Normally, I wouldn't bother responding but on twitter today, there was a very pointed and particularly nasty post stating that the draw is corrupt, everyone associated with it are crooks and that Justin Prentice (and clients) is the prime beneficiary of favourable draws, especially in rich juvenile races, and that it has been "evident for years".  It was a bold assertion and as usual, not supported by any facts. Now, Twitter has limits volume wise on what you can post (140 characters or whatever) and generally, you can't reason with these people anyway, so I did a bit of a "data trawl" on JP's winners in major juvenile races. My first thought was if you have a lot of juvenile runners, you would have to have an elevated chance of a good barrier and Justin, without checking, would be the most prolific of our juvenile trainers, often with multiple runners. Because I didn't have a lot of time, I started 8 years ago in 2014. It makes for an interesting read (if your interested in this sort of stuff). Year /winner (driver/trainer) /barrier/race. Cutting and pasting so hope the format holds up.

2014. 

Mista Rush JP/JP  SR1 Country Derby (Bunbury)

Major Reality JP/JP. Fr3 Gold Bracelet

Bettor Reward JP/JP Fr1 4YO Championship

Bettor Reward JP/JP SR2 Westbred Classic

The Revolution JP/JP Fr6 3YO Sales Classic

Major Reality Jnr/JP Fr4 WA Oaks

I'm Stylish JP/JP Fr2 Western Crown

Doalittlerocknroll JP/JP Fr8 Sires Stakes

Lady Luca  ACL/JP Fr2 Diamond Classic

Bettor Reward ACL/JP Fr5 Manea Classic (Bunbury)

Major Reality B.Green/JP Fr1 Empress Stakes

Major Reality JP/JP Fr1 Norms Daughter

Major Reality JP/JP Fr2 Mares Classic (2nd)

Highroller Joe JP/JP Fr3 Sires Stakes

Tenniele Erin ACL/JP Fr3 Westbred Sales Classic

Bettor Reward JP/JP Fr2 Manea Classic (Bunbury)

Bettor Be Lively TB/JP Fr1 Country Derby

Allamerican Queen JP/JP Fr1 Sires Stakes 3YO

Has No Fear TB/JP Fr1 Western Crown

Dracarys JP/JP Fr2 Gold Bracelet

Major Pride ACL/JP Fr1 Diamond 100k Classic

Our Major Mama Jnr/JP Fr8 WA Oaks

Has No Fear JY/JP Fr9 WA Oaks

Has No Fear Jnr/JP Fr5 WA Sales Classic

Major Pride Jnr/JP Fr1 100k Diamond Classic

Manning ACL/JP Sr1 Pearl Classic

Major Martini JP/JP Fr2 100k Westbred Sales Classic

Major Martini JP/JP Fr6 100k Sires Stakes

Aristocratic Star Jnr/JP Fr4 Country Derby

Major Martini Jnr/JP Fr2 WA Sales Classic

Major Martini JP/JP Fr2 Western Gateway

Mighty Ronaldo JP/JP Fr3 Western Crown

Mighty Ronaldo JP/JP Fr9 Golden Slipper

Always An Angel Jnr/JP Sr3 Diamond Classic

Mighty Ronaldo Jnr/JP Fr1 WA 3YO Sales Classic

Mighty Ronaldo JP/JP Fr2 WA Derby

Tricky Miki JP/JP Fr2 Golden Slipper

Never Ending Jnr/JP Fr 3 Pearl Classic

Never Ending Jnr/JP Fr1 215k Westbred

Never Ending Fr1 .......in this Fridays Golden Slipper?

Now, that's with some margin for error, given my data trawling skills,  and only includes winners,and doesn't show losing horses from the stable (with either favourable or unfavourable barrier draws). Yes, there are a lot of number 1 and 2 gates, an awful lot,  apparently enough for our twitter Troll to go to town.  .....but dig up any reasonable amount of data from any races and any stables at Gloucester Park and number 1 and number 2 will feature prominently.

Race 2-   American Arma,  Booraa,  The Amber Hare,  Alcippes Delight

Race 3-   Doc Holliday,  Stamford,  Arma Einstein,  Power And Grace

Race 4-   Lavra Joe,  Miracle Moose,  Plutonium,  Bletchley Park

Race 5-   Wonderful To Fly,  Little Darling,  Im Themightylucy,  Taking The Miki

Race 6-   Ideal Agent,  Talks Up A Storm,  Ezana,  Rockaball

Race 7-   Advantage,  Rolling Fire,  Velocipede,  Hes Never Been Beta

Race 8-   Suing You,  Awaitinginstructions,  Bettor Copagoodone,  Bettorstartdreaming

Race 9-   Glenledi Chief,  Joey James,  Gee Smith,  Regal Scribe

Race 10- Cheer The Major,  Master Publisher,  Vintage Blu,  Rockmenow

Race 2 : Shakira Blue

Race 3 : lil Delight

Race 4 : Dove Cry

Race 5 : Triple Brie

Battle of Bunbury G3 : Rock On Top

Race 7 : William Gees Legacy Nz

Race 1-   Whataretheodds,  Machs Bettor,  Rambo Rabbit,  Hoppys Way

Race 2-   Doc Holliday,  Rupert Of Lincoln,  Arma Einstein,  Whatabro

Race 3-   Stamford,  Boom Time,  Euphoria,  Rockaball

Race 4-   Mr Fantastic,  Plutonium,  Dont Bother Me None,  Talks Up A Storm

Race 5-   Zephyra,  Flametree,  August Moon,  American Monarch

Race 6-   Never Ending,  Valedictorian,  Crowd Control,  Rocket City

Race 7-   In The Spotlight,  Booraa,  Miss Limelight,  Livy Jay

Race 8-   Tenzing Bromac,  Rocknroll Elliot,  Strauny,  Hes Under Wraps

Race 9-   Hampton Banner,  Lavra Joe,  Bletchley Park,  Mirragon

Race 10- Tiger Royal,  Cheer The Major,  Rockstar Rebel,  Sheza Bromac

R1- Lombo Michinson

R2- Hilo Louisa

R3- First Airborne

R4- Burghley Shard

R5- Little Suzie

R6- Bettor Look

R7- Lets Rock Tonight

Race 1-   Jett Star,  Markham Eyre,  Zazu,  Illawong Mustang

Race 2-   Doc Holliday,  Arma Einstein,  Fanci A Dance,  Withoutthetuh

Race 3-   Mirragon,  Jaspervellabeach,  Al Guerrero,  Euphoria

Race 4-   Booraa,  Angel In White,  American Arma,  Platinum Sparkle

Race 5-   Lavra Joe,  Hampton Banner,  Vultan Tin,  Miracle Moose

Race 6-   Swingband,  Tricky Miki,  The Miki Taker,  Goodfellaz

Race 7-   Wonderful To Fly,  Taking The Miki,  Little Darling,  Precocious Lady

Race 8-   Joey James,  Master Yossi,  Gee Smith,  Pontevivo

Race 9-   Im The Black Flash,  Rolling Fire,  Hes Never Been Beta,  Rockokoko

Race 10- Plutonium,  Handsandwheels,  The Ideal Touch,  Always Fast

R1- Sassy Annie

R2- Venus Or Mars

R3- Rellim

R4- The Amber Hare

R5- Unconditional

R6- El Jessie

R7- All Aussie Mach

R8- Dove Cry

Race 1 : Zazu

Race 2 : Withoutthetuh

Race 3 : Al Gurerro

Race 4 : American Arma

G3 : Hampton Banner

G1 : Tricky Miki

G1 : Wonderful to Fly

Race 8: Joey James

Race 9 : Im in the Black Flash

Race 10 : Always Fast

Bunbury  ( day meeting starting at 11:00am )

Race 1 : Sassy Annie

Race 2 : Smokeys Shadows

Race 3 : : Hilarious Reign

Race 4 : The Amber Hare

Race 5 : Rockstar rebel

Race 6 : Mega Mach

Race 7 : Roll of Honour

Race 8 : Dove Cry

Race 1-   Tenzing Bromac,  Rascal,  Our Shelley Beach,  Tiger Royal

Race 2-   Mirragon,  Shadow Roll,  Doc Holliday,  Rupert Of Lincoln

Race 3-   Pocket The Cash,  Jaspervellabeach,  Boom Time,  James Butt

Race 4-   Swingband,  The Miki Taker,  Whataretheodds,  Machs Bettor

Race 5-   Mr Fantastic,  Machnificent,  American Arma,  Plutonium

Race 6-   Lavra Joe,  Hampton Banner,  Diego,  Jumpingjackmac

Race 7-   Al Guerrero,  Always Fast,  Gee Smith,  Captured Delight

Race 8-   In The Spotlight,  Paroquet,  Alcippes Delight,  Livy Jay

Race 9-   Carrera Mach,  Awaitinginstructions,  Spy Major,  Disco Under Fire

Race 10- American Monarch,  Chewysloosechange,  Cabsav,  Lady Violetta

Race 11- Beefour Bacardi,  Patched,  Majestic Dream,  Elish Star

R1- Chasing Hill

R2- Sport Sport Sport

R3- Stella Major

R4- Kolisi

R5- Rocknroll Elliot

R6- Mega Mach

R7- Lombo Mitchinson

Just shy of 90 years of age

RIP Bill

Alas, we will share it here. Back in the day, a Royal Visit was a huge occasion and I recall being dragged out of primary school when I was about 7 or 8 years old to line the Albany Highway to wave my school supplied Union Jack at a large old black Rolls Royce as Liz and The Duke went careering past. I am sure they won't remember me for my lack of enthusiasm but I did wonder what all the fuss was about. My Mum even made me wear shoes and socks to school that day. They lasted until morning recess kick to kick.

Anyway, they were the times that were and in 1969, The Duke Of Kent visited Perth, no idea what for but he and Mrs Kent had Gloucester Park on their list of essential stop offs and on Friday,  August 29th , with Honky Tonk Woman  at #1 in the charts and the landing on the Moon fresh in our minds (July 20) and the waft of Cannabis Sativa fresh in the air at Woodstock (August 15th), the good folk at GP put on a $6,000 Invitation Stakes (equivalent to $80,000 in today's dollars). Just 6 races to allow for all the carry on, introductions to drivers and the like and it was a full house, everyone dressed in their finest. I took a change of clothes to (High) school and caught the bus across the causeway and snuck in via the float car park wheeling in a spider and carrying a gear bag for someone. I dropped my schoolbag in Dad's office (timekeeper) and I was set for the night. 4 drivers were introduced to the Royal Party pre-race, Phil Coulson, Bill Whitfield, Lyle Lindau and Gary Lilleyman. A standing start handicap over 13 furlongs and the large purse saw a top field line up. Off the front, (drivers as I recall as I have no record).... Surfers Guide Les Poyser, Van Nut Lou Torrent?, Salpine Vince Chalker, Sitting Bull Bob Johnson, off 12 yards The Rogue Phil Coulson, Peter Patrick Jim Schrader, Express Adios Bill Whitfield, Blue Pennant Fred Hough and Rising Scott F Kersley, off 24 yards Radiant Oro Jack Retzlaff, Dainty's Daughter Bernie Cushing and Tiara Court Ray Sweetman.  The winner was Radiant Oro 5/2 for Jack Retzlaff ($4500, they paid 75% for the win in those days) from The Rogue 20/1 ($900) Phil Coulson and Peter Patrick 40/1 ($450)  with Dainty's Daughter in 4th. Of course, Jack as the winner also got to shake hands with the Royals. Other winners on the night were Brookton and Macs Problem for Ray Grantham, Vice Master for Les Marriott, Dalfred for Lyle Lindau and Otago for "The Reverend" Jack Flynn. Thank heavens they didn't call upon Flynny to be introduced, he could swear for Australia, thus the nick name.

He was a great horse Radiant Oro, the reigning WA Pacing Cup holder who would relinquish the crown later in the season to Dainty's Daughter in a then world record mile rate of 2.3.5 over the two miles, only to come back and win it the following year off 36 yards.....and he was only a tiny little chestnut fellow, the Mighty Atom. Glory days even if there was a lot of cultural cringe from the gentry walking around genuflecting "per favor" of anyone with even a remote connection to the palace.

Race 2-   Boom Time,  Whatabro,  Rockaball,  Lord Rosco

Race 3-   Eighteen Carat,  Angel In White,  Platinum Sparkle,  American Arma

Race 4-   Lavra Joe,  Jumpingjackmac,  Vultan Tin,  Minstrel

Race 5-   Never Ending,  Valedictorian,  Crowd Control,  Rolling Fire

Race 6-   Plutonium,  Hampton Banner,  Socrates,  Talks Up A Storm

Race 7-   Taking The Miki,  Im Themightylucy,  Wall Street Girl,  Queeninthecorner

Race 8-   Fanci A Dance,  Euphoria,  Mirragon,  Medieval Man

Race 9-   Master Yossi,  Cooper,  American Bullitt,  Joey James

Race 10- Rupert Of Lincoln,  Livy Jay,  Carrera Mach,  Destined To Rule

Race 2 : Oh so Grand

Race 3 : Fifo

Race 4 : Navy Street

Race 5 : Strength And Honour

Race 6 : Caribbean Lily

Group 3 :  Country Oaks  : Wonderful To Fly

Race 8 : Triki Miki

Race 9 : Mega Mach

For me it looked dodgy. Winner gets the nice rails run which he probably knew was coming as he could have gone wider. What is Emily doing turning her head to the right forever amount of times even after Hall has gone past her on the inside? Has she ever done that previously? Looked worthy of a logie award.

Race 2-   Bracken Sky,  Hotfoot It,  American Bullitt,  Ohoka Titan

Race 3-   Boom Time,  Arma Einstein,  Shadow Roll,  Euphoria

Race 4-   Plutonium,  Al Guerrero,  Always Fast,  Pocket The Cash

Race 5-   Chicago Bull,  Lavra Joe,  Minstrel,  Vultan Tin

Race 6-   Himself,  Cooper,  Acuto,  Joey James

Race 7-   Eighteen Carat,  Sahara Storm,  Sunshine Swift,  Glorafilia

Race 8-   Gee Smith,  Sameplace Sametime,  Triroyale Brigade,  Flying Mister Ideal

Race 9-   Dominus Factum,  Angel In White,  Alta Rhett,  Whatabro

Race 10- Advantage,  Chewysloosechange,  Your Grace,  Wanea

Race 2 : bracken Sky

Race 3 : Euphoria

Race 4 : Orlando Blue

Race 5 : Chicago Bull

Race 6 : Cooper

Race 7 : Sahara Storm

Race 8 : Gee Smith

Race 9 : Angel In  White

Race 10 : Wanea

Race 3 : Im The MightyLucy

Race 4 : Stay Focused 

Race 5 : Willam Gees Legacy

Race 6 : Benji

Race 7 : Tenzing Bromac

Race 8: Call To Arms

Race 9 : Venus or Mars

Race 1-   The Miki Taker,  Swingband,  Tricky Miki,  Hoppys Way

Race 2-   Bracken Sky,  Lord Rosco,  Orlando Blue,  Medieval Man

Race 3-   Fanci A Dance,  Plutonium,  Arma Einstein,  Euphoria

Race 4-   Angel In White,  Will I Rocknroll,  Al Guerrero,  Alta Rhett

Race 5-   Mr Fantastic,  The Good Life,  Himself,  Socrates

Race 6-   Lavra Joe,  Minstrel,  Chicago Bull,  Jumpingjackmac

Race 7-   Paroquet,  Sheza Bromac,  Altas Angel,  Miss Lamarr

Race 8-   Beefour Bacardi,  Patched,  Son Of A Whiz,  Majestic Dream

Race 9-   Withoutthetuh,  Machlani,  Triroyale Brigade,  Allwoods Rocknroll

Race 10- Chewysloosechange,  Feeling Empathy,  Wanea,  Morissette

R1- Linebacker

R2- Heavenly Wage

R3- Cooper

R4- Navy Street

R5- Atomic Feel

R6- Oh So Grand

R7- Make Your Mark 

Race 3 : see the world

Race 4 : QueenintheCorner

Race 5 : Bettors Destroya

Race 6 : Roll Up NZ

Race 7 : White Lightning 

Race 2-   Balcatherine,  Angel In White,  Eighteen Carat,  Blissfullabbey

Race 3-   Louie The Lip,  Pocket The Cash,  Shadow Roll,  Fanci A Dance

Race 4-   Typhoon Banner,  Beat City,  Boom Time,  Dominus Factum

Race 5-   The Good Life,  Mr Fantastic,  Moonlite Drive,  Vulcan Star

Race 6-   Chicago Bull,  Diego,  Papinik,  Handsandwheels

Race 7-   Euphoria,  Steam Punk,  Whatabro,  Illawong Mustang

Race 8-   Himself,  Cooper,  Twobob Cracker,  Acuto

Race 9-   Rock Me Over,  Machlani,  Texas Tara,  Free To Air

Race 10- Never Ending,  Soho Confidential,  Sorridere,  Skylord

It is all to do with the conditions attached to the $L5 $25k race:

AE (Also Eligible) clause basically says that if your first preference is for the meeting was for the L14 Conditioned Pace, and that race falls over, then regardless of money earned in your last 5 starts, you can drop into the $L5 25k race and because it is a random draw you can draw an advantageous barrier. So, as well as a class advantage, and maybe a form advantage, you can draw gate 1 and beat up on the genuinely eligible horses in that race.

Dollars last 5 earnings for the 3 "drop ins" this week are Typhoon Banner $44,644, Beat City $30,157 and Dominus Factum $46,895, well above the $25k upper limit. They will be racing against the likes of Will I Rocknroll $5581, Pierre Whitby $5526, Boom Time $6301 and so on. And provided the Conditioned Race keeps falling over on a regular basis as it has done recently (and provided they don't actually win one when it holds up, as it did the other week when Lavra won his 2nd start back and must now go to the FFA), they can keep dropping in on the somewhat out of form and often lower level horses in the $L5<$25k race.

I think it is a loophole that needs closing or modifying even if it is made PBD dependent on actual $L5 won.

The old stand v mobiles argument has come to the fore surrounding handicapping and relevant turnover.

I know that when this issue was discussed since the implementation of RWWA turnover figures were always greater in mobiles than stands in similar time slots and field sizes. That differential applied in all jurisdictions and through all betting agencies.

It prompted me to check current turnover (on the information available) so I took out the figures for the GP stand on 15th July and the mobile either side:

Race  Distance Winner No of Runners Turnover Price of Favourite

5 2536m Mob Magnificent Storm 7 $38,077 $1.75

6 2503m SS Twobob Cracker 10 $33,373 $2.70

7 2130m Mob Savvy Bromac 7 $31,047 $1.30

Nothing conclusive there and the debate will continue for ever and a day.

Race 1-   Zephyra,  Cabsav,  Lucienne,  August Moon

Race 2-   Maungatahi,  Goodfellaz,  Linebacker,  Speedwagon

Race 3-   Vulcan Star,  Moonlite Drive,  Armed Reactor,  Sound Wave

Race 4-   Dominus Factum,  Angel In White,  Arma Einstein,  Beat City

Race 5-   Lady Zegna,  Eighteen Carat,  Lady Jadore,  Paraquet

Race 6-   Boom Time,  Alta Rhett,  Bracken Sky,  Medieval Man

Race 7-   Pocket The Cash,  Rupert Of Lincoln,  Fanci A Dance,  Euphoric Moment

Race 8-   Vespa,  Orlando Blue,  American Bullitt,  Jaspervellabeach

Race 9-   Naval Aviator,  Rock Me Over,  Gov Starzzz,  Machs Gold

R1- Magnus Victor

R2- Ideal Secret

R3- Bettor Move Along

R4- Cooper

R5- The Amber Hare

R6- Make Your Mark

R7- All After Midnight

Race 1-   Markham Eyre,  Robbie Rocket,  Hillview Bondi,  Orlando Blue

Race 2-   Shadow Roll,  Heez Our Perseus,  Pocket The Cash,  Rupert Of Lincoln

Race 3-   Beat City,  Typhoon Banner,  Caveman,  Al Guerrero

Race 4-   Arma Einstein,  Moonlite Drive,  Dominus Factum,  Blitzembye

Race 5-   Magnificent Storm,  Chicago Bull,  Jumpingjackmac,  Handsandwheels

Race 6-   Master Yossi,  Joey James,  Acuto,  Copy n Pace

Race 7-   Angel In White,  Balcatherine,  Savvy Bromac,  Fifty Five Reborn

Race 8-   Louie The Lip,  Euphoria,  Naval Aviator,  Triroyale Brigade

Race 9-   Acharne Girl,  Dontbesillychilli,  Extraordinary Mary,  Catch The Red Eye

Race 10- Crowd Control,  Soho Confidential,  Magnus Victor,  Star Lavra

R1- Flying To Win

R2- Rambo Rabbit

R3- Sagatious

R4- Navy Street

R5- Miss Tivoli

R6- Tricky Miki

R7- The Good Life

R8- Himself

Race 2-   Pradason,  Fanci A Dance,  Pocket The Cash,  Alta Rhett

Race 3-   Dominus Factum,  Shadow Roll,  Caveman,  Valbonne

Race 4-   Magnificent Storm,  Jumpingjackmac,  To Fast To Serious,  Chicago Bull

Race 5-   The Good Life,  Al Guerrero,  Arma Einstein,  Robbie Rocket

Race 6-   Patched,  Beefour Bacardi,  Son Of A Whiz,  Dark Secret

Race 7-   Goodfellaz,  Whos The Dad,  Loucid Dreams,  Been Scootin

Race 8-   Flying Rumour,  Seven No Trumps,  Follow The Music,  Infinite Sign

Race 9-   Wonderful To Fly,  Acharne Girl,  Wall Street Girl,  Catch The Red Eye

Race 10- Lavra Joe,  Beat City,  Blitzembye,  Angel In White

Race 11- August Moon,  Spiritofanangel,  Between Two Thorns,  Cabsav

Race 2-   Stamford,  Seeryanfly,  Cooper,  Tiger Royal

Race 3-   Valbonne,  Pradason,  Euphoria,  Fanci A Dance

Race 4-   Typhoon Banner,  Lavra Joe,  Caveman,  Ragazzo Mach

Race 5-   Chicago Bull,  Jumpingjackmac,  To Fast To Serious,  Vultan Tin

Race 6-   Angel In White,  Sahara Storm,  Lady Jadore,  Miss Limelight

Race 7-   Blitzembye,  Middlepage,  American Bullitt,  Joey James

Race 8-   The Good Life,  Soho Gigolo,  Iona Diamond,  Have Ago Joe

Race 9-   Beat City,  Regal Cheval,  Bracken Sky,  Vespa

Race 10- Ronald Scott,  Reddy To Fly,  Low Flyin,  Nevertellmetheodds

Race 11- Indomitable Symbol,  Feeling Empathy,  Valhalla Angel,  Sugar Boo