Country’s top older mare Stylish Memphis set to be victim of HRNZ’s flawed voting system

Stylish Memphis, the country’s best performed older mare, looks certain to miss out on being recognised at harness racing’s annual awards.

And if that happens, leading trainer Mark Jones says Harness Racing New Zealand will have no option than to change its outmoded voting criteria.

On top of notable omissions revealed this week in the list of category finalists, both people and horses, supporting information sent by HRNZ to its undisclosed panel of judges does not include performances in Australia.

A covering letter makes no mention of whether Australian form should be taken into account while the potted histories include Australian form digits but no mention of feature race wins there.

Confusingly, judges wanting more information are invited to examine records on HRNZ’s website, which include Australian results.

Few judges viewing HRNZ’s provided stats on Stylish Memphis would have voted for her.Under “New Zealand stats” on the histories provided, Stylish Memphis is credited with having run one second and one third from seven starts and won $49,088.

On HRNZ’s pen pictures the stats put her well behind the other contenders for the five-year-old and older pacing mare.

Four other mares were listed in the cheat sheets sent out by HRNZ on January 12 - Belle Of Montana, Callie’s Delight, Harder Than Diamonds and Mimi E Coco.

Five days later HRNZ alerted all judges that another, Need You Now, should have have been in that section too but was wrongly listed with the four-year-olds. And Harder Than Diamonds, listed under the five-year-olds, should have been with the four-year-olds.

Judges spoken to say they wrestled the most with the older mares’ section, which had the most finalists, courtesy of their moderate records.

Mimi E Coco topped the list of many with three wins, one at Listed level, and $54,403 in stakes, while Harder Than Diamonds (three wins, $50,289), Callie’s Delight (three wins, $47,290) and Need You Now (one win in the Group II Premier Mares’ Championship, $43,000) made for a seemingly difficult choice.

In reality, this should have been the easiest category for the judges.

Stylish Memphis was clearly the best older mare last season, winning A$186,550 in Australia and $49,088 in New Zealand. PHOTO: Club Menangle.From seven starts in New South Wales, Stylish Memphis stamped herself as one of the leading mares in Australasia, winning four races, finishing second twice, and earning A$186,550 in stakes.

She downed Spellbound in the $200,000 Group I Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle, paced 1:50.6 in winning the Group II Sibelia Stakes and downed the boys in the Group III Hall Free-for-all.

She also broke the clock in finishing second against allcomers in the Group I Ainsworth Free-for-all when just two metres behind winner Zeuss Bromac who clocked a mile rate of 1:54.1 for the mobile 2400 metres.

Stylish Memphis’ form was so good she was snapped up by slot-holder Barrett Homes for the inaugural $862,500 The Race by Grins at Cambridge last April. The only mare in the race, she was not disgraced in finishing sixth to Self Assured after leading out, trailing, then being shuffled back to the rear.

Mark Jones … “It’s not our fault that HRNZ doesn’t run more races for mares.”Jones is adamant that how our horses perform in Australia is critical and the stats should be made clear to all voters.

“Horses shouldn’t be penalised for racing in Australia. It is important we recognise their results there.

“Stylish Memphis had no choice but to do the majority of her racing in Australia as we have only two main mares’ races in New Zealand that she could start in during the season.

“It’s not our fault that HRNZ doesn’t run more races for mares and she can’t be expected to stay home and be used as cannon fodder against Copy That and co.”

In the developing landscape of dwindling numbers at home, with regular cancellation of races forcing more and more New Zealand horses to race in Australia, it becomes even more critical that their perfomances are taken into account.

Ignoring Australian form leaves open the ludicrous prospect of a Kiwi-based horse getting no recognition for winning say the Hunter Cup and Miracle Mile, two of the most prestigious races on the calendar.

Australian results have long been a key component of voting for horses in New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s awards.

It is difficult to canvas judges on their choices given HRNZ’s invitations to vote came with a bold font “important note” that votes had to be kept confidential.

“This means you are not able to share who you voted for with anyone else. If you do communicate your votes they will not be counted,” the warning read.

One judge did, however, reveal he did not vote for Stylish Memphis because he believed Australian results didn’t count. It would appear HRNZ’s own staff are befuddled too as one he questioned said the opposite.

Another judge spoken to urged HRNZ to include among the histories any horses who posted New Zealand records during the season.

Horses with that extra laurel included Sundees Son (three), Muscle Mountain (three), Millwood Nike and Copy That.

Voitng closed on Wednesday and winners will be named at the awards function in Christchurch on March 4.