Amazing Grace: tipping her way to the top

It's hard to believe that our great sport of horse racing once drew a line in the Members area at some racecourses, to restrict access to women on race day.

Thankfully, we've come a long way since then, helped by a cast of amazing women who have blazed a trail to achieve great things in the racing industry. 

There is a long list of distinguished women who have starred in various roles across racing: Gai Waterhouse (trainer),  Clare Lindop and Michelle Payne (jockeys) and Amanda Elliot (racing administration), to name a few.

But the trend isn't limited to these more newsworthy racing occupations.

Women are also making their mark on form analysis and racing journalism. Lizze Jelfs, Francesca Cumani and Bernadette Cooper are just a few who have firmly established themselves amongst racing's elite minds.

Armed with comprehensive performance statistics from every tip posted in the public domain, we're adding another name to this distinguished group. 

For the ten years that we've recorded the selections of Australian racing form experts, the performance of Grace Ramage stands-out as one of the best. Her statistics speak for themselves.

 

Consistent Profit

Since starting to record Grace's selections back in August 2018 from the super racing mag the Winning Post, the Victorian form analyst, commentator and journalist for Racing.com has proven to be nothing less than exceptional.

With 494 tips recorded over the 13 month period, the talented form analyst boasts an outstanding wrap sheet.

• 18% profit on turnover (POT) using starting price.
• Profitable on 51% of the days when she tips.
• 36% POT from all Flemington tips.
• 47% POT from all Moonee Valley selections.

After observing Grace's freakish consistency, week-after-week, we've had a burning question on our lips. How does she do it?

 

Study and Tuning

If there is a secret behind Grace's success, it's her passion and will to succeed. The Racing.com presenter conducts extensive post race analysis, focusing on her under-performing predictions to identify reasons for the miss.

This work usually results in adjustments to her approach, with the aim of achieving better results in the future. Grace's attention on continuous improvement is a shining example of her burning drive to make her mark in the racing industry.

 

Doing the Form

Unlike the majority of punters who wait until minutes before the jump to decide on their selections, Grace is done and dusted 50 hours before the starter lets them go in the first.

Editorial deadlines only provide a small window between the time that acceptances post and publication times hit on Thursday morning.

Without access to late market movements and opinions floating around in the media, Grace is left only with her own resources.

Equipped with her go-to form resources, Racing.com replays and the PuntingForm form guide, Ramage applies her freshly tuned approach to another Saturday metropolitan card.

Grace works on mapping the field with the intent of finding value. This pursuit for overs can sometimes create unwanted bias where she often looks for something to run down the even-money speed horse ("Pippie in the Cockram comes to mind. I'll never do that again!" - Grace).

The process usually takes five hours from start to finish.

 

 

Busy Schedule

If Grace's form routine sounds taxing, then you will be surprised to learn that it's a relatively small part of her role at Racing.com.

Grace hosts race-day and magazine shows for the broadcaster, covers and reports racing news and regularly attends trackwork.

On Saturday you will find her on-course as part of the Racing.com broadcast team. It's there where she gets amongst the action to report breaking news and pre and post-race opinions from jockeys, trainers and connections.

 

Quick-fire Q&A

We asked Grace the racing questions that most punters like to answer and here's her response...

 

Favourite track for punting and why?

Flemington. It's the fairest track and you take the most confidence that every horse will get its chance.

 

Favourite track as a visitor and why?

Caulfield. It was my 'local' track growing up and I've spent a lot of time there over the years! I know it very well.

 

Favourite race meeting on the calendar and why?

Caulfield Guineas day, because it's the heart of the Spring Carnival. There's great anticipation before the running of the four Group 1 races on the day and plenty of discussion afterwards.

 

Favourite thoroughbred of all time and why?

Really tough question and a topic I agonise over when it's discussed. 

Up until four years ago the answer was simple: Sunline. I was obsessed with that champion mare. I was around 8 years old when she was at the peak of her powers, and she had me hooked.

Now, I think the answer is the greatest mare of all: Winx. I can't watch any of her replays without getting emotional and I'm so lucky to have been able to get so close to her, thanks to my role at Racing.com.

 

Biggest collect ever and can you recall the details of the bet?

Australian Cup day quaddies earlier this year (2019). It paid around $60,000 and I had a chunk.

 

In a sport that thrives on opinions it's handy to produce the hard facts that prove to punters and industry folk alike that Grace Ramage is a genuine rising star.