We put Statsman's innovation to the real betting test. The Winner-Finder Chart we introduced in last month's P.P.M. has created enormous interest. Not for a long time has a feature story provoked so much reaction among our readers.
Unfortunately, due to technical gremlins that sometimes creep past even our exacting proof-reading standards, there were some errors in the published Winner-Finder Chart. For a start, the points' attributable to each box were left off. You will see from the chart reproduced on this page that the points have now been institituted, enabling you to easily follow the whole thing.
Secondly, the original chart had an arrow missing. This arrow, connected to a 'no' answer, should have gone from the second box (Is The Horse In The First 3 Lines of Betting?) and should have led to the box asking "Did The Horse Show Some Improvement At Its Last Start?" - You will note from the new chart on this page that this arrow has now been included.
We can only apologise for the mistakes, but it was just one of those things that happen. Any P.P.M. readers who contacted us to query the omissions were immediately send a correct chart and, let me say this, there were a LOT of readers who were interested in the Winner-Finder Chart and who did get in touch with us.
Since publishing the chart our researchers have been continuing testing of it and they report that the results are most promising. We haven't enough space to go into the full details here, but suffice to say that the 'top-rated' horses those that snare 21 points-are throwing up some excellent each-way bets.
We have also found that linking all the horses chosen as 'strong' chances into quinellas can be very profitable. But it's in the each-way sphere that some super results are being obtained from those horses picked as the best chance, on number of points and the next best horses to it.
As just one example, I decided to try the chart on the Fosters Tattersalls Cup (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 30. This was a major race with the form pretty well cut and dried, so it was a prime race for something like the Winner-Finder Chart.
As I explained in last month's article, you put each horse to the chart test, frankly answering the questions it poses. In this way, you will end up with some horses listed as 'strong' prospects, others a 'Place' chances and the remainder as possessing only 'rough' chances.
You may find that some horses. which end up in the 'place' conclusion, actually have more points than the ones in the 'strong' bracket-but don't worry about this. The horses you concentrate on are those in the 'strong' prospects bracket, and you take the one with the most points as the No. 1 choice.
In the case of the Tattersalls Cup, five horses ended up in the 'strong' chances division. They were, with points in brackets, Eye Of The Sky (15), Rajamah (7), Ricochet Rosie (20), Stirring (12) and Ray's Hope (21). Another five runners were ranked as 'place' prospects; they were jondolar (8), Supersnack (14), Hot Reception (14), Showmint (14) and Bassie's Pride (8). Those given 'rough' chances only were Apollo Run, Go Timmy, The Farmer and Sasha Bijou.
As you can see, the No. 1 choice, according to the chart, was the Ray Verner-trained New Zealand galloper Ray's Hope, which had the ultimate 21 points-he was in very good form, he was on the first three lines of favouritism, he was carrying less than 57kgs and he was drawn between 1 and 7 at the barrier.
The next fancied was Ricochet Rosie with 20 points, and then Eye Of The Sky with 15. So here, then, were the three horses the chart was re-commending you concentrate on as the potential best chances in the big race.
Eye Of The Sky, despite his great winning form, went for a bath in the betting and started at 12/1 after opening at 7/1. Ray's Hope came in for strong support and started at 5/2 after touching 3/1 from an opening quote of 5/2. Ricochet Rosie started at 7/1, easing slightly from her opening quote of 6/1.
It's history now, of course, that Eye Of The Sky absolutely bolted in with the Tattersalls Cup, scoring by 2.5 lengths from the 10/1 chance Go Timmy, with Ray's Hope in 3rd place.
From the chart's viewpoint, the race was a triumph because it had the winner and the third placegetter in its first three tips. Ricochet Rosie finished 7th.
Had you backed all three at $10 a win each, you would have staked $30 for a return on Eye Of The Sky of some $130 at S.R, and $124 for TAB purposes (in Queensland).
This is but one example of how you can make the Winner-Finder Chart work for you. Use it sensibly, stick to what it finds and you will, I know, enjoy many winning days at the races.
By Statsman
PRACTICAL PUNTING MONTHLY - AUGUST 1990