What a great record it would have been if Dandy had been made to carry the real weight allotted to him by the handicapper.
Since June 2nd. 2004, Dandy has won 6 races at M. V. over 1200m.
In the first of these 6 wins he carried 55kg. after a claim.
His sixth and latest win, he carried 55kg after the claim.
What other horse in history has been able to win 6 metropolitan races in a 12 month period and carry the same weight in his last win as he did in his first.
Also included in this period were four placings, one of them a G4 WFA race.
The use of an apprentice rider to defeat the handicapper in all of Dandy's past six wins makes a nonsense of the notion that claims are only there to compensate for a rider's inexperience.
It's about time the whole system of apprentice claims was reviewed.
The allowances are far to generous in this day and age, particularly for talented and naturally gifted riders.
Can we assume that Dandy Kid would have won Saturday's race with a senior jockey on board because the 3kg. claim for Guthrie only compensated for his inexperience.
If that's the case, why not use a senior jockey?
The theory that a 3kg. claim equals X. degree of inexperience is absolute rubbish.