• Track And Ball Derby (Grade 3)

MARCHINGONTOGETHER remains unchanged on a rating of 110 after his win in the Grade 3 Track and Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville on Saturday 11 July.  Given the track conditions in which the race was run (the balance of the race meeting was subsequently abandoned), the Handicappers opted to take a lenient view of the Derby and decided that MARCHINGONTOGETHER himself made for the most suitable line horse.

The only ratings increase was for 3^rd placed DARK MOON RISING, who goes up from 103 to 105, but there were drops for several horses.  EYES WIDE OPEN was trimmed from 115 to 114, TWICE GOLDEN goes from 93 to 92, DUKE OF SPIN goes to 100 from 101, and SEATTLE FORCE is down to 103 from 104.

• Golden Horse Sprint (Handicap) (Grade 1)

WARRIOR’S REST has had his merit rating raised from 113 to 116 after his success in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (Handicap) over 1200m at Scottsville on Saturday 4 July.  The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 3^rd placed KASIMIR and 4^th finisher CHIMICHURI RUN made for the correct line horses to use and accordingly they remain unchanged on 128 and 126, respectively.

Runner-up ULTRA MAGNUS was raised from 113 to 115, while 5^th placed CARTEL CAPTAIN (who was 7 pounds under sufferance at the weights) goes up from 106 to 109.  There was also an increase for 6^th finisher INVIDIA, who was 5 pounds under sufferance and who carried 0.5 kg overweight.  He goes up from 108 to 111.

• World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge (Grade 1)

HAWWAAM has had his rating raised from 131 to 134 after he ran out an easy winner of the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 27 June.   The Handicappers were of the view that 3^rd placed TIERRA DEL FUEGO was a suitable line horse even though he was trying a new distance, given that he run a similar race behind HAWWAAM at Grade 1 level in his most recent start in the H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.  As such, his rating remains unchanged on 124.

It was noted that runner-up SOQRAT ran a much improved race here and was only given a small drop from 133 to 132.  There were no increases for any runner aside from the winner, but two other horses were given drops.  HERO’S HONOUR is down from 117 to 115, and TILBURY FORT drops from 112 to 110.

The NHA is pleased to announce further relaxations effective 1 July 2020 regarding its protocols pertaining to Racing behind closed doors.  The NHA have informed the Racing Operators accordingly on the requirements that needs to be complied with in order to continue staging these meetings.

Merit Ratings Updates

• World Sports Betting 1900 (Grade 2)

BELGARION has had his rating raised from 113 to 119 after his fluent success in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900 over 1900m on the Greyville turf track on Saturday 20 June.  The Handicappers were of the view that 4^th placed CROWN TOWERS was the best line horse to use, and as such his rating remains unchanged on 109.

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at the Licencing Committee Meeting held in Johannesburg today, Jockey Grant van Niekerk was licenced as a Jockey with certain conditions attached.

Mr van Niekerk’s Jockey licence was withdrawn on 6 April 2020, whilst riding under the Rules of the Hong Kong Jockey Club due to a non-racing, conduct related matter.

The Licencing Committee ruled that Mr van Niekerk be provisionally licenced for a period from 19 June 2020 to 18 September 2020 on condition that he enrols in and completes an Anger and Stress Management Course as determined by the NHA.

Upon proof of completion of the course, the Licencing Committee will consider issuing Mr van Niekerk a more permanent Riding Licence.