Splittheeights (pictured winning Saturday’s Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas) has been given a 121 merit rating after his win in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas.
Tin Pan Alley was used as the line horse and the changes made meant that two horses who have failed to beat older horses in handicaps off ratings just above 100 are now off ratings close to 120.
Those two horses are Gauteng Guineas runner up Grand Empire, who could not beat older horses off a rating of 102 in the Listed Wolf Power 1600 and he is now rated 120, although he was running at 2kg under sufferance in the Wolf Power, while Yippee Kayay was only a 2,70 length ninth in the Grand Heritage off a merit rating of 101, but he is now rated 117 after running a 2,15 length fifth in the Gauteng Guineas.
On the other hand Tin Pan Alley beat older horses in a Gr 2 event over 1450m last October to earn his high rating.
Splittheeights won the Gauteng Guineas with a bit in hand, so can probably live up to his new merit rating, while One Eye On Vegas was also eyecatching and Trust was making late inroads.
However, the overall impression to date is the three-year-olds are not shining and some of them could be a tad overrated.
That is not to say the handicappers are incorrect in their assessments as it is their job to rate the race at hand, not a previous race.
The merit ratings will soon sort themselves out and those who are worth their salt will live up to their current status as Gr 2 performers.
Hazy Dazy was raised to 117 for her win in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and she could prove full value for that assessment as she was impressive.
NHA Press Release
Handicap Ratings Updates
TAB GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2)
SPLITTHEEIGHTS has been awarded a revised merit rating of 121, up from 97, following his victory in the Grade 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Handicappers elected to use TIN PAN ALLEY, who finished sixth, as the line horse for assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged on 117.
In addition to the winner, several other runners received upward adjustments to their merit ratings:
- GRAND EMPIRE, the runner‑up, was raised from 108 to 120.
- ONE EYE ON VEGAS received an increase from 106 to 118.
- YIPPEE KIYAY was lifted from 101 to 117.
- Lastly, RADIO STAR received an adjustment, moving from 95 to 97.
The only reduction in the ratings was for GOLDEN WARRIOR, who was adjusted downward from 103 to 100.
WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)
Following her impressive victory in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m, HAZY DAZY’S official merit rating has been raised from 101 to 117. The Handicappers used the ever-consistent LOWVELD LILY (fourth place finisher) as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 109.
To maintain the correct pecking order, several other runners also received increases:
- The runner‑up, CHARGE IT, was lifted from 104 to 113.
- LITTLEMISSMILLION was raised from 99 to 107.
- DAISY JONES increased from 99 to 106.
- DRUMNADROCHIT improved from 91 to 105.
- PRETTY PERSUASIVE went up from 93 to 99.
There were no merit‑rating reductions in this race.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
