Matt Collum from Racelab has run the rule over the 2025 edition of The Shorts. The preview includes a speed map, likely rating required to win the race, market to 100% and a verdict. And, Matt is keen to bet around the favourite.
The track – unique features of Randwick 1100m course, advantages PIR/barriers:
- Rail +7m, Good 4
- Historically barriers 1-3 are outperforming market expectations
- Wide barriers (8+) are disadvantaged
Speed map & tempo:
Expecting a solid tempo here with a Compelling Truth and Private Harry pressing forward (see image below):
Positive/negative jockey/trainer worth highlighting:
- Ashley Morgan is winning at 15% S/R and POT of 20.1% for his last 100 rides
- Tommy Berry and Tim Clark are riding their mounts (Marhoona and Generosity) for the first time
Past 5 winners with Racelab Performance Rating:
This table outlines the Racelab rating achieved by each of the past five winners when taking out The Shorts. It gives an indication of the level required to win the race in recent years for a few different levels of weight carried. The rating is dependent on the WFA scale and factors in weight carried, hence I Am Me – as a 6YO mare – produced a lower Racelab rating due to the adjustment for her carrying 55kg. It’s worth noting that three out of the last five winners have all carried the top weight of 58kg. Since the year 2000, only three females have won the race (I Am Me 2024, Hot Danish 2010 and Fritz’s Princess 2008).
| Date | Horse | Age | Sex | Weight | Margin | Racelab Rating |
| 21/09/24 | I Am Me 6M | 55.0kg | 0.2L | 105.3 |
| 16/09/23 | Private Eye 6G | 58.0kg | 0.2L | 108.8 |
| 17/09/22 | Nature Strip 8G | 58.0kg | 1.3L | 111.2 |
| 18/09/21 | Eduardo 8G | 58.0kg | 0.4L | 109.8 |
| 19/09/20 | Classique Legend 5G | 57.0kg | 1.0L | 110.0 |
Racelab benchmark likely to be required to win this year’s edition of The Shorts:
Based off the final field, their recent form, and potential Racelab Prime Rating, the below figures give an indication of what horses will need to achieve based on their weight carried under the WFA scale to win Saturday’s The Shorts.
| Weight | Rating |
| 58.0kg | 107.7 |
| 57.0kg | 107.0 |
| 56.0kg | 106.2 |
| 55.0kg | 105.4 |
| 53.0kg | 103.7 |
The Racelab Prime Ratings for each horse can be seen in the screenshot below.
The ratings/market:
Based off a range of data, speed map and recent form, Racelab has come up with its own 100% market, which is compared to the current market in the table below. Value exists where the Racelab price is lower than the current price (i.e. Briasa)
The verdict and betting strategy:
This race is a great preview for the Everest with the top three hopes all slot holders. Hard to knock the form of Private Harry but he meets a decent field here and may not get the race run to suit. Briasa looks ready to rock after two solid trials and he gets a lovely run behind the speed. He will be doing his best work late.
Suggested Bet:
Briasa – Win
Legend:
| Name | Definition |
| Prime Rating | Expected rating figure for the upcoming race based on historical performances |
| Job To Do (JTD) | The minimum rating required for each runner to win the race using a combination of metrics: Benchmark, Weight Carried, Mean Weight and Distance. |
