The other thing for Syd and Melb may be the class rises are greater simply meaning if you cant win one grade down your chances are greatly reduced be cause you really do meet a better horse. I have never seen a study on horse’s wins or placings going up or down in class have always worked on the assumption that a horse in the same or down in class would be a better chance given all being equal over time but have no idea how this affects price.

Just reading through prepost prices I once did a study going back 5 years using the Courier Mail Syd /Bris not so good but in Melb it broke even at starting price- still had a health run of outs- this was a long time ago and properly gives me a Melb bias I still wonder if we had bob back then how I would have gone. This brings back memories, I also remember the top rated in the sportsman when it was No 1 also broke even over the same period B/S/M These are both one rule could be a good start.