winning the Listed Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3rd placed SHELDON who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unaltered on a rating of 110.

The only other increase in this race went to the runner-up TAXI TO THE MOON, who was increased by 1 point from 106 to 107.

Three horses received drops. RICHARD THE FIRST dropped to 95 from 96, COSMIC STAR dropped to 104 from 105 and MAGIC TATTOO dropped to 99 from 101.

Allied Steelrode Java Stakes (Listed)

POETS WARRIOR has had his rating raised from 96 to 104 following his success in the Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was the runner-up EXPLOSIVE BOND who was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 97.

The only other increase went to 4th placed BATTLEGROUND, who was raised to 96 from 94. He finished 0.75 lengths behind the line horse while conceding 2kg in weight, hence his increased rating.

The only runner to receive a drop was ARAGOSTA, who was dropped from 113 to 112.

Cape Classic (Grade 3)

GREAT PLAINS has had his rating raised from 109 to 110 following his win in the Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 3rd placed ALL OUT FOR SIX who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 107.

Runner-up BOUNDLESS ENERGY was raised to 109 from 90 after beating the 107 rated ALL OUT FOR SIX at level weights by 0.75 lengths.

MAURITIUS KESTREL and CAPTAIN WEST were increased to 105 and 103 respectively so that they meet on correct Handicap terms with GREAT PLAINS and BOUNDLESS ENERGY in future handicaps, furthermore their ratings will now also place them in the correct order for elimination purposes.

There were no other changes to this race.

Southeaster Sprint (Listed)

DANCE VARIETY has seen his rating adjusted to 112 from 108 after impressively winning the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in opting to use MEU CAPITANO as the line horse here and he remained unchanged on a rating of 104. The only other increase went to the runner-up GIMMELIGHTNING who went up to 96 from 94.

The following horses received drops, ZIYASHA dropped to 113 from 116, FUTURE VARIETY also dropped to 113 from 116 and ICY BLAST dropped to 94 from 98.