As per usual I think the ratings are too high - I have Main Defender at 125 - but still higher than Purple Pitcher at 115 and William Iron Arm at 112 with Gimme A Nother ar 117; imo one can't take Princess Calla's performance at face value - for comparison I only have Green With Envy at 105
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. Second placed, DAVE THE KING, who beat COUSIN CASEY by further than he did when they met last time, has his rating increased from 122 to 126 thereby confirming his previous best career performance. The only other runner to receive an increase was SON OF RAJ and he goes up to 119 from 115. AT MY COMMAND was the only other runner to receive a drop in the ratings and is down to 124 from 126. It is important to note that the 2-pound increase that this horse received after winning a Cape A Stakes race last time was due to the specific conditions of the race that placed a compulsory minimum 2 pounds increase for the winner. The Handicappers therefore opted to restore AT MY COMMAND to his rating of 124 which he earned in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes.
TAB SA Classic (Grade 1)
PURPLE PITCHER has had his rating increased from 114 to 120 after staying on to capture the Grade 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. Here it was sixth placed GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse and consequently his rating remains unchanged on 111. The Handicappers ruled out SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT as a possible line horse here, as using his 123 rating to rate this race would mean that GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE would be improving by 5 points. The Handicappers believe that this would be highly improbable given GIMMEANOTHERCHANCES’ finishing position and beaten margin. The evidence suggests that SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT underperformed in this race. The winner aside, four other runners received upward adjustments in their ratings. Third placed, WILLIAM IRON ARMgoes up to 117 from 116, while fourth placed PURE PREDATOR goes up from 104 to 116. It was noted that, in running 4th, PURE PREDATOR beat both the 116 rated HOTARUBI by 1 length and the 111 rated GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE by 2.5 lengths at level weights. MONDIAL, who finished seventh, was increased to 105 from 100 and BARBARESCO who finished 0.50 of a length behind MONDIAL, received a partial increase from 102 to 104. There were no drops in the ratings of any runner in this race.
Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1)
GIMME A NOTHER, who is unbeaten in six starts, has had her rating increased from 121 to 125 after impressively winning the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that second placed, SILVER SANCTUARY, had confirmed her Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas run behind this winner and used her mark of 116 to rate this race. The winner aside, three other horses received an increase in their merit ratings. Third placed, LET’S GO NOW, who finished 0.75 of a length behind SILVER SANCTUARY goes up to 114 from 111. BAVARIAN BEAUTY who finished 4thand 0.25 of a length behind LET’S GO NOW, also goes up to 113 from 112 and lastly, fifth placed, BEATING WINGS, was increased to 108 from 91 so as to ensure that she meets 6th placed CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL at correct handicap terms in the future. No runner received a drop in their ratings in this race.
Tab J J The Jet Plane Stakes (Grade 3)
MOVER AND SHAKER went up to 118 from a mark of 112 after winning the Grade 3 Tab J J The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m at Turffontein on Saturday. MOVER AND SHAKER who ran to higher here, had to be capped on six points due to the specific race conditions that does not allow for an increase of greater than 6 points for the winner. MOVER AND SHAKER was actually a beneficiary of a similar protection when running 2nd in his previous start in a Pinnacle race behind IPHIKO. This meant that MOVER AND SHAKER received a 2kg advantage in the weights for the Grade 3 Tab J J The Jet Plane, which may well have denied IPHIKO a Grade 3 win. The Handicappers were of the opinion that second placed IPHIKO confirmed her winning performance in her last start over the winner MOVER AND SHAKER here and she remained on a mark of 108. Third placed RULERSHIP who seems to be on the up after winning three in a row prior to this race, went up to 115 from 112 and happens to be the only other runner in the race, besides the winner, to receive and increase in ratings. Two horses were dropped a point each, KISS ME CAPTAIN to 110 from 111 and BLACK EGRET drops to 95 from 96.
Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes (Listed)SILVER HILLS was adjusted from 102 to 108 after coming from off the pace to win the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. It should be noted that SILVER HILLS ran to a higher rating, but her increase had to be capped on six due to the specific conditions of this race. Here, it was 3rd placed PERFECT WITNESS, who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse and she remained on a rating of 105. Second place finisher, HUMDINGER, was increased from 114 to 116 as she was a full 3.60 lengths on official margins ahead of the line horse and giving her two kilograms in weight. No other horses received increases in the race. The following horses received drops in ratings. LADY OF POWER was dropped from 105 to 104, Bonete from 95 to 94 and Reny went to 96 from a mark of 101.
Breeders Guineas (Listed)LUNA HALO remains unchanged on a rating of 106 after narrowly winning the Listed Breeders Guineas over 1600m at Fairview on Friday. The Handicappers opted to use 3rd placed JOY AND PEACE as the line horse here and she remained unchanged on a rating of 92. There were no changes to the ratings of any runner in this race.
While Main Defender was indeed an impressive winner, this was an odd race. The time was slower than that of Silver Hills ( although some rain fell after that race) but also only 1. 6 seconds faster than Judgement Day in a lowly handicap later on. Only Dave the King and Son of Raj seemed to run to their ratings. I haven’t seen the sectionals but it seemed to be slow early and a sprint for home. Princess Calla in my view has not run to her rating this season. Cousin Casey has not yet regained his earlier form and seems an odd choice for the line horse. Using Dave the King seems more logical and gives MD a 128, with the caveat about the pace of the race.
Half the field appeared to have problems or take no real part.
In the Classic, Sandringham Summit was given far too much to do in the straight and with a better draw and/or ride would have won. He stayed the 1800m comfortably in my view.
I look forward to the clash between him and MD in the KZN Guineas, and just hope that both get decent draws, as it would be sad if the draw is the deciding factor. The Cape colts have looked less impressive so far, but will get a chance to show what they have got.
I hope that he then goes for the Daily News for a showdown with Green With Envy and a rematch with Purple Pitcher.
Interesting that PeterD thinks SS stayed the 1800 - I think the view that he did not stay is based on the fact that he moved up to win his race, but could not get pass Purple Pitcher (still sour in that I had the year older half-sister who was retired after 3 dismal runs) - anyway the full brother to SS (The Green Gallant - still a maiden after many, many runs but seems to stay 2400 without a problem) seems to indicate that SS will get more ground - so imo the jury is still out
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