Fr0m October 1, a new handicapping system will apply throughout New South Wales. Titled the “Benchmark” system, it will combine modern regulatory handicapping and private handicapping by leading form analysts.
At present, all horses are being assessed and will be given a rating. After each start the computer analyses a horse’s performance, taking into account its historical performances. Beaten lengths, race time, track conditions, weight carried, number of starters field quality etc. The computer ranking will then go to expert form analysts for review, who then pass the rankings to the NSW handicapping group, who also look at the race film before updating the Benchmark figure for each horse. This will all be done within 48 hours of the race. Each movement will be half a kilogram.
Minimum top weight will be 58 kilos with allowances for 3 year-olds and fillies and mares. Country horses will be assessed on a lower scale when they come to town.
Ratings races will be replaced by the new Benchmark system with horses that are assessed above the Benchmark for that race still able to contest that race but with a higher weight
People are saying Stewards are about to launch up their testing systems to look for a supposed new wonder drug called Aminocaproic Acid that claims to be a successful anti bleeding drug that is undetectable. “They” are saying several top trainers are spending some sleepless nights.
Two Blokes in a Pub. First Bloke, “Do you worry about terrorism?”
Second Bloke, “Nope. I was married for two years.”
Beautiful Lonhro colt Denham produced a performance that his Dad would have been proud of, when he blitzed a top field in the Group One Golden Rose, thus providing Lonhro with his first Group One as a sire. ( Lonhro won ten Group Ones during his racing career.)
The colt, with his impeccable breeding, would now be worth several millions, but could quite easily have ended up a hack when his racing career was over.
At his first race start, they put plenty on but in the mounting yard he became extremely passionate about a young filly. Behind the barriers lost all interest in the racing caper and down the long Flemington straight cantered alongside the filly whispering sweet talk in her ear. Finished a distant third.
No doubt urged on by big punters who had done their dough, connections vets and trainers were sharpening the scalpel to geld the handsome colt. Trainer Peter Snowden’s son Paul, who had done a lot of work with the colt, was arguing strongly against the operation, declaring Denham was the best two year-old in the stable and capable of amazing times on the training track and urging they give him another chance to overcome his bad manners. Sent to the paddock for six months he returned in June and won his Maiden at Kilmore and hasn’t been beaten since. His win on Saturday was five on the trot.
The decision now has to be made whether Peter Snowden sends him to the paddock or tries to keep him up for the Caulfield Guineas, the race all three year-olds want to win because service fees can be multiplied several times with a Caulfield Guineas on your record. Personally, I hope he goes to the paddock. He’s been up since June and the great Bart Cummings says, “Go for a spell with another run left and you return a better horse, go with nothing left and you may never come back.”
Our Goondiwindi Cup meeting on Saturday, September 12 could be the biggest ever. Right smack bang in the middle of the Gourmet in Gundy weekend, it will boast the biggest prize money ever offered at Gunsynd Park.
Corporate Space is at a premium as our Business people join the band of big City Businesses who are offering their clients invitations to join them for “Cup Day at the Track”.
The Marriage Councilor asked Rotund Resident of Baker Street, “What did you do before you were married?”
Resident replied, “Anything I wanted to.”
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