Gauteng Guineas stars feel handicappers’ whip

2026-02-11 - 10:26

Saturday was a turning point in the careers of a number of young racehorses. For example, Splittheeights, impressive winner of the TAB Gauteng Guineas for trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock, got a whopping 25-point merit rating penalty – rising from 97 to 122 and vaulting scores of places up the national log to instantly become the highest-rated three-year-old in South Africa. Prior to the Grade 2 race at Turffontein, Cape Guineas (Grade 1) victor Jan Van Goyen was the top sophomore on an MR of 118. Hazy Dazy, who sauntered home in Saturday’s Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, collected a 16-point smack, taking her from 101 to 117 and the accolade of reigning top filly of her generation. As hooves thundered past