Below is the 'quality' of Sat. Metro racing this time of year we have to contend with. This Sydney meeting tomorrow is indicative of what is on offer at other meeting tomorrow as well. We all know why this crappy demise of racing quality is happening [outside of the carnivals] -Too many races 24/7. I can remember Wed. meetings with a better standard of races not too many years ago.

Race 1 : 2 2YO-HC C 1100
Race 2 : 3UFM3UP-HC C 1250
Race 3 : 3U CL3 C 1550
Race 4 : 3 CGCL3 C 1250
Race 5 : 3U FRANK 4N 1900
Race 6 : 3U CL3 C 1900
Race 7 : 3 F CL3 C 1250
Race 8 : 3U 3UP-HCP

For serious Handicapping purposes there is not one race above I would feel confident to handicap. Just too many unknowns. 3yr. olds are basically still 2yr. olds with few runs under their belt. Race 5 and 6, how many have ever been the distance? Race 2 and 7 ? Ditto.

Basically it becomes a bit of a guessing game this time of year.

My proposal is that at certain times of the year, there is a good argument to put faith in systems, not handicapping. The few I use seem to do well at these times, yet fall to 'unsatisfactory' levels during the better handicapping times of the year, when known form is a useful guideline. Which is not now.