Open Entry synthetic track races handicapping guidelines created the potential for anomalies with topweights and is evidenced this coming Friday – Rangitikei RC @ Awapuni.

Allocating top weight is based upon recent weight carrying performances on the surface.

Island Hop (rating 79) has been assigned 61.5kgs as top weight in the R79 1400m.

He was comfortably beaten in 5^th (9.10L) at his last start on the surface when assigned weight 62.0kgs. He dropped 1 point to 79. His weight for Friday aligns with this re-rating, ie. a 1 point equals 0.5kg drop.

Conversely, Jack Morrison (rating 79) has been assigned 64.5kgs.

He won his last start with an assigned 62.0kgs and received a re-rating of +5 points. He rises to 64.5kgs for Friday (5 points = 2.5kgs).

The Open Entry synthetic races are a relatively new innovation, and we are endeavoring to strike a balance between not discouraging participation of high-rating horses nor those they race against.

There are positives and negatives of the Open Entry system, but the key benefit is virtually every horse is given an opportunity to race on each raceday. For example, at the WTR @ Cambridge meeting (18/6) 30 of 132 entries would not have had a race opportunity, given programs at the corresponding meeting last year.