3 minute read
We look at the top-rated horses from around the country on Saturday.
Nadal
Nadal atoned for an unlucky defeat at Flemington and while that wasn't overly hard to predict, the manner in which he did was less likely, showing an electric burst of speed from back in the field to win by nearly three lengths.
The pace was on, and Nadal wasn't terribly unsuited by being back near last, but to put that sort of margin on that field on a very fast track from back in the field is the sign of a very good horse, and the rating backs it up.
He's run to 120 on the Racing & Sports ratings, up from ratings of 110 and 112 this preparation.
120 is bordering on Group 1 quality, and in fact the last Group 1 sprint in Australia was won by Sunshine In Paris with a rating of 118.
He can sustain a strong last sectional off fast tempos and does have some tactical speed which should bode well in the future, if they don't get the idea to ride him stone cold every start.
I'd love to see him over a bit further as well with no doubt he'd run at least a strong 1400m, but the Autumn sprint scene likely beckons.
He should be high up in Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap markets when they come out and his rating should see him in with very attractive weights.
Baraqiel was also very good on speed and sectionally the second-best run in the race, sitting on the hot tempo. He's run to the same rating he did at Flemington having run to 120 in the McEwen Stakes prior. Of the two, I'd be taking Nadal home any day of the week, but both are very good.
Gringotts
Stablemate to Nadal, Gringotts gave the Kheir colours and Maher stable even more optimism for the Autumn, winning The Gong at Kembla Grange.
On the RAS scale, he's matched his Big Dance rating of 115 but has carried 1.5kg more here and Timeform has him going to 121.
He got an easy enough time on speed but has been given 10/10 rides by Tommy Berry from wide gates to settle on speed and prove too strong.
The market support here was off the map and I'd be suggesting he's a 120 horse on the RAS scale once he takes on some better horses in the Autumn.
The Doncaster Mile is high up on his agenda in the Autumn and without knowing quite what weight he'd get, he's right in the mix with these ratings.
A typical Doncaster winner on the Timeform scale in recent years has been around the 120 mark and if Gringotts can continue to progress he should be right in the mix.
Perth
Port Lockroy won the Railway Stakes at Ascot with a RAS rating of 115 – the same rating Gringotts won The Gong with.
The time here isn't strong and Port Lockroy was in the prime position here, given an outstanding ride by CJP to land on speed and prove too strong.
This is in line with a typical recent Railway Stakes winner, certainly on the lower side. It's the same rating as the past two winners, Bustler and Trix Of The Trade, who have both run to 115.
On face value I'd want to be heavily against this form in the Northerly Stakes, which makes the WA Guineas won by Storyville an interesting comparison.
The time here is good compared to the Railway, only around a length slower overall, and Storyville has run to a RAS rating of 106, which isn't bad for a WA Guineas.
Arcadia Queen and Amelia's Jewel both ran to 112 in their wins before winning The Northerly, while Zipaway went 108 last year before running third in The Northerly.
Perfect Reflection was rated 105 off the Champion Fillies but promised to be better than that, going to 113p when winning The Northerly while Kay Cee was 102 and improved out of sight to 116.
For comparison, Attrition has run to ratings of 117, 115 and 112 at his past three starts which have him firmly in the finish, if not the one to beat.