Malmoos now 120

HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATE

World Sports Betting SA Classic (Grade 1)

MALMOOS has had his merit rating raised from 117 to 120 following his success in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 6 March. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed CATCH TWENTYTWO – who has now been beaten by MALMOOS three times from as many encounters – made for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 116.

Runner-up SECOND BASE went up from 112 to 116, while 4th placed FLYING CARPET was raised from 101 to 108, which equals his previous best achieved mark, which he ran to when finishing third in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup last October. He in fact ran to 114 in the SA Classic, but the Handicappers opted not to up him all the way to that mark.

There were also increases for BOLD JAZZ, who goes from 91 to 103, and for SHAH AKBAR, who is up from 97 to 102. However, the Handicappers again only applied a partial adjustment for both these horses, who in fact run to 113 and 112, respectively.

The only drop was for BINGWA, who is down from 109 to 106.


Wilgersbodrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1)

WAR OF ATHENA remains unchanged on a rating of 122 after she won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. In assessing the race, the Handicappers felt that runner-up NETTA would at least have equalled the 102 she actually achieved when winning a progress plate at her previous start. At the time, the Handicappers could not give her a rating higher than 87 because the restrictions applicable to plate races do not allow the winner of such an event to receive a greater than six-pound upward adjustment. However, following the Fillies Classic, NETTA’s rating has been increased to 102. The Handicappers felt that using WAR OF ATHENA to rate the race would inflate the other participants especially as WAR OF ATHENA was rated to win by a bigger margin and appeared to win with plenty in hand and as such decided to take a more lenient view of the race.

In rating the race this way, WAR OF ATHENA only runs to a mark of 106, hence her unchanged rating. There were however increases for 3rd placed MAGICAL FLIGHT, who goes from 92 to 98, and for 4th finisher SPARKLING WATER, who is up from 92 to 97.

There were no other increases, but three fillies were given a rating’s drop. MISS ELEGANCE was trimmed from 106 to 105, GEE FOR GO also drops from 106 to 105, and CARALLUMA is down from 101 to 98.


Ilha Bela Hawaii Stakes (Grade 2)

MK’S PRIDE – the sole three-year-old in a field of eleven – has had his rating raised from 117 to 119 after his defeat of more seasoned campaigners in the Grade 2 Ilha Bela Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was the ever consistent 3rd placed EXPRESSFROMTHEUS who was considered to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unaltered on a mark of 118. In rating the race this way, 5th finisher PACK LEADER runs to his mark of 110, which effectively makes him a line horse as well.

There was no change for runner-up GOTTHEGREENLIGHT, who ran to within two pounds of his 124 rating in his first start of the season, but 4th finisher WHORLY WHORLY is up slightly from 110 to 111.

There were no other increases, but five horses were given a rating’s drop. CHIJMES is down from 116 to 114, CIRILLO drops from 125 to 123, TIERRA DEL FUEGO drops from 113 to 110, MILL QUEEN was trimmed from 108 to 107. Lastly, despite being beaten 26 lengths, MARYGOLD drops from 112 to 110 as she has failed to run to 112 since running 2nd to SUMMER PUDDING in the Fillies Classic on 7 March 2020.


Aquanaut Handicap (Listed)

CHITENGO has had her rating raised from 105 to 109 after her success in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. 3rd placed DON’T LOOK BACK and 4th finisher AFRICAN ADVENTURE were both used as line horses here, leaving them unchanged on marks of 90 and 103 respectively, but 2nd placed TYRUS EXPRESS goes up from 91 to 94.

There were no other increases, but three horses had their ratings dropped. IMPERIAL RUBY is down to 102 from 104, OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE goes from 105 to 102, and DAWN ASSAULT drops from 102 to 99.


Breeders Guineas (Listed)

SANTA THERESE has had her rating increased from 91 to 93 following her victory in the Listed Breeders Guineas for three-year-old fillies over 1600m on the Fairview turf course on Friday 4 March. It was 3rd placed SO FLAWLESS who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 88.

Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for runner-up MUSICAL GLITCH, who goes from 82 to 90. The only drop was for SOVEREIGN ROSE, who goes down from 81 to 79.




Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team