The much anticipated Two and Three-Year-Old Free Handicaps should be released after the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Chief Handicapper on behalf of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA).
The Free Handicap is an assessment by weight (kgs) compiled by the Chief Handicapper to each merited horse for a hypothetical race for the stated category.
From 1980 until 1993 there were only two Handicaps. One for two-year-olds and the other for three-year-olds.
In 1994, two sub-categories in distances for three-year-olds emerged. One category at 1200m-1600m, the other category at 1601m+.
The Free Handicaps will be framed for the first time by another new NZTR Handicapper(s), Matt Hall and George Strickland.
It will be the fourth different NZTR handicapper in the past five years, following Dennis Quirke, Brett Scelly and long-time handicapper Dean Nowell.
The Free Handicaps were for many years released at the start of the following season (Aug 1) - until the recent changes to the handicapping regime in the past four years.
Since then, the Free Handicap has been released after the New Zealand Thoroughbred Awards which generates debate whether the outcome of the Awards had some bearing on the Free Handicap.
The previous season's Free Handicap should be released on the first day of the new season. With top horses starting their preparations early in the new season, there shouldn't be any dispute over last season's ratings of our age-group horses. Early season wins adds doubt.
This season's Free Handicaps the main contenders are:
Two-year-old: Heroic Valour and Sacred Elixir.
Heroic Valour was Fastnet Rock's first two-year-old Group One winner. Unbeaten in three starts including winning the Group One Diamond Stakes and Listed Matamata Slipper.
Sacred Elixir became only the second New Zealand-trained winner of the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes in the last 30 years, after 2005 winner Darci Brahma.
The two had different two-year-old campaigns and will be no different next season. Heroic Valour is targeting the Group One 2000 Guineas, while Sacred Elixir's main target will be the Group One Victoria Derby.
Three-year-old (1200-1600m): Xtravagant
Without a doubt Xtravagant will head this category after Group One wins in the 2000 Guineas and NRM Sprint. It will be interesting how the handicapper frames Xtravagant's weight (rating) and also comparing to previous years Free Handicaps. Xtravagant was rated 118 by international handicappers, while personally I believe this is too high (being rated the same as Buffering for example), International handicappers do figure large winning margins in Group One races as their main justification - and who can argue with an international handicapper - right?
Three-year-old (1601+): Fanatic (NZ Oaks), Provocative (Queensland Oaks), Rangipo (NZ Derby), Risque (1000 Guineas), Sofia Rosa (ATC Oaks), Tavago (ATC Derby) and Valley Girl (Herbie Dyke) lead this category.
There are seven Group One winners, including two Derby winners and three Oaks winners.
Rangipo cleaned up this country's major three-year-old races winning the Group One New Zealand Derby, and three Group Two's Guineas (Waikato Guineas, Avondale Guineas and Great Northern Guineas). Tony Pike's trained gelding should head this category as he beat most his rivals during the season including Tavago - who was dominant winning the Group One ATC Derby in Sydney.
