Australian and New Zealand Classifications

From AusRace

Beabudy

AUSTRALIA - NEW ZEALAND CLASSIFICATIONS COMMITTEE

Objectives

The Committee operates under the direction of the Australian Racing Board and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

The objectives set for the Committee in preparation of the Annual Classifications are;

1 - To identify, by analysis of racecourse performance and according to agreed criteria,

those horses of superior national ability and utilize this information for the qualitative analysis of the Group & Listed races in which such horses compete.

2 - To provide the Racing and Breeding Industry with an annual performance related means of assessing the ability of the thoroughbreds included.

3 - To maintain and publish guidelines to be applied to the evaluation of performances of horses to be included in the Classifications.

4 - To harmonise the handicapping methods within each Australian state and New Zealand so as to give every possible assistance in the development of an equitable Classification listing.

5 - To maintain a close liaison with the Group & Listed Pattern Committees of each country with a view to assisting these Committees in applying the commonality of a race rating system, in conjunction with other accepted criteria, in the evaluation of Group and Listed races.

6 - To publish at the conclusion of the racing season Classifications and associated historical data which accommodates the requirement to agree ratings for horses which have raced in Australia, New Zealand or any other major racing countries and attained the agreed minimum rating.

7 - To provide for promotional purposes an official rating assessment applicable to those thoroughbreds included.

GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFICATION ASSESSMENT

RACING MERIT

Horses are to be assessed on racing performance throughout the racing season under review, with consideration being given to their classification/handicap rating of the previous year.

It is not to be assumed that a horse will perform to a consistent Rating on each racecourse performance.

In evaluating the performance of a horse in any particular race, recognition should be given to the current ratings of the horses finishing in close proximity, and a judgement made as to the overall quality of the race. From this judgement individual race ratings are apportioned to each competitor.

It is not unusual for a horse of a previously perceived ability to run considerably above or below that ability. In such circumstances undue attention should not be given to the horse in question, neither in the context of devaluing the merit of the race overall, or exaggerating the individual performance.

In such instances an exception may be made if;

a) It is the horse’s final performance and therefore cannot be disproved. b) There are valid reasons for a subsequent bad run. c) It is the horse’s only run over that particular distance.

With the exception of outstanding individual performances, it is desirable for horses which are listed in the Classifications, to achieve a measure of consistency at the level relevant to the subsequent rating.

In assigning a rating to a horse it should be ensured that common sense and logic are applied, in conjunction with the accepted principles of race assessment. A rational interpretation of overall performances must always be the final criterion for judgement.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

The following scale is a guide for assessment of a horse’s performance in a particular race, where the winning distance is two lengths or less:

1200Metres & Under - 1.5kg per length 1400 – 1800Metres - 1.0kg per length

2000 – 2600Metres     -  1.0 to 0.5kg per length
2800Metres & Over     -   0.5kg per length

This scale assumes a good to firm surface and diminishes as the surface becomes slower. Distances between placed horses may be under expressed.

The pace within a race is an indication of the reliability of the performance. Inadequate pace on a slow surface is frequently unreliable as a guide to a horse’s true merit.

If races are slowly run, the opportunity arises for moderate horses to finish closer than their overall performance might indicate is likely.

If there is no basis for discussion in the assessment of a lower tier race the interpretation of the State handicapper concerned should be acknowledged.

Performances in early season Group races are frequently discredited later in the year. However it should be noted that some horses will be trained specifically for such races, and can therefore be expected to put up their best performance in those races. This should be acknowledged in the assessment of their final Rating.

Horses’ ratings are evaluated on the basis of their relativity to the competitors against which they run, not on the perceived status of the race or races which they win or compete in.

APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL WEIGHT TABLES

In applying the accompanying weight schedules it is still extremely important to read the race correctly. They are in no way to be viewed as ‘automatic’ in their application. The authority or value of the winner and placegetters still has to be both individually and collectively evaluated. Whether the winner, placings or others were holding their ground or fading, or subjected to any particular in race circumstance, still has to be thoroughly analysed prior to any rating being issued.

In most situations even though there is no value for the narrowest of margins a one pound or half kilogram will be granted to the winner over a runner-up. The table assumes bona fide representative performances on good to firm ground with a true tempo thus indicating genuine ability.

In yielding to heavy ground the tabled differentials will narrow. In contests where a doubtful tempo contributes to the closeness of the finish or to a horse returning what is generally regarded as a ‘one-off’ performance the differentials will again come closer together.

Also in evaluating differentials between placed and beaten horses the values will need to be tempered.

Primarily each Handicapper after establishing his median horse(s) in a race, uses the basic weight to margin principle for the turf of 1.5kg per length in a sprint; 1.0kg per length in a middle distance event and 0.5kg per length in a staying contest, to establish varying weights following the result of the race under review. For these purpose the kilogram figures are then transformed into a numeric rating which accepts the premise that a kilogram equals two points.

Also the ANZ Panel needed to address the situation regarding the allowance granted to fillies and mares. Internationally any such weight allowance is NOT added back to the Classifications, as was done with the ANZ version prior to 1 August 2005. Therefore the International Classifications are representative of a true race ratings situation. They can then proceed to establish required Group One race ratings. The ANZ Classifications are truly reflective of merit ratings.

For both these purposes any weight-for-age allowance applicable to juveniles competing against older horses is added back when compiling the assessments.

RACE RATINGS

Race ratings again follow the accepted international premise of averaging the first four placegetters to obtain a single race-rating figure.

The panel follows the International practice of rating all Group & Listed events. This is achieved by averaging the ratings of the first four horses in all such races using the end of season (or peak) rating for each horse. Analysis is then conducted over three and five year rolling periods.

Mr Greg Carpenter
Chairman,
Australia-New Zealand Classifications Committee