TAB Premier’s Challenge Stakes (Grade 1)
ASTRIX has had his merit rating raised from 112 to 122 after his success on WFA terms in the Grade 1 TAB Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 30 April. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 4th placed FLYING CARPET would not have run below his best in finishing where he did in a race of this nature and used him as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 116. ASTRIX was beaten 2,6 Lengths (at level weights) by FLYING CARPET in the Summer Cup but finished 3 lengths (at level weights) ahead of FLYING CARPET in the Premier’s Challenge thus showing at least a 10 pounds improvement over FLYING CARPET from his Summer Cup effort.
There were increases also for runner-up SPARKLING WATER, whose rating goes from 115 to 116, and for 7th placed SHANGANI, who is up from 108 to 112.
There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop. JOHNNY HERO is down from 110 to 107, SHANGO is down slightly from 109 to 108, and lastly SAVANNAH STORM was dropped from 97 to 93.
Computaform Sprint (Grade 1)
MASTER ARCHIE has had his rating raised from 120 to 125 after he won the WFA Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3rd placed TRUE TO LIFE who was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 114.
The only other ratings increases were for 4th placed ALESIAN CHIEF, who is up from 116 to 119, and for 5th finisher AFRICAN RAIN, who carried 0.50 kg overweight and whose rating is up from 113 to 119, or equal to his fellow three-year-old ALESIAN CHIEF, who carried half-a-kilo less than AFRICAN RAIN and only beat the latter by a short head.
There were drops for three horses. HELLO WINTER HELLO is down slightly from 114 to 113, ANNA CAPRI also goes down slightly from 112 to 111, and lastly MR COBBS was cut from 113 to 108.
Racing 240 Camellia Stakes (Grade 2)
WINTER SMOKE has had her rating raised from 107 to 112 after her success in the Grade 2 Racing 240 Camellia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3rd placed SWEET FUTURE who was considered to make the best line horse here, leaving her on an unaltered rating of 110.
There were ratings raises also for 4th placed KISSING POINT, who is up from 99 to 109, and for KAYLA’S CHAMP, who was given a partial rating’s increase and goes up from 89 to 94.
No horses were given a rating’s drop from this race.
4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes (Grade 2)
RAIN IN HOLLAND remains unchanged on a rating of 118 after she captured the Grade 2 4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up PERFECT WITNESS who was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 109. In assessing the race this way, RAIN IN HOLLAND only runs to a mark of 116, hence her unchanged rating.
There were however increases for 3rd placed PINK TOURMALINE, who goes up from 101 to 108, and for 4th finisher OPERA GLASS, who finished half-a-length behind PINK TOURMALINE at level weights and who goes up from 91 to 106.
There were no ratings drops for any runners in this race.
The Citizen Gold Bowl (Grade 3)
NEBRAAS has had his rating raised from 110 to 116 after he won the Grade 3 Citizen Gold Bowl over 3200m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was 4th placed AFRAAD (who carried 1.5 kgs overweight) who was considered to make for the best line horse, leaving him with an unaltered rating of 82.
The specific conditions of this race do not allow for a rating increase beyond the winner and as such runner-up BLACK THORN remains unchanged on a mark of 91 despite actually running to a rating of 102.
Two horses were however given a rating’s drop. 3rd placed AFRICAN ADVENTURE is down from 102 to 100, while BARAK drops to 85 from 87.
Poinsettia Stakes (Grade 3)
FULL VELOCITY has seen her rating increased from 99 to 108 following her fluent success in the Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday 1 May. The Handicappers were unanimously of the opinion that 3rd placed KWINTA’S LIGHT made for the most suitable line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 102.
The winner aside, the only other increase was for 4th placed KEEP THE LIGHTS on, who is up slightly from 95 to 96.
Four horses were given a drop. MERCURY RISING is down from 101 to 97, RAPID FIRE is down to 95 from 97, FREESTATE STAR drops from 95 to 91, and lastly AISLING is down from 87 to 82.
In Full Flight Handicap (Listed)
ISIVUNGUVUNGU has had his rating raised from 96 to 103 after he won the Listed In Full Flight Handicap over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. Here it was the ever-consistent 2nd placed SOCRATES who was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 109. In rating the race this way, 3rd finisher MOUNT PLEASANT runs to his mark of 106, which remains unchanged as well and which effectively make him a line horse too.
No horses aside from the winner were given a rating’s increase, but there were drops for four runners. 4th placed AMBIORIX is down slightly from 108 to 107, PRAY FOR RAIN drops from 110 to 107, SPYDAS CORNER is down to 98 from 100, and lastly AD ALTISIMA was trimmed from 105 to 104.