A few months ago I mentioned a project I had in the pipeline I called "Generic Ratings" where it was my intention to grade the better class horses according to my interpretation of their relative abilities over a range of distances. The distance ranges were 900m to 1100m for Pure Sprinters, 1200m-1300 for Sit Sprinters, 1400m-1500m for Not Quite Milers but not just sprinters, 1600m for Milers, 1900m-2050m for the Middle Distance runners, 2400m-2600m for Stayers and 3000m-3200m for Dead

A few months ago I mentioned a project I had in the pipeline I called "Generic Ratings" where it was my intention to grade the better class horses according to my interpretation of their relative abilities over a range of distances. The distance ranges were 900m to 1100m for Pure Sprinters, 1200m-1300 for Sit Sprinters, 1400m-1500m for Not Quite Milers but not just sprinters, 1600m for Milers, 1900m-2050m for the Middle Distance runners, 2400m-2600m for Stayers and 3000m-3200m for Dead Set Stayers.

Due to travelling, health and time reasons I had to drop the project for three months but this week I hopped back into the fray and can I tell you the intensiveness of the calculations involved can be quite confronting. I thought I would share some "hints" if you wished to start a similar project.

First of all you MUST use a spreadsheet (Excel) as the Z to A sorting ability is a Godsend. Secondly, start with the two ranges covering 900m to 1300m, followed by the 1600m range and then the 2400m to 2600m range. They are three completely different ranges and it will amaze you how brutal you can be when it comes to assessing the ability of a top class 1600m runner when it runs at 1200m. Thirdly, assess the Mares separately.

Once you have the Mares rated sensibly you must mentally assume your top mare (it has to be Typhoon Tracy, doesn't it) is in a race against the top males at level weights. Does she win or run a placing? Who is your second best mare, then third and so on to the point where you confidently feel you have the order of mare, male, mare , male correct. It is simply (well, not actually but you know what I mean) a matter of mentally running races and deciding who finishes where. Constant use of the Z to A sorting function becomes extremely helpful as you can keep adjusting and adjusting to your hearts content.

Next, you can adjust the ratings for the other ranges fairly easily at this stage as some will only change marginally i.e. 1400m-1500m range when compared to the 1600m range though for the 2400m-2600m range further thinking needs to be done as there is quite a difference between 2000m and 2600m.

One last thing. I was quite happy to split the ratings into tenths of 1.0 thus I had horses rated 62.0, 62.1, 62.2, 62.3 and so on. This IS splitting hairs but I want to rate one ahead of the other as much as possible as part of my strategy for punting on the ratings. With the Autumn carnival well under way NOW is the time for you to decide if you want to start a similar method yourself.

Just testing a few ideas:
Rosehill: April 3: all each way
Race 5 No 12 Purple
Race 7 No 4 Beneteau
Race 9 No 2 Kroner

Caulfield: April 3 : all each way
Race 5 No 4 Running Riot
Race 5 No 7 Pink Shimmer
Race 6 No 7 Orbit Express

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