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Racing NSW's Handicapping Department today answered the challenge of providing a scale of weights if Saturday's Darley TJ Smith Stakes was to be staged under handicap conditions.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The $1million event over 1200m, is run under weight-for-age conditions which works in favour of champion sprinter Black Caviar who is shooting for her 25th consecutive win at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Damien Hay, Racing NSW's Head of Handicapping, hypothetically weighted the TJ Smith with all nominations intact prior to acceptance time.
Half a dozen horses came out of the final field of 11 runners – More Joyous, Buffering, Snitzerland, Temple of Boom, Ladys Angel and Karuta Queen.
“If the TJ Smith was run under handicap conditions I would have had Black Caviar giving three kilos to More Joyous,” Mr Hay said. “Hay List would have been another 1.5 kilos under More Joyous.
“There would then have been a gap to Buffering and Bel Sprinter who would both be getting seven kilos off Black Caviar, and Sea Siren and Rain Affair would have received eight kilos off the mare.”
To emphasise the advantage Black Caviar has by racing under weight-for-age conditions, she would have given last Group One winner Bel Sprinter 7kg in a handicap whereas she is in receipt of 2kg from him on Saturday – a massive 9kg turnaround.
TAB Sportsbet's Media Manager, Glenn Munsie, made an interesting observation: “Black Caviar has only started in three handicap races in her life. The last time she did was in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington where she carried 58 kilos on a 50 kilo limit and set a weight-carrying record to win.
“I must also point out that she started at $1.18 that day and has never started at a better price than that since in 14 starts, including Royal Ascot. She's just a freak.”