How handicappers rate G1 winners
Merit rating adjustments from the Grade 1 feature races run on Classic Day at Turffontein last Saturday.
Main Defender has had his rating increased from 121 to 131 after he comfortably won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.
The Handicappers were unanimous in their view fourth-placed Cousin Casey made for a suitable line horse 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 to 119 from 115.
At My Command was the only runner to receive a drop in the ratings and is down to 124 from 126. It is important to note the 1kg increase he received after winning a Cape A Stakes race last time was due to the specific conditions of the race that placed a compulsory minimum two-point 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.
****
Purple Pitcher had his rating increased from 114 to 120 after staying on to capture the Grade 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m. Sixth placed Gimmeanotherchance 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 as using his 123 rating to rate this race would mean Gimmeanotherchance would improve by five points.
The handicappers believe that this would be highly improbable given Gimmeanotherchance’s finishing position and beaten margin. The evidence suggests Gimmeanotherchance underperformed in this race.
Four other runners received upward rating adjustments. Thirdplaced William Iron Arm goes to 117 from 116, while fourth-placed Pure Predator goes from 104 to 116. It was noted that in running fourth, Pure Predator beat 116 rated Hotarubi by one length and 111 rated Gimmeanotherchance by 2.50 lengths at level weights.
Mondial, who finished seventh, was increased to 105 from 100 and Barbaresco, who finished 0.50 lengths behind Mondial, received a partial increase from 102 to 104.
There were no drops in the ratings of any runner in this race.
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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.
The Handicappers were of the opinion 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 a rating increase. Third-placed Let’s Go Now, who finished 0.75 of a length behind Silver Sanctuary goes to 114 from 111. Bavarian Beauty who finished fourth, 0.25 lengths behind Let’s Go Now goes to 113 from 112. Lastly, fifth-placed Beating Wings was increased to 108 from 91 so as to ensure that she meets sixth-placed Champagne Cocktail at correct handicap terms in the future.
No runner received a drop in their ratings in this race.