DESERT MIRACLE remains unchanged on a merit rating of 124 after winning the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares on WFA terms over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 15 April. The Handicappers were unanimous in their opinion that 3rd placed MARIGOLD HOTEL made for the ideal line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 107.
The National Horseracing Authority confirms that a specimen which was collected from MOVER AND SHAKER on 22 February 2023, after it had won Race 10 at Turffontein Racecourse, has disclosed upon analysis the presence of a Novel Prohibited Substance, Mephentermine. The Trainer has signed an Admission of Guilt for the offence and the penalty is a fine of R125 000.
VIRGINIA SWEET has had her merit rating raised from 76 to 97 after she won the Listed East Cape Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 2000m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 7 April. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed HAZY CRAZY NIGHT made for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 88. This makes the winner at least equal to the runner up SILVERLINKS who remains on a rating of 97.
To all Trainers and relevant stakeholders
A positive case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been confirmed, after Laboratory analysis, at the Summerveld Training Centre this afternoon.
TRIP OF FORTUNE has seen his merit rating increased from 119 to 125 following his success on WFA terms in the Grade 1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 1 April. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed UNDER YOUR SPELL made for the best line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 114.
RAIN IN HOLLAND has had her merit rating raised from 111 to 120 after winning the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 25 March. The Handicappers were of the unanimous opinion that runner-up NEBRAAS made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 116.
ALULA’S STAR has had her merit rating raised from 102 to 108 following her success in the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint (handicap) for fillies and mares over the straight 1160m course at Turffontein on Saturday 18 March. The Handicappers were of the view that ultra-consistent 4th finisher EMERALD PRINCESS made for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 98.
An urgent application was brought by Jockey Muziwandile Yeni, represented by Adv Nigel Riley, on 16 March 2023.
The National Horseracing Authority confirms that it was the First Respondent in this urgent application which was heard today in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg.
An independent National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) Merit Rating Appeal panel consisting of Messrs R Napier, G Soma and K Miedema was convened virtually on 17 March 2023. The panel considered Merit Rating Appeals lodged by Trainer Mr J Snaith against the published adjusted ratings of the following horses following the SplashOut Cape Derby (Grade 1) on 25 February 2023 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse:
124 given to SEE IT AGAIN
119 given to WITHOUT QUESTION
109 given to ROCKPOOL
PRINCESS CALLA has had her merit rating raised from 121 to 127 following her emphatic win in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes over the straight 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday 11 March. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SUPREME WARRIOR made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 119.
Aside from the winner, the only other ratings increase was for runner-up ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES, who was raised from 110 to 112.
There were drops for four horses. FULL VELOCITY was trimmed from 113 to 112, MARDI GRAS drops from 101 to 100, PRINCE OF FIRE drops to 105 from 107, and lastly EDEN ROC goes from 106 to 101.
