Racing To Win!

Can anyone tell me if the racing rules have changed regarding racing horses to win or racing horses just for a run? I have read a number of articles in the press that basically say that the Snaith team are not winning with their crop of 2 year olds as if they win they get harshly treated which then hampers there progress later on. So what does this actually mean? Are they deliberately sending horses out unfit or are they just not allowing the horse to win in case they get harshly treated? Surely this is against the rules. It's probably the same as a trainer saying we can't win we just going for a run! So how do the punters handle a situation now with Snaiths babies? Do we take their word that they won't or can't win ? The paper states that this is a personal best or worst record for Snaith ..he had run 23 2year Olds in 48 races before his first winner yesterday (Perfect Symetry). When questioned Snaith commented " what has happened has been the plan all along. The handicapping and merit rating systems in this country mean that winning races early on in a horse's career is not viablefor the horse long term. We have been saying this and kept on saying it until we reached the point where we decided to do something" . So what is it that they are doing and is it right and should it be allowed?
It sounds like they saying we won't win with our babies . Im really curious as to how this is allowed. Maybe Craig or Louis can help? Have the rules changed and if not what should the comments on his 1st timers read? Horse is talented and good enough but won't win today? Just asking?

Miss T, your queries will fall on deaf ears.
This "need a run" crap is beyond me, anyway.

Hi Miss T, I spoke to Justin to get the reason he was not bringing up his best here and he did say that the earlier you win the more they penalised you. What he has done is just not raced his best yet but the rest are trying. I raced and win 3rd/4th time out with a moderate 2yr old in a 6 horse field at Greyville in the wet in June. Races were abandoned after that race. She was given a MR of 83. Killed her. Never ran a place again.

Craig Eudey wrote: Hi Miss T, I spoke to Justin to get the reason he was not bringing up his best here and he did say that the earlier you win the more they penalised you. What he has done is just not raced his best yet but the rest are trying. I raced and win 3rd/4th time out with a moderate 2yr old in a 6 horse field at Greyville in the wet in June. Races were abandoned after that race. She was given a MR of 83. Killed her. Never ran a place again.

I refer you to the interview done with justin by deez when lineker won his maiden race in 13..05 2015...I have heard him for several years in interviews quoting his father saying dont take 2 yos to natal in the season..i havent got alzheimers yet

Pirates, I spoke to him face to face myself. No interviews by a 3rd party and his feelings and reasons now, not in 2015.

craig the best 2yos from the cape dont come here its as simple as that ..believe me the merit rating story has got very little to do with it and some of the reasons given in that interview still hold ...

Pirate's you very welcome to ask Justin yourself and come back on here and say "sorry Craig you were right that is the reason Justin gave me as well" He said it in the Trainer's room at Scottsville in front of 4/5 other trainer's. Interstingly he said on Wednesday at the Trainer's meeting that the biggest problem in CT now is that the smaller trainer's were not looked after! Have to have the smaller trainer and owners for racing to survive.

craig the proof is in the pudding and exactly what he said in that interview has been exactly what has played out since then regarding the best 2yos in their yard not coming to natal...let me remind you post that interview that the likes of oh sussana, bella bella, snowdance, do it again and plenty others all raced as 2yos in the cape season and never set foot on a natal track as a 2yo...I will remind justin the next time i see him of how many times he said on air repeating his dads words dont bring 2yos to natal...the best of bass and ramsden have followed this approach for years ...i study the top yards craig very intensely as imo they are not top year in year out due to luck..pity i cant put that interview on here maybe bob can..the only 2yo that had feature success of snaith in recent years was zodiac ruler and he came from joburg as their satellite yard closed down

Just agree to disagree peoples. My 2c worth...its always is to shift blame and point fingers. Atleast he was honest and straightforward abt it. Also,think abt the owners...If a baby gets a MR to high and than struggles throughout his entire career coz of that(or atleast under performs) most of the time,what impact will that have of the owners???? Not all owners can afford a multitude of strings to their bow. Some just have that 1 chance...and they might be lucky enough to get a decent 1.Why must it be 'killed' before it even got started???

Craig Eudey wrote: Interstingly he said on Wednesday at the Trainer's meeting that the biggest problem in CT now is that the smaller trainer's were not looked after! Have to have the smaller trainer and owners for racing to survive.

Craig: Obviously I agree that if people can't survive in racing, then racing can't survive either. But what does "not looked after" mean?

Pirates, by now the "HIGH" merit rating should have evened its self out.
by that I mean if everyone is being punished "HARSHLY" then what does it mean if all are racing off a MR90 or all of MR 75, at the end of the day its equal.
Or are you suggesting that not the horse is being rated but rather the trainer is being rated.
I know the stiffness of a undue rating will kick in when a horse travels overseas, but as it stands locally it makes no difference what you rated as long as the same rules are applied across the board equally.
But one thing I am sure off no clever trainer will not not manipulate the merit rating system to his advantage at the moment and that includes below par performances and upset results.
To win first time out as opposed to winning 3rd or 4th time out will affect the rating.
So herein lies the problem, and like the saying goes if a system is manmade ,its also can be mandestruted....but to compound merit rating , not only is it man made but it is man applied,
WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN MANIPULATION WHERE MAN AND MONEY IS CONCERNED.
NO WAY OUT OF THAT CONUNDRUM

Hi Tony, I am sure he alluding to the fact that Cape racing in made up of a few trainers with huge numbers of horse's and most of the time they don't want to take on their own horses so fields are small.Horses that used to be spread out over 20 trainers are now concentrated over 5/6 trainers. You need smaller owners and trainers to make up the fields and they must gave a chance in those races too. Many small owners have left because they cannot compete with the MJ's etc. As he said, the big guys are lucky as they get supported by the big studs down there as well. Racing cannot survive if it goes back to where it started with a couple of big owners basically just racing between themselves.