Was The Conglomerate a form winner of the July? The answer is a resounding yes, writes a Very Concerned Ex-Punter from Witbank, in the Sporting Post Mailbag.
The Conglomerate (photo: Candiese Marnewick)
Two horses from last year’s July ran in this year’s July – namely French Navy and The Conglomerate.
French Navy carried 54.5Kg and The Conglomerate carried 53Kg. French Navy finished two lengths in front of The Conglomerate.
In the 2016 July The Conglomerate received 4.5kgs from French Navy.
French Navy – had to finish behind The Conglomerate
Based on the proven theory that 1kg is equal to 1 length, The Conglomerate had to finish in front of French Navy by half a length at least.
Remember that these two horses did not race against each other again until this year’s July.
But that is nothing, read the following.
In the KRA Guineas last year The Conglomerate won beating Mac de Lago into 2nd place at level weights!
Now get this:
In the 2016 July, The Conglomerate received a whopping 4kgs from Mac de Lago!
He beat Mac de Lago by two lengths in the Guineas.
He was 6kgs better off .
These two horses did not run against each other again until this July.
Is there something wrong with the handicapping system in this country?
How is it possible that The Conglomerate could be receiving 4kg from a horse he beat last time they met?
Why should it be necessary for trainers to hide their horses away in order to protect their Merit Rating?
Black Arthur – forced to skip the Daily News
Black Arthur received a huge penalty for winning a Gr2 race at Greyville ( KZN Guineas) . His rating increased from 96 to 106.
Justin Snaith now had to skip the Daily News in order to give Black Arthur a better chance of winning the July.
Also, why is it necessary for trainers to run unplaced in order to get their Merit rating down when the penalty they received was too harsh in the first place?
How is Joe Citizen supposed to know if a horse is off form when that particular horse has poor form. Or is it poor form to get his Merit rating down?
