11 March, 2004
Whether you're a daily form student or a once-a-month
social punter any advantage you can find in backing a winner is gladly
received.
With that in mind, figures released by Harness Racing
Victoria today on the strike rates of the state's top 30 trainers and drivers,
thus far in season 2003-04, makes for very interesting reading.
It's no surprises to see Kerryn Gath (pictured)
top the drivers chart with a winning strike rate of 28.6%, but Wayne Potter
will surprise many with his emphatic lead in the training ranks.
The Kilmore trainer boasts an exceptional 51.2%
winning strike rate, well clear of the second placed 'King Of The Claimers' Rod
Weightman who sits on 38.8%.
Gath's husband, Andy, four times Australia's premier
trainer, is third with a 29.8% winning strike rate. That's a terrific figure
given the large quantity of horses the Great Western mentor lines up.
The leading five Victorian trainers on winning strike
rates since 1 September, 2003 (based on a top 30 premiership standing as at 10
March) are;
?
Wayne Potter - 51.2% (43 starters)
?
Rod Weightman - 38.8% (49 starters)
?
Andy Gath - 29.8% (339 starters)
?
Clayton Tonkin - 28.9% (83 starters)
?
David Murphy - 24.6% (179 starters)
The leading five Victorian drivers on winning strike
rates since 1 September, 2003 (based on a top 30 premiership standing as at 10
March) are;
?
Kerryn Gath - 28.6% (608 drives)
?
Mark Peace - 23.5% (68 drives)
?
Daniel Jack - 18.7% (283 drives)
?
David Murphy - 18.5% (243 drives)
?
Gavin Lang - 17.4% (328 drives)
Gath's figures are amazing given she's had more starts
than other driver in the state and is fast nearing her fifth consecutive double
century.
Although mostly restricted to his own stable runners,
Mark Peace has given punters plenty of joy, while Daniel Jack's high polling
confirms his standing as the state's most promising young driver.
In other figures released, the placing strike rate
creates plenty of interest too, especially for those punters taking multiple
bets like quinellas and trifectas.
The following statistics indicate the percentage of
placed horses, be it first, second or third, that a trainer or driver boasts
this season.
The leading 10 Victorian trainers on placing strike
rate since 1 September, 2003 (based on a top 30 premiership standing as at 10
March) are;
?
Rod Weightman - 61.2% (49 starters)
?
Wayne Potter - 60.5% (43 starters)
?
Andy Gath - 59.3% (339 starters)
?
Martin Herbert - 59.1% (61 starters)
?
Glen Tippet - 55.7% (70 starters)
?
Clayton Tonkin - 53.0% (83 starters)
?
David Murphy - 52.5% (179 starters)
?
Tony Dillon - 50.9% (112 starters)
?
Bob Mahncke - 50.4% (105 starters)
?
Peter Manning - 49.9% (401 starters)
For punters looking for smaller boutique stables to
follow as well, the stats suggest that Colin Rogers, Geoff Dodd or Grant
Hodges-trained runners are well worth an each way ticket.
Owing to a limited numbers of horses in work, the trio
sit between 30th and 50th position on the premiership table, but all boast a
placing strike rate of better than 50%.
The leading 10 Victorian drivers on placing strike
rate since 1 September, 2003 (based on a top 30 premiership standing as at 10
March) are;
?
Kerryn Gath - 59.2% (608 drives)
?
Gavin Lang - 46.7% (328 drives)
?
David Murphy - 46.5% (243 drives)
?
Daryl Douglas - 44.5% (562 drives)
?
John Justice - 44.4% (169 drives)
?
Chris Alford - 44.2% (502 drives)
?
Mark Peace - 44.1% (68 drives)
?
Daniel Jack - 42.4% (283 drives)
?
Shayne Cramp - 39.5% (109 drives)
?
John Caldow - 39.4% (409 drives)
Outside the established names, three up-and-coming
young reinsmen making waves are Matthew Craven, Christopher Shinn and Luke
Watson.
The trio, placed between positions 30 and 50 on the
drivers premiership, each boast more than 50 drives this season and have racked
up some impressive figures.
Craven boasts a 51.7%
placing strike rate, while Shinn has achieved 45.3% and Mildura-based Watson
44.9%.
