Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1)
MAIN DEFENDER has had his rating increased from 121 to 131 after he comfortably won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view, that 4th placed COUSIN CASEY made for a suitable line horse here and he remains unchanged on a rating of 123.
SplashOut Cape Derby (Grade 1)
GREEN WITH ENVY had his rating increased from 110 to 119 after impressively winning the Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was HLUHLUWE who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remains on a mark of 111.
The Handicappers opted to use HLUHLUWE to the net 99 performance which he achieved in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas rather than his gross rating of 111. This has the effect of keeping the race to a level of 119 and not 121 as would be the case if HLUHLUWE’s gross rating was used. The Handicappers noted that the race was slowly run in the early stages and felt that this lack of a true test may have resulted in a more compact finish which could have the effect of flattering some of the lower rated horses in the Derby. Accordingly, a slightly lower level seemed to be the prudent choice here.
BEACH BOMB was not deemed to make a suitable line horse for this race as she was weighted to win comfortably off her rating of 117 and using her would mean an 8-point increase to the current level of 119. BEACH BOMB remains unchanged on a rating of 117. The Handicappers also rejected the 87 rated ORIENTAL CHARM as a probable line horse as this will reduce the level of this Grade 1 race to nothing more than a Class 4 Handicap.
Third placed ORIENTAL CHARM who beat the 111 rated line horse HLUHLUWE at level weights by 2 lengths and 4th Placed COASTAL COMMANDER who beat the 111 rated line horse by 0.50 lengths at level weights were raised to 113 and 111 respectively. This ensures that they will meet at correct handicap-terms in future and as such give effect to the rules of “Merit Handicapping”.
INFRARED and WILLIE JOHN were given partial increases from 94 to 99 and 88 to 98 respectively.
No horses received a drop in ratings for this event.
In terms of Chapter 4 of the Constitution of The National Horseracing Authority the Nominations Committee, consisting of Messrs M Currie, G Bortz, N Nalliah, A Rivalland and R Sewgoolam, has appointed the following candidates to fill the vacant positions on the National Board. The vacant positions are due to the resignations of Prof. I Sanne and Adv. C F van der Merwe SC.
Betway London News Stakes (Grade 3)
LITIGATION has had his rating increased to 115 from 111 after leading from start to finish to win the Grade 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.
Tab Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2)
Top rated, SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT had his rating increased from 121 to 123 after easily winning the Tab Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 4th placed PURPLE PITCHER made for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remains unchanged on 114. The Handicappers noted that PURPLE PITCHER did appear to replicate his Grade 2 Dingaans form here as he beat GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE and THE AFRICA HOUSE by similar margins.
World Sports Betting Cape Town Met (Grade 1)
DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE was adjusted to 124 from 118 after landing the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Met over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in choosing the runner-up RASCALLION as the line horse here and he remains on a rating of 122.
Betway Swallow Stakes (Listed)
TROPPO VELOCE has had her merit rating raised from 106 to 108 after winning the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes over 1160m at the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that the 3rd placed CULLINAN BLUE would not have run below the 106 rating she achieved when winning a FM 90 Handicap in her previous run. Accordingly, her performance figure of 106 rather than her official pre-rating of 103 was used to rate the Listed Betway Swallow Stakes.
Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes (Grade 3) – Formerly Tony Ruffel Stakes
MAIN DEFENDER remained unchanged on a rating of 121 after easily winning the Grade 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday, 13 January 2024. MAIN DEFENDER was best weighted and did not have to produce his very best to account for his rivals on Saturday. THE AFRICA HOUSE was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remained on 106.
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (“the NHA”) and Mr Arnold Hyde, the Racing Control Executive, were jointly served with Summons by lawyers for Trainer Mr Anthony Paul Peter on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 for a total of R70m being claims for alleged defamation or, in the alternative, for alleged intentional insult to Mr Peter’s dignity as a result of certain of Mr Peter’s horses being withdrawn from races by the NHA at the Turffontein Racecourse on 27 July 2023 and 25 November 2023 and certain alleged comments or statements made by Mr Hyde on an interview by Mr Hyde on a television channel on 25 November 2023.
Adv C F van der Merwe SC, leading practicing Senior Counsel at the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, was appointed to the National Board of The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (“the NHA”) as an Independent Director in terms of Clause 15.1.1 of the Constitution on 14 October 2020.
