Graeme Hawkins

rob faux Wrote:

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> Tipster Wrote:
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> > gregbucks Wrote:
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> > > This whole panel thing puts a damper on the
> > > July...(td)
> >
> > It surely adds to the race ... if horses were
> just
> > selected on MR, weeks of debate and discussion
> > would be lost
>
>
> If it is correct to ignore handicappers assessment
> of MR's for the July it suggests they can't be
> trusted,which also suggests that all other MR
> handicap races are then a farce.............you
> blokes in Natal are so busy crusading that you
> have lost the plot entirely!
> I have a number of horses rated differently to the
> "official" figure so should I get to handicap a
> couple of races a month......lol
> Is disrespecting the official handicappers ratings
> not bringing the entire system and industry into
> disrepute?????

Rob, in an earlier post I compared the formlines of Gothic to Tellina and reckoned there would have been just as much protesting from owners if the former had been left out. Scroll up to read it and surely the July field panellists have just as much right to assess the race as you do. Also how can the MR's be the deciding point when there are so many capping rules etc.

Tipster,of course everybody has a right to a view on ratings but you have to have ONE official rating,warts and all.
My point is ..........the objections for July apply to ALL handicap races.

The ratings should apply(change the rating rules if necessary) and let the conjecture/opinions occur in finding the winner by applying personal views and then all can put their money down where their opinion lies.

The fact that the July is the weakest in years is however,not the fault of Gold Circle..............highest entry being a 113 ensured that unfortunately!

IMHO, the fundamental key that we are missing here, is the line horse. We have constantly called for the handicappers to declare the line horse once they have assessed a race, but to no avail. You can easily find out - just call..... far better it is routinely declared.

Often we read, quite correctly, on ABC, that "the form hasnt been franked" or suchlike. Handicapping is extremely difficult in only one aspect - SELECTING THE LINE HORSE. The rest of the process is relatively easy. The only perfect science is the one which we call hindsight. I have no doubt that from time to time, the selection of the line horse is difficult. Unlike us, the handicappers have to make the decison and have to then publish the resultant ratings. A few runs later, in hindsight, we may be in a position to query or criticise that choice of line horse...... I believe that this has happened along the way.

As for Graeme Hawkins, I have had many dealings with him over the years, at various committe levels. More often than not, we have had directly opposing views. I am thankful that we have been able to walk away, ageeing to dissagree. Also, again IMHO, he is without a doubt, by far the very best, most consistent Racing man around. I admire his ability to stand up and make decisions. I have never ever had any reason to doubt his passion for Racing and his commitment to Racing.

I await his promised response on Monday.... I will bet my last rand that he will respond and also that his response will make sense to a lot of people.

nice write up ...

rob faux Wrote:

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> Tipster,of course everybody has a right to a view
> on ratings but you have to have ONE official
> rating,warts and all.
> My point is ..........the objections for July
> apply to ALL handicap races.
>
> The ratings should apply(change the rating rules
> if necessary) and let the conjecture/opinions
> occur in finding the winner by applying personal
> views and then all can put their money down where
> their opinion lies.
>
> The fact that the July is the weakest in years is
> however,not the fault of Gold
> Circle..............highest entry being a 113
> ensured that unfortunately!

Ok, but with last year's handicapping rules Wild One would have gone into the race merit rated 101, this year he goes in with 95, so personally I prefer the panellist selection system.

I think that if a horse makes the July then it should be at least a three time winner. I know that sounds uneducated but there is a standard to be maintained!!!! It is the July after all. Holy cow.
What are we going to do next? Run the July at flamingo park???

Thumbs down to maiden plate winners making a prestigious race like the July.
Its a load of blimming rubbish.

So avanza by that rationale u say that the winner of the epsom derby cannot be allowed in the july

I don't know....I really like the idea of an up and coming getting a wildcard into a race like this.....

The solution is a log - Top 20 get in - Earn your MR by racing in Graded company - No qualifying from winning any race

Sure many one time winners have won the Derby and possibly a few maidens?

Never understood why some get excited about horses that win multiple races...

3 time ARC 2nd place finisher youmzain won £330k in win prizemoney but £3.3 m in place prize money,infact he never won a race in 2 years before he finished 2nd to Sea the Stars in the ARC...

avanza Wrote:

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> I think that if a horse makes the July then it
> should be at least a three time winner. I know
> that sounds uneducated but there is a standard to
> be maintained!!!! It is the July after all. Holy
> cow.
> What are we going to do next? Run the July at
> flamingo park???
>
> Thumbs down to maiden plate winners making a
> prestigious race like the July.
> Its a load of blimming rubbish.


A graduation plate win is sufficiently predtigious to qualify for the July?