OFF TO STUD STAKES (Listed) 

The well weighted MASCHERINA remains unchanged on a rating of 95 after landing the Listed Off To Stud Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. 

It was 3^rd placed ELEMBEE, who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse in this contest and as such she remains on a rating of 84. The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase in the ratings of placed runners. Consequently, 2^nd placed QUANTUM and 4^th placed PERILLA remain unchanged on ratings of 81 and 82 respectively despite running to higher figures. 

Five horses received drops in their ratings. LITTLEMARYSUNSHINE and CRAZY BLUES received slight drops of 1 point each, from 96 to 95, and from 79 to 78 respectively. CAPETOWN BEAUTY dropped to 76 from 78, while VIRGINIA SWEET dropped to 92 from 96.  Lastly, REEFWAY received a 2-point drop from 88 to 86.

To all licensed persons and other stakeholders, 

This notice addresses the current availability of the AHS vaccines as well as the eligibility of horses to compete in 2025. 

World Pool Gold Cup (Grade 3) 

MASTER REDOUTE has had his merit rating raised from 115 to 117 following his victory in the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.  The Handicappers were of the view that 4^th placed FUTURE SWING made for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 110. 

2^nd placed SHOOT THE RAPIDS, 3^rd placed PONTE PIETRA and 5^th placed MADISON VALLEY produced performance figures of 112, 108 and 108 respectively, due to their weights carried and proximity to the 110 rated line horse FUTURE SWING. They have all been adjusted accordingly.

Only one horse received a drop to its rating in this event, ARAGOSTA dropped from 114 to 113. 

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has completed an audit of its statistics. During this audit, it was noted that the racing data for 23 December 2023 from Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse had not been updated in the NHA database.  This discrepancy was due to a timing difference in the automated scheduling of racing result updates that occurred during the holiday period in December.  Our racing results update script runs on a four-day cycle. The 23^rd was the day of the race, and the first day of the cycle was on Saturday, the second day was on Sunday, the third day was on Monday, which was a public holiday, and the fourth day was the 26^th, also a public holiday.  As a result, the update script concluded its four-day cycle without updating the results for the 23^rd.  The racing results were then updated on the 28^th, a workday, but by this time, the script had stopped updating results for the 23^rd, resulting in the database not being updated.  The script has since been extended to prevent similar issues in the future.  For the Turffontein race meeting on 23 December 2023, stakes were allocated for payment on 26 December 2023 within the automation window period, resulting in our database being updated.

Hollywoodbets Durban July (Grade 1) 

ORIENTAL CHARM has had his merit rating raised from 121 to 125 following his success in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.  The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 3^rd placed ROYAL VICTORY made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 125.  In rating the race this way 4^th placed FLAG MAN also runs to his rating, effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 126. 

There were also rating increases for runner-up COUSIN CASEY, who is up from 123 to 125, and for 6^th finisher FUTURE PEARL, who was 2 points or 1 kg under sufferance at these weight terms and finished 1 point behind the line horse and consequently he goes up from 117 to 118. 

There were no other rating increases, but one horse received a drop.  ARAGOSTA, who failed to confirm his 116 rating in his latest 4 starts was dropped 2 points from 116 to 114.  

East Cape Breeders Stakes (Listed)

PINEAPPLEMINTGREEN has seen her rating raised from 90 to 104 following her emphatic victory in the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m on Friday at Fairview Racecourse. The Handicappers believed that 3^rd placed PASSCHENDAELE, made for the most suitable line horse and as such her rating remains unaltered at 97.