Whether you are a trainer who concentrates on G3 racers or a big fish intent on challenge domination, everyone who entertains themselves by participating at RaceClubs.com all have something in common, we all had to start somewhere. I have often preached the gospel of how important your knowledge of the game has to be to compete and play the game on a level with your peers. It is a time consuming exercise that can only be improved with patience and a willingness to learn, look and listen. This game is more complex than it can appear on the surface and without the proper investment of your time and patience can you ever expect it to be mastered. Many players jump at the chance to own a virtual nag and are instantly taken in by the potential lucrative prizes on offer and the excitement and buzz you experience when one of your own hits the line first but always remember that this game is not a jump-in opportunity to win a quick penny or two.
It's all so easy to come into the game with a bottomless pit of money and experience the thrill of competing with and against the best of the best, day in day out but there has to be far more satisfaction to graft your way to the top. Learning from your mistakes is an integral part of your journey and can help build a solid knowledge base for progression through the ranks. One thing I always say when approached by a new player is that you wont get handed all the skills neccessary to become an instant success at the track. Of course there are ways and means of obtaining great information by means of the mentorship program and your fellow community members, who are extremely forward in helping a new player out. Although these two examples are outlets that you should certainly consider, the best knowledge can be found on the site itself and more often than not in your own stable.
In the interest of the newer players and to introduce some lesser known players to the community I have selected five rookie trainers to observe and have spent a good few hours trawling through their stables, getting to know their charges and the style they play the game with. The purpose is not one of scrutiny but one of acknowledgement. To celebrate what they have achieved so far on their journey as they get to grips and accustomed to the ins and outs of day-to-day gameplay.
Jz Racing Stable : Graded Wins : 20Of the five stables I have chosen to delve a little deeper into, Jz Racing Stable is the largest of them all, currently housing fifty horses. What I like the most about this stable is the dedication to the claimer races. Of the fifty horses that has been amassed since joining on August 3rd 2010, twenty-three of their current runners have come from claims. This is certainly the way to go when you first become a member of RaceClubs.com as it is a very reliable source of information and the general rule is to pick up an older horse that has had a lot of wins. The time trial data sourced from such horses can be regarded as gold dust in some cases and can act as a marker to base your stables future upon. Although absent of such horses I have concluded that the stable has built quite a knowledgable stance on what is required. The knowledge gained from claiming so many horses has led the stable to pick up some very well priced horses at auction. Not only is the stable hitting winners with a win percentage of 16% in graded races but it seems to be gaining confidence in his ability to seek new blood. What did interest me most about his auction purchases is his affiliation to particular stables. It seems that there is an element of trust in who he is dealing with, another good way to ensure value for money.
Black Secrets : Graded Wins : 2This stable has taken the approach to build a stable of runners exclusively from the claimer races and predominantly within the G2 arena. This is a very good tactical approach if you are looking to step up the grades into the G1 arena. It acts as a solid approach when getting to know what is required to win a race in any given spectrum. I look on this stable to be making a quiet, yet not beyond reach, step up in grade. Given time and with some calculated claims there is evidence to suggest that the stable is coming to terms with his runners and has recently decided to take a look at some G1 runners, picking up a couple at the minimum to speculate. I very much like the patient approach this stable is taking and in just over a month since their stable opened they currently have eighteen horses to feed their fortune. One thing I did notice which stuck out like a sore thumb was a potential winner lurking. If I were to offer some advice to the yard it would be to concentrate their horse, Catch The Waves in allowance races to make good use of the low weight it will carry.
Mac Hardy : Graded Wins : 11The place that produces the greatest horses the virtual world will see is the sales ring. It's often considered that it can sometimes be a dangerous place but without it, where would all the horses come from? It's often refreshing to see that some trainers are not put off by a dip into the unknown and this can be said of Mac Hardy. All but three of the twenty-four horses in the yard have come directly from the ring. This is a stark contrast to our previously mentioned stables who have used the claimers as their main source to obtain racers. It is clear to see that the stable want to be a part of the G1 scene as a vast proportion of their runners hail to the grade. To date the stable has scored with a 13% strike rate in graded races and when you consider that over half the yard compete at the top grade it is fair to say that it has not been a bad start to their career at all. With barely a months racing on the clock, the stable has quickly adapted and can also boast a 39% placed percentage, which on reflection is up there with the best. This stable strikes me as a fast learner and can go from strength to strength.
Oastler Stable : Graded Wins : 3Although small in stature, the Oastler Stable is gradually finding their feet. Their recent claim of four year old colt, Throw It Down, should give them a more detailed insight into the workings of the G1 arena. This stable is not put off by having a smaller stable in comparison to others and I get the feeling that they are spending time learning the ropes. So far they have not lit up the racing world but do have a very respectable place to run ratio, currently 40%. Now that in itself suggests that the race placement is obviously correct and with a little more luck and maybe a couple more quality horses in the yard, it would be of no surprise to see the stable gradually climb the ladder of success. People tend to forget that some stables have limited budgets and constraints to work within and often it is these stumbling blocks that have to be the first hurdle to jump to progress as a trainer. Oastler Stable may be a stable who will set a very tight budget. This is a very good atribute and all stables should think about how much they can afford to stake when running their yard. The most important factor is to remain in these parameters and the rest will come naturally in time.
Bradington UK : Graded Wins : 5The first thing that strikes you when you enter this yard is the entry of their horse, Wallet Emptier, into an allowance race first time up. The irony is in the horses name and this is exactly what will happen if this practise continued and is something that all aspiring rookie players should take note of. Unless you have a horse of supreme ability or you are purposely sand-bagging the horse to a low weight then it is never considered that an allowance race be the first visit to the track that a horse should take. This act may have been an oversight by the trainer as his handling of one of his other horses, Wotzthechances, clearly indicate the yard know exactly when an allowance race should be utilised and they should be commended. A steady approach and thought about race placement will see this stable gain strength in race numbers and wins and even though a couple of mistakes may be made along the way, always take the negative and turn it into a positive. I have a feeling that the yard is going to come good and they have shown an aptitude within the rated racing area of the game, an area that not even the most hardened of players can grasp.
Friday, October 8, 2010
From Rookie To Champion on Raceclubs? Meet the five hottest new trainers on Raceclubs before you're up against them in your next race!
From Rookie To Champion on Raceclubs!
A view of five up and coming rookie stables
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