Returning Legislate dodges six-point merit rating increase

Ken Nicol

An inquiry to the official handicappers has revealed that recently returned to racing Legislate, who currently has a merit rating of 117, did not receive the across the board six- point merit rating rise applied at the beginning of March.

National Horseracing Authority (NHRA) handicapper Lennon Maharaj confirmed only horses who had raced from 1 August 2016 were raised.

Legislate made his last appearance in the Drill Hall Stakes on 5 May 2016, so he escaped the hike.

A horse returning from a long rest can also have their rating dropped by up to five points by the handicappers (see below), but this is not normally applied to elite performers. Legislate certainly falls into that category, and his rating remained untouched.

In June Legislate has been nominated for the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge and Post Merchants. Neither is a handicap, and in both races he would carry the same weight whether his rating was 117 or 123.

The Vodacom July is another story. He is now theoretically 3kg better off there than he ‘should’ be, but of course if he wins or goes close in the Gold Challenge his rating will almost certainly rise.

While if he doesn’t perform well there he is almost certain not to run in the July, so it could be something of a moot point.

Handicappers protocol pertaining to layoffs reads as follows:

“a. Layoff Allowance ( 210-364 days)

Horses four-years-old and older where no WFA was applicable at last start; to receive up to a three rating point allowance. Three- year-old horses to where WFA was applicable at last start; to receive up to a five rating point allowance.

b. Layoff Allowance (365 days and more)

Horses four- years-old and older where no WFA was applicable at last start; to receive up to a five rating point allowance. Three-year-old horses where WFA was applicable at last start; to receive up to a five rating point allowance.

Retrospective assessments of a horse’s last three starts when returning from a layoff will also to be utilised when making a rating adjustment.”