Handicapping 101

The most important things to consider when assessing a horse's weight in a handicap are
Proven ability, Distance, Previous winners of the race
(Forget about age and gender, if they are good enough they are old enough and gender doesn't matter)

Sunline in the Doni
Proven ability = tonnes
Distance = great miler
Previous winners = yes other great milers carried much more weight

3 ticks in all departments


Northerly in the Melb Cup
Proven ability = proven champ
Distance = never raced beyond 2040m, so must be a risk
Previous winners = only one winner in past 30 years with similar weight, so is a worry. Similar quality horses had much less weight.

Only 1 tick for Northerly.