Merit Ratings -4 yr olds and older

Frodo Wrote:

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> Looks like sand ratings were not increased - what
> a shambles again :S


Frodo do these clown do anything that is not a shambles? It is a joke. :X

Ben-Hur Wrote:

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> Important Notice
> Patrons are advised that the Turf Merit Ratings in
> the Major Centres (Gauteng ;Kwazulu Natal and the
> Western Cape) were increased by 6 points in 1
> August 2013 and are effective from the racemeeting
> of 10 August 2013.The change was necessary for
> alignment of ratings both nationally and
> internationally.


Turf ratings only as per notice

i would think that with the unique racing surface of the Vaal Sand there would be no need for an increase in ratings as horses that do well there don't always transfer form to Turf or to the Kimberley sand

mr hawaii Wrote:

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> i would think that with the unique racing surface
> of the Vaal Sand there would be no need for an
> increase in ratings as horses that do well there
> don't always transfer form to Turf or to the
> Kimberley sand


So are sand ratings not subject to the 'creep' that is given as the motivation for increasing the turf ratings? I find that hard to believe and the selective rules can only lead to further confusion imo

Excuse my ignorance but what system did they use before the MR system was introduced??

gregbucks Wrote:

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> Excuse my ignorance but what system did they use
> before the MR system was introduced??


Sort of a 'rule of thumb' - a winner (whether winning by a shd or 10 lengths) got penalized 3 kg's and I think in some cases finishing a close 2nd could lead to a 0.5 kg increase; so MR was introduced in an effort to produce a 'more fair' system, in general a big improvement - however as others have pointed out on numerous occasions, the constraints put in place are hampering the true benefits of Merit Ratings - imo

So a horse that can't win of 60 is now a 66 , what happens when they move to PE, do they run of 60 or 66 ?

hibernia Wrote:

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> So a horse that can't win of 60 is now a 66 , what
> happens when they move to PE, do they run of 60 or
> 66 ?


Good question, I would assume it returns to being a 60?

In general I think this was not given the needed attention before implementation (td)

thanks Frodo, sounds like the old system was less of a hassle, win you get a 3kg penalty, klaar ...

Would love to see the 120 rated RSA horses running against the European 120 rated horses ...

Seemingly it was done to protect the status of the South African grade1 races oversees, even though it confuses
The fuck out off the most important members of the racing community the punters.
When you think that the most important Saf Gr1 is a handicap anyway so why would they bother ?

Please explain to the clanners that the raising of the merit ratings was done after a recent inetrnational handicappers conference that was held in Durban. It had to be done to bring us in line with international standards for Group races. Hence without it we would lose the international Group 1 status of most of our Group 1's. Putting us in the same category as Singapore where group 1's are all local quality and only the Krisflyer and the Cup is recognised as Group 1's.

gregbucks Wrote:

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> thanks Frodo, sounds like the old system was less
> of a hassle, win you get a 3kg penalty, klaar
> ...


And from what I remember the races were much simpler, Maiden, Novice, Graduation, D,C,B,A Divisions and then features.

mr hawaii Wrote:

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> fogwils Wrote:
>

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>

---

> > Morning
> >
> > IMO this raising of MRs is not going to be any
> > good for the better (higher MR) Horses. My
> > reasoning is that in practise Trainers will
> enter
> > Horses with lower MR that will be on their mark
> of
> > say 50kg with the higher MR Horses having to
> lump
> > 62/63 kgs i.e. fewer Horses will be under
> > sufferance now. I might be wrong but this will
> be
> > determental to Racing and I predict more
> frequent
> > upset results from on.
> >
> > Just listening to the interview with the Owner
> and
> > Trainer of Jimmy Choo they feel that his MR was
> > already to high. Now it will go up again by this
> 6
> > point adjustment PLUS more because of his win.
> > Soon there will not be any Races for the better
> > performing Horses as the powers that be are
> > catering in favour of the lower performing
> Horses.
> > What will the result be on the Stud book as we
> > descend into this cesspool of mediocrity.
>
> Jimmy Choo is a three-year-old so he will not be
> affected - Why do you say a GR1 placed
> three-year-old is rated too high at 100? On his
> form he is in the top 10 sprinting
> three-year-olds so why should he be rated lower?
> Remember he gets an age allowance too - Also why
> would his MR go up because of his win against far
> weaker(He did not win easily and the runner up is
> only a 52) If your horse is a three time winner
> from 7 starts - a win in listed company and 4th in
> the Nursery(Gr1) you cannot expect to be rated
> lower than what he is considering the age
> allowance.
>
> I believe this crop af three-year-olds are a good
> lot and will win many Features against their
> elders who have now been raised in the MR
>
>
> Nursery Runners MR's as three-year-olds
> The Hangman 103
> War Horse 100
> Delago Delux 107
> Kavanagh 107
>
> We don't know if the ratings are correct until
> tested but you cannot give a GR 1 placed horse a
> low rating for no good reason - Remember those
> two-year-olds have been winning against their
> elders over various distances


Mr hawaii Jimmi Choo is now a 109:, do you still believe this horse is not overrated? imo the hcaper has put paid to this horse's career