The NHA Handicappers are tasked with ensuring that all horses in handicaps have an equal chance of winning as per the rules of the NHA (Rule: 47.3.2 a handicap, which shall be a RACE in which the weights to be carried by the HORSES are allocated by the handicapper for the purpose of equalising their chances of winning), however it is a trend that the three-year-old crop consistently outperform their older rivals. This is likely due to their freshness in racing, their propensity to improve more rapidly than older horses, and the likelihood that trainers take advantage of the favourable WFA for the more mature three-year-old’s early in the season.

Settlers Trophy (Handicap) (Listed)

ONE WAY TRAFFIC has had his merit rating increased from 93 to 98 following his success in the Listed Settlers Trophy (handicap) over 2000m at Durbanville on Saturday 25 September.  The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that consistent 3^rd placed RETRO EFFECT made for the ideal line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 93.

The only other increase was for 2^nd placed BAYBERRY, who goes up from 103 to 105, while there were no ratings drops for any runners in this race.

• Spring Spree Stakes (Handicap) (Listed) 

VASEEM has had his merit rating raised from 100 to 105 following his win in the Listed Spring Spree Stakes (handicap) over 1200m on the Turffontein inside track on Saturday 4 September.  The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that 3^rd placed VISIWAY was the correct line horse to use here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 100. 

The winner aside, the only other change was for 2^nd placed MR FLOOD, who goes up from 119 to 122.  None of the runners in this race were given ratings drops.  

• Jockey Club Stakes (Listed) 

SANTA THERESE remains unchanged on a mark of 104 after she won the Listed Jockey Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m at Fairview on Friday 20 August.  The race, originally scheduled for the turf course, was switched to the Polytrack for weather-related reasons. 

The Handicappers were of the view that 3^rd placed CATCHAFALLINGSTAR and 4^th finisher FIRST STREET both made for ideal line horses, which leaves them unchanged on ratings of 97 and 96, respectively.  In rating the race this way, SANTA THERESE only runs to a mark of 102, hence her unchanged rating. 

Runner-up MUSICAL GLITCH was raised from 94 to 99, while the only other increase was for 6^th placed BOLD DIVA.  She achieved a 94 at these weight terms but only goes up from 84 to 87, in order to have her one pound higher than 7^th finisher FLAME TREE (unchanged on 86) and 7^th placed SECRET DEPTHS (unchanged on 85.) 

There were drops for two horses.  KATIE TO is down from 100 to 99, while HEAVEN’S EMBRACE drops to 86 from 88.

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that it is aware of an outbreak of Covid-19 cases in persons, including a number of Riders, that work in the industry at Fairview Racecourse in the Eastern Cape. 

Due to the significant number of confirmed cases as well as the range of licensees that are affected, urgent intervention is necessary to curtail the spread of the virus into other Horseracing centres , which could have devastating consequences on a national basis. 

• Off To Stud Stakes (Listed) 

KEEP ON DANCING has had her merit rating raised from 88 to 92 following her win in the Listed Off To Stud Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Scottsville on Sunday 8^th August.  The Handicappers felt it unlikely that 6^th placed QUEPID would have run below her rating by finishing only 2.55 lengths behind the winner in a race of this nature and elected to use her as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 87. 

The specific conditions of this race do not permit a ratings increase for placed horses.  

There were however drops for four horses.  MAGICAL FLIGHT is down from 98 to 96, DRAMA QUEEN drops from 87 to 85, STAR VEGA was trimmed from 84 to 83, and lastly JACQUELINE is down to 77 from 80.