The handicappers have used the fourth-placed It’s My Turn as the line horse to assess Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July and this has spared the winner and placed horses from receiving big raises in their merit ratings.

The Conglomerate, who was in the race 2,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 101 to 106 for his victory, the impressive runner up Marinaresco, who was 4,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 101 to 109, and fifth-placed Saratoga Dancer, who was 5,5kg under sufferance, has been raised from 95 to 101.

It’s My Turn, who was 2,5kg under sufferance, remains on 105.

Had third-placed Mac De Lago been used as the line horse it would have been a different story and they would have all received considerably bigger raises.

However, the handicappers look to have done the right thing in the overall context of the race, considering the only five horses which were actually in the handicap finished third (Mac de Lago), ninth (Master Sabina), eleventh (French Navy), thirteenth (Abashiri) and last (Solid Speed) respectively.

Overall these five have clearly run below their ratings, so it would have been unfair to assess the winner and placed horses against one of them.

David Thiselton