21st July 2006, 10:55 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 1970
Posts: 4,415
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I'll have to just let it slide then, but the jockey is 10 times more important than the barrier.
Let's say we have a leader in barrier 20.
A good jockey will not try to outrace them, he'll slot in midfield and let them settle, rev up to the lead once they settle and work his way to the lead, an inexperience jockey will hunt up and try to outrace them burning all chance.
There is no difference in expended energy in drawing barrier 1 and hunting up to hold off all challengers and drawing barrier 20 settling midfield and going to the lead when they settle....if the jockey is skilled enough.
A bad jockey will get pratted 4 and five wide from barrier 20, or in the first instance race a no hoper in barrier 2 just to hold the lead at all costs.
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