THE BEST IN THREE PLEASE.I stress that these are MY three and that they will vary according to whom you ask. Anyway here we go: one, two and threeONEThe horse. Simple as that, really. There are horses I know and trust, others that I don't. Consistency is a big factor in earning my trust, as is the ability in a sprinter to sustain a sprint, or even better to sprint twice in a race. Some of the middle distance stayers I know and trust also have that rare ability to find another gear (So You Think
THE BEST IN THREE PLEASE.
I stress that these are MY three and that they will vary according to whom you ask. Anyway here we go: one, two and three
ONE
The horse. Simple as that, really. There are horses I know and trust, others that I don't. Consistency is a big factor in earning my trust, as is the ability in a sprinter to sustain a sprint, or even better to sprint twice in a race. Some of the middle distance stayers I know and trust also have that rare ability to find another gear (So You Think is an ultimate example of this).
TWO
The rider. Years ago I'd have denied much interest in this, arguing that a decent jockey can ride the required race on a decent horse. I don't say that any more. Now I like to be with the very best if it's at all possible, and much of the time it is.
THREE
The barrier position. This one has been a vital factor for me all my life, regardless of the distance of the race. Diffferent horses are of course suited by different draws, but several metropolitan tracks destroy the chances of anything outside barrier eight or so in races up to a mile. In addition to this, I can eliminate a significant percentage of contenders in most races just by studying this factor. Obviously there are exceptions (the Melbourne Cup, an exceptionally long race, is one such anomaly).
So there we have them: HRB, the three factors I'lll tend to look at first.
A rider I don't regard as top of the heap? Out goes that horse.
A barrier draw I see as disadvantageous? No further need to examine that horse's chances today.
And most of all, the horse itself. I must both know the horse and respect the horse. If I do not, then the horse will never carry my money.