Variety Club 118

As much of a Variety Club fan as I am, I can't help wondering if the literal measure of 118 for the Guineas win is more a punishment than an assessment?

While the right horses finished in the top 4 IMHO, the back markers still maintained a relatively close proximity to the leaders, and if the NHA translated the winner's 118 all the way down the field they will be increasing completely beaten horses many, many points.

For some perspective, after winning 4 Queens Plates, 3 Mets and a July, Pocket Power was a 120.
The people's champion Pierre Jourdan came out the July a 112 and
Igugu unbeaten over 1600+ including 3 gr2's and 3 gr1's was 113 till recently.
The Apache after the Dingaans, the Daily News and the Champions Cup is 114.

The guineas was not an easy race to rate, but isn't that exactly when it's time to reflect. Hopefully Variety Club will be giving the big handicaps a miss because 118 is the biggest punishment delt to a 3yo in December that I can remember.

Knowing Joey as I do, I wish I could listen in to the call when he explains to the handicapper that if Variety Club was a 118, then his pacemaker The Balladeer should go from 79 to 96 (even though beaten by more than 10 lengths into 10th) on the same scale...I should start a raffle with the prize being the recording of that conversation...lol.

Jack Dash will they ever get it right,this 3 year old will never be the same again,as they say wheight stop trains.

why dont you take his weight for age allowance off and then come up with his net rating and then compare him to the older brigade off their net ratings before you have a go at the handicapers

pirates Wrote:

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> why dont you take his weight for age allowance off
> and then come up with his net rating and then
> compare him to the older brigade off their net
> ratings before you have a go at the handicapers


Agree Pirates, but still the 118 is a bit high at this stage. I reckon Joey will be successful in getting this rating lowered to a 115 or a 116.

Perhaps Magic (if he isn't on the panel) can give his point of view...........Rob, your opinion will also be nice. Thanks guys

but isnt that the beauty of horseracing our views are unofficial and the handicapers views are official which leads to betting oppurtunities for those who can get it right...i hope he takes his place in the queens plate with waw as it will be the race of the season

Throw Ebony Flyer into the mix and there we go, the race of the season

I think that this is one of those cases where the the maths doesn't fit the "feel" We have discussed these situations before and they are a handicappers nightmare IMO.We are lucky and can adopt a semi "wait and see" but the handicappers have to commit.
I think that 118 MAY turn out 3 too much,but it is hard to fault the maths in some ways.It is hard to deny the improvement in relation to horses like In a Rush & Gimmethegreenlight.He is certainly a 5 length better horse than I thought a month ago.

With you 100% Jack. He can never be a 118 on my ratings.

The 118 was one of the 1st things i noticed when looking at the nominations for the QP...it does seem a few points too high...lets wait and see, iam reluctant to say anything negative about the handicappers as they are usually very accurate.

they have no chance with ebony
take the double ebony and igugu
paypay

rob faux Wrote:

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> I think that this is one of those cases where the
> the maths doesn't fit the "feel" We have discussed
> these situations before and they are a
> handicappers nightmare IMO.We are lucky and can
> adopt a semi "wait and see" but the handicappers
> have to commit.
> I think that 118 MAY turn out 3 too much,but it is
> hard to fault the maths in some ways.It is hard to
> deny the improvement in relation to horses like In
> a Rush & Gimmethegreenlight.He is certainly a 5
> length better horse than I thought a month ago.

spot on rob..

zoro Wrote:

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> Jack Dash will they ever get it right,this 3 year
> old will never be the same again,as they say
> wheight stop trains.


the weight variety club carries in his next few runs will have nothing to do with his rating..for a matter of interest zoro..what would you have made variety club??