HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATE
WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE TOWN MET (Grade 1)
Following his fluent victory in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, See It Again has had his official merit rating increased from 127 to 130. The Handicappers unanimously elected to use third-place finisher, The Real Prince, as the line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unchanged on 128.
The following runners also received merit rating increases:
? Legal Counsel (2nd): Raised to 128 (from 116) for finishing marginally ahead of the 128-rated The Real Prince at WFA terms.
? Okavango: Adjusted to 123 (from 120).
Native Ruler: Adjusted to 123 (from 119).
MAINE CHANCE FARMS MAJORCA STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1)
Double Grand Slam has retained her merit rating of 122 following her victory in the Grade 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes (WFA) over 1600m. In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified fourth-place finisher, Gimme What I Want, as the most suitable line horse, leaving her rating unchanged on 112.
There were merit rating increases for two horses:
? Rainbow Lorikeet: Raised to 115 (from 113), finishing 1.5 lengths ahead of the 112-rated line horse at WFA terms.
Keukenhof: Received an adjustment, moving up to 108 (from 105).
Three runners received merit rating reductions following this contest:
? Mon Petit Cherie: Dropped to 118 (from 120), having failed to confirm her Grade 1 Garden Province adjustment in four subsequent runs.
? Scarlet Macaw: Reduced slightly to 107 (from 108).
Fatal Flaw: Rating reduced to 118 (from 120). While the Handicappers acknowledged this specific run was below her best, the reassessment reflects her failure to confirm the 120 peak she achieved in the 2025 Grade 1 Empress Club, as well as the subsequent form of the other runners that competed in that event.
HKJC WORLD POOL POLITICIAN STAKES (Grade 3)
Having shown improvement over his last three starts—moving from a rating of 88 to 109 for his 5th and 6th-place finishes in the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup and Grade 1 Cape Guineas respectively—Star Major has earned a revised merit rating of 114 following his victory in the Grade 3 HKJC World Pool Politician Stakes over 1800m.
The Handicappers identified runner-up, Happy Verse, as the most appropriate line horse, leaving his rating unchanged on 113. In addition to the winner, Better Man also went up in the ratings, from 100 to 105.
Count Of Rouen received a merit rating reassessment, dropping to 96 (from 100).
WORLD SPORTS BETTING SUMMER FLING STAKES (Grade 3)
Time For Love has had her merit rating adjusted upward to 105 from 102 following her comfortable victory in the World Sports Betting Summer Fling Stakes (Grade 3). The Handicappers were of the view that third-place finisher, Queen Regent, made for the most appropriate line horse, leaving her rating unchanged on 94.
The runner-up, Lavender Bay, was the only other horse to receive an increase in the ratings, moving up to 95 from 90. The following runners received downward adjustments:
? Give Me Everything: Dropped to 106 (from 108).
? Little Suzie: Reduced to 108 (from 111).
World Of Alice: Lowered to 104 (from 106).
NEW TURF CARRIERS WESTERN CAPE STAYERS (Grade 3)
The official merit rating for Ahead Of The Facts has been adjusted from 97 to 110 following his impressive victory in the New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers (Grade 3) over 2800m. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner-up, Navajo Nation, was the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unaltered on 104.
There were no further increases, but a few horses received merit rating reductions:
? Master Redoute: Dropped to 113 (from 114).
? Magic Verse: Reduced to 115 (from 116).
Triple Time: Lowered to 105 (from 107).
WINDHOEK OLYMPIC DUEL STAKES (Listed)
Babelicious has had her merit rating increased from 100 to 106 following her victory in the Listed Windhoek Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m. Here, third-place finisher Dame Of Trix was used as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged on 90.
The runner-up, Princess Of Gaul, also received an increase, moving up to 113 (from 110).
Reductions:
Three horses received merit rating decreases following this race:
? Wild Applause: Dropped slightly to 86 (from 87).
? Disting: Reduced to 96 (from 99).
Be Merry: Lowered to 104 (from 107).
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
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