puha 2,177 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 Can someone please explain how the topweight in the Open handicap Wellington Cup is 57 kg? With a 53 kg minimum only a 4 kg spread - as below from handicapping policy . 6.2 Minimum Top Weights (including stayers Group and Listed top weights) The top weight allocated in a Handicap flat race, at the time of weight declaration, shall not be less than: • 60.0kg in all Handicap races Group 3 and below, that are run at a distance up to and including 2199 metres. • 59.0kg in Group 3 and Listed races that are run at a distance of 2200 metres or further, for horse rated up to and including 97. Those rated 98 will receive 59.5kg and those rated 99 to 103 will receive 60kg. Horses rated above 103 will receive 0.5kg per rating point on top of the 60kg. • 59.0kg in Group 1 and Group 2 Handicap races. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,824 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 I don't think anyone understands how anything works anymore Puha. It isn't really racing as us purists understand it anymore. Its more about how many turn up for the party and whether they pour Lion Brown or DB. The horse are secondary really. Tauhei Notts 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everton 150 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 I don't get it either Puha, I hope someone can explain .. because it does appear as though it's made up as they go along much of the time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
soliloquy 25 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 At the time of weight declaration (a couple of weeks ago), Beauden was rated 100 which gave him 60kg under those rules - but he has since dropped out. Insider 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
puha 2,177 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 4 hours ago, soliloquy said: At the time of weight declaration (a couple of weeks ago), Beauden was rated 100 which gave him 60kg under those rules - but he has since dropped out. Under a normal open handicap the weights would of been raised when Beauden dropped out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin 57 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 Beauden would have been required to carry 2kg more than Good Lord and Castletown on their second Cup wins. From memory Think Big carried 58.5 in his second one. This handicapping system needs correcting, it is destroying good racing. A good horse like Beauden could have been sold overseas, the owners keep it here to race and we can't see horses like him race on big cup days, we should be showcasing the good horses. The amount of horses being required to carry over 59kg in flat races these days is bloody cruel. JJ Flash, Gruff and dock leaf 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,824 Report post Posted January 27, 2021 3 hours ago, Griffin said: Beauden would have been required to carry 2kg more than Good Lord and Castletown on their second Cup wins. From memory Think Big carried 58.5 in his second one. This handicapping system needs correcting, it is destroying good racing. A good horse like Beauden could have been sold overseas, the owners keep it here to race and we can't see horses like him race on big cup days, we should be showcasing the good horses. The amount of horses being required to carry over 59kg in flat races these days is bloody cruel. The minimums have lifted a lot over the years. 53 this year and only a 4k spread from top to bottom. Back in the day the minimum was probably about 48. Pam Robson 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin 57 Report post Posted January 28, 2021 57 minutes ago, We're Doomed said: The minimums have lifted a lot over the years. 53 this year and only a 4k spread from top to bottom. Back in the day the minimum was probably about 48. That doesn't make it okay to have horses carrying 59kg plus over 2 miles, compress the handicap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ Flash 2,115 Report post Posted January 28, 2021 Handicapping the Cup has been a nightmare for decades. I have apart from Castletown 3 fond memories of the Cup , Backing Darias Fun in 88 which ran a track record followed by Ed which won the 1995 Cup with D Olliver on it carrying 52kgs . Naturally i followed the money in 1997 with LAO on carrying 53kgs. Nobody could explain that weight either at the time given it won the Grp 1 2 years previously. Who says history never repeats? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,778 Report post Posted January 28, 2021 3 hours ago, JJ Flash said: Handicapping the Cup has been a nightmare for decades. I have apart from Castletown 3 fond memories of the Cup , Backing Darias Fun in 88 which ran a track record followed by Ed which won the 1995 Cup with D Olliver on it carrying 52kgs . Naturally i followed the money in 1997 with LAO on carrying 53kgs. Nobody could explain that weight either at the time given it won the Grp 1 2 years previously. Who says history never repeats? Split enz JJ , at least theyre back to Two Miles that 2400 made it anybodies,you know the odds now beat them JJ Flash and chelseacol 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...