Tin Pan Alley, owned by Laurence Wernars and Dayalan Chinsammy, is led in after winning the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes (JC Photos)
NHRA Press Release
Handicapping Ratings Updates
ALLIED STEELRODE – ONAMISSION CHARITY MILE (Grade 2)
The official merit rating for ATTICUS FINCH, winner of the 2025 ALLIED STEELRODE – ONAMISSION CHARITY MILE (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein Standside track on Saturday, has been adjusted from 121 to 127. The Handicappers were of the view that the runner-up, CALLMEGETRIX was the most suitable line horse for evaluating the race, resulting in her merit rating remaining unchanged at 110.
No other runners received upward adjustments for this race. However, the following horses received minor rating reductions:
- IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA: down to 113 (from 114)
- MUSICAL SCORE: reduced to 109 (from 111)
- BARBARESCO: dropped to 120 (from 121)
- ARISTOTLE: down to 108 (from 109)
BETWAY GRAHAM BECK STAKES (Grade 3)
TIN PAN ALLEY retained his official merit rating of 116 following his victory in the Grade 3 BETWAY GRAHAM BECK STAKES for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday. The Handicappers selected ZALATORIS as the line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 105. By assessing the race in this manner, TIN PAN ALLEY in fact performs below his official merit rating.
Due to race conditions limiting merit rating increases to a maximum of four points for placed runners, the following horses were capped despite delivering performances that warranted higher adjustments:
- TRUST: increased to 92 (from 88)
- NYAKA NYAKA: raised to 101 (from 97)
- ONE EYE ON VEGAS: adjusted to 97 (from 93)
No further rating changes were made to the remaining runners in this race.
TAB STARLING STAKES (Grade 3)
VALENTINA BALDUCCI’s merit rating has been raised from 86 to 94 following her victory in the Grade 3 TAB STARLING STAKES over 1400m. The Handicappers used third-place finisher Pretty Persuasive as the line horse for this assessment, leaving her rating unchanged at 93.
Due to the specific conditions of the race, which limit rating increases to a maximum of eight points for the winner, VALENTINA BALDUCCI’s rating was capped at 94 – despite performing to a higher figure.
The race conditions also limited merit rating increases to placed runners to a maximum of four points. Accordingly, the following horses were capped despite delivering performances that warranted higher adjustments:
- OVATION STAR: increased to 94 (from 90)
- DAISY JONES: raised to 90 (from 86)
The only runner to receive a drop in rating was BACK FROM WAR, who dropped to 92 from 97 after failing to confirm her Gr1 performance in her 2 subsequent starts.
ALLIED STEELRODE GOLDEN LOOM HANDICAP (Listed)
COSMIC STAR’s official merit rating has been increased from 97 to 100 following his gutsy victory in the Listed ALLIED STEELRODE GOLDEN LOOM HANDICAP over 1000m. The Handicappers identified runner-up TAXI TO THE MOON as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, resulting in his rating remaining unchanged at 110.
In addition to the winner, third-place finisher AFRICAN PRIDE received a merit rating increase from 95 to 104. This adjustment reflects the fact that he raced 4.5kg (nine points) under sufferance at the weights, and his rating was adjusted accordingly.
Two horses received merit rating decreases following the running of this race:
- KARATE KID: reduced to 104 (from 105)
- KING OF THE GAULS: dropped to 109 (from 110)
ALLIED STEELRODE YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP (Listed)
TWOSTEP QUEEN’s official merit rating has been increased from 95 to 101 following her victory in the Listed ALLIED STEELRODE YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP for fillies and mares over 1800m. The Handicappers were unanimous in selecting second-place finisher LADY FALLON as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving her rating unchanged at 102.
The only other increase was for third-place finisher ROYAL INVITATION, whose merit rating was raised from 84 to 90. She competed eight points under sufferance at the weights and finished just 0.75 lengths (equivalent to two points) behind the line horse and was adjusted accordingly.
Following the running of this race, two horses received merit rating decreases:
- TODOQUE: reduced to 96 (from 98)
- COCOMELON: reassessed to 95 (from 100)
ALLIED STEELRODE JAVA STAKES (Listed)
DAIMYO’s official merit rating has been increased from 92 to 99 following his victory in the Listed ALLIED STEELRODE JAVA STAKES over 2400m. The Handicappers identified runner-up Nebraas as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 102.
Third-place finisher CORRUPT was capped at 86 (from 82), in line with race conditions that limit rating increases for placed runners to a maximum of four points.
No fewer than five horses received merit rating reductions following the running of this race:
- UNITED COUNCIL: down to 104 (from 105)
- HOTARUBI: reduced to 104 (from 106)
- INFINITE WONDER: dropped to 91 (from 94)
- SILENT WAR: decreased to 91 (from 93)
- TWENTY DRACHMA’s: reassessed to 87 (from 91)
CAPE CLASSIC (Grade 3)
VAPOUR TRAIL’s official merit rating has been increased from 101 to 107 following his victory in the Grade 3 CAPE CLASSIC over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. The Handicappers selected third-place finisher RANDOLPH HEARST as the line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 100.
Two additional runners received rating increases based on their performances:
- GOOD FOR YOU (runner-up): up to 110 from 108
- CHAPBOOK: who was rated to finish last but finished in 5th, was raised to 97 from 87
COUNT OF ROUEN and AVERSATOR each received two points drops: from 108 to 106, and from 104 to 102 respectively.
SOUTHEASTER SPRINT (Listed)
THE US OF A’s official merit rating has been increased from 97 to 104 following his impressive win in the Listed SOUTHEASTER SPRINT over 1100m. The Handicappers selected third-place finisher UN BEL DI and fourth-place finisher DUMBLEDORE as the line horses for assessing the race, leaving their ratings unchanged at 99 and 106 respectively.
Runner-up DANCE VARIETY was the only other horse besides the winner to receive a merit rating increase, moving up to 113 from 112.
Two horses received merit rating reductions:
- ZIYASHA: dropped to 117 from 119
- KAALVOET: reduced to 97 from 99
BETWAY ALGOA CUP (Listed)
ZATARA MAGIC’s official merit rating has been increased from 108 to 111 following his victory in the Listed BETWAY ALGOA CUP over 2000m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday. The Handicappers unanimously selected runner-up, MY BEST SHOT and third-place finisher, HOLDING THUMBS as the line horses for assessing the race, leaving their ratings unchanged at 116 and 113 respectively.
Fourth-place finisher LANCIAFIAMME, who raced six points (three kilograms) under sufferance at the weights but finished 1 length (2 points) behind the line horse, received a merit rating increase from 92 to 96.
The only other rating change in this race was a slight reduction for BLACKBERRY MALT, who was reduced to 96 from 97.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
