Betway London News Stakes (Grade 3)
SON OF RAJ remained unchanged on his official merit rating of 119 following his win in the Grade 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use third place finisher, MY SOUL MATE, to assess this race, leaving her rating unaltered on 106.
As a background, the NHA received a written complaint on 17 January 2025, regarding an incident on 4 January 2025, at Kenilworth Racecourse. The NHA subscribes to a zero-tolerance policy and given the allegations within the complaint, the NHA immediately opened an inquiry into the aforementioned events, which inquiry process allowed for due process to unfold.
Tab Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2)
PARISIAN WALKWAY has had his rating adjusted from 101 to 121 after capturing the Grade 2 Tab Gauteng Guineas for 3-year-olds over 1600m at Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that sixth placed, BACCHUS made for the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unaltered on 101.
World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (Grade 1)
The three-year-old, EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, has seen his rating increased from 115 to 127 after capturing the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met at weight for age terms over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers agreed to use runner up, ORIENTAL CHARM, as the line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unaltered on 125.
The winner aside, there was also merit ratings increases for four more horses. RASCALLION, who finish fifth, went up to 124 from 122, while PACAYA went up from 116 to 118 and FUTURE SWING was increased to 117 from 114. This will ensure that PACAYA and FUTURE SWING meet on correct weight terms in a handicap race. Lastly, BARATHEON received a partial adjustment of two points from 106 to 108.
Two horses were given merit ratings drops following this contest. SEE IT AGAIN was dropped to 128 from 131 after failing to confirm his pre rating of 131 in his recent outings. AL MUTHANA went down to 114 from 116.
BETWAY SWALLOW STAKES (Listed)
ALMOND SEA remained unchanged on her official rating of 112 following her victory in the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1160m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. In fact, it was ALMOND SEA herself who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse to assess this race, hence her unchanged rating.
The National Horseracing Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Susan Rowett as its new Chairperson. Mrs Rowett previously served as a National Board Director from November 2012 until April 2016 and was again appointed to the National Board on 1 February 2019 when she served as Chairperson from 15 January 2020 until 12 January 2022. Mrs Rowett has also served as Chairperson on various Boards within the Horseracing Industry.
BETWAY GOT THE GREENLIGHT STAKES (Grade 3)
GREATERIX has seen his rating raised from 106 to 109 after landing the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.
The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner up, FIRE ATTACK, was the most suitable line horse to assess this race leaving his rating unchanged on 111.
Fourth place finisher, POTBERRIE was the only other runner to receive an increment in the ratings and had to be capped at 95 due to the specific conditions of the race that do not allow for a more than three points increase for placed runners.
There was however a three point drop for THE SPECIALIST, from 106 to 103 and a 2 point drop for WILD AT WAR, who went down to 102 from 104
L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE (Grade 1)
ONE STRIPE had his rating adjusted to 132 from 118 after impressively winning the WFA Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that ROYAL AUSSIE confirmed the 124 he achieved in the 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, when 3rd to CHARLES DICKENS, and were unanimous in selecting ROYAL AUSSIE as the line horse here, hence his unchanged rating of 124.
The runner-up MONTIEN, who beat the 124 rated line horse ROYAL AUSSIE at level weights by 2.80 lengths, was adjusted to 129 from a rating of 120.
Three horses received drops in this race. 3rd placed GIMME A PRINCE was dropped to 129 from 130 as this was his highest achievement in his latest 4 starts. AT MY COMMAND was dropped from 119 to 118 and AL MUTHANA received a 4 point drop from 120 to 116.
BETWAY LEBELO SPRINT (Grade 3)
PISTOL PETE has had his rating increased to 115 from 113 following his win in the Grade 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint over 1 000m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 3rd place finisher MAGIC TATTOO was the most suitable line horse to rate this race, leaving his rating unchanged on 105. Rating the race this way also sees 4th placed finisher TIME FO ORCHIDS running to her mark of 108, effectively making her a line horse as well.
The winner aside, runner up, NETTLETON also received a slight increase in her rating, and she went up to 100 from 99.
There were ratings drop for three runners in this race. TAXI TO THE MOON went down slightly from 107 to 106, while MOVER AND SHAKER and DANTONFROMSANDTON were dropped from 116 to 114 and from 108 to 106 respectively.
FLAMBOYANT STAKES (Listed)
MARY’S GREENLIGHT remains unchanged on her official rating of 103 following her victory in the Listed Flamboyant Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday. The Handicappers unanimously agreed that 5th placed finisher, BEVIES DELIGHT, made for the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged on 96.
