When is a Free for All not a fair dinkum' FFA

[Gammalite]

When you run them in New Zealand.

With the crisis of having not enough horses to race anymore , the Addington FFA class of horse standard has reached an all-time low tonight. race 7

In a bit of a joke really Steven Reid has 2 of the favourites who both Boast 11 career Starts for 4 wins each . (and could nearly Quinella it) 

Old entire 'Beach Ball' could nearly win first up , with that class of horse in it . Where's Wag Star this week ? could of taken this out .got a gutbuster the other day I spose. 

The North Island having the same problem of course with The Big Lebowski and Hey Bartender taking on Copy That not that long ago while 4 or 5 low class win horses. 

The horses have to do some hard yards (work their way through the grades)  BEFORE they take on the big Guns (of 'Real FFA class') like Merlin and that.  

If they don't they will be frizzled out like Hey bartender, Simply Sam , Taipo, and a host of others that were sizzled before they were ready for it. 

Solution : Run more MID-class races (every week) with small fields (so MORE horse achieve this requirement)  so horses gain confidence, gain some ratings and don't have to start in FFA at just their 11th race start s? 

Same thing happened to the trotters . Only 6 horses in a Group 3 trot classic tonight. 5 are nice trotters. (the number 1 should of been sold off to Oz a while back)  Sundee's Son and Muscle Mountain and Bolt for Brilliance destroyed the nations trotters with outstanding smashing displays in fast time. Your nation of trotters hasn't recovered yet. 'One Over All' and 'Just Believe' both flying in from Aus and then 'having a picnic' feeding on the carcass of NZ Trotting FFA class. used to chock full of talent . not much left now 🤕

Edited Thursday at 11:25 PM by Gammalite

[mikeynz]

Not much in tote win pool for both races, normally with small fields fixed is the more popular, you know what ya getting but these types of races need bulking up numbers wise, not by throwing in some rating 54s etc etc but where strangely under the new handicapping system is plentiful.

Even if you have more top class rated races there will still be some who will go to Aussie for the bigger races.

Edited 5 hours ago by mikeynz

[Brodie]

The rating systemcurrently has had its day.

Yes we want to retain horses in NZ but it just not a sensible ratings system when you have horses that have won 10 to 15 races able to fun against horses who have won one race!

When you also have such a variance of classes e.g. 35 to 50 stands, it is just not reasonable.

High time it was changed to no. Of wins or stake money earnt.

 

 

[mikeynz]

Personally I think rating 45 should be the lowest point for winners , rating 40 for maidens who go to 45 or 6 if they win and rating 35 for maiden strugglers who would race for half stakes  and would be reinstated to rating 40 if they win a b grade but once they win a a grade maiden race and reach 45 they can't go lower.

You could also run races in the 45 to 50 grade for less stakes for those who havnt finished in first four in 5 or 6 starts, only difference is if they win they get less of a penalty.

Make rating 80 or 90 the maximum top rating.