Understanding Australian Racing Form:
>Number - this is the number allocated by the TAB/Tote. It is not the same as the starting gate, this is the number indicated in brackets (22).
>Weight - shown here next to the barrier number, 51 kilograms.
>Gear- (Blks) means the horse is racing in Blinkers (USA Blinders).
>Trainer- Mark Kavanagh training at Flemington.
> Age, Colour, Sex, Breeding- at the time of this race Shocking was aged 4 years old, he is a bay horse by Street Cry from the dam Maria Di Castiglia whose sire was Danehill.
> Jockey - Corey Brown, a senior jockey. If the jockey is an apprentice, any allowance they many be permitted will be included here or next to the weight (a1.5kg).
> Starts - 14 Starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds. Prizemoney earned to date: $432,525
> Rating & Techform - Handicappers rating of 105, the Techform rating is another system used by this particular formguide. 105 is equivalent to a Timeform rating of approximately 113.
> Track Statistics - 3 starts in the wet for a second and third, 2 starts at the track for 2 wins.
> Recent Starts - five starts ago on 12th September 2009 finished 9th of 11 runners in a 1500 metre handicap at Moonee Valley on a Good track. Ridden by Steven King, jumped from barrier 1, carried 55kgs. Started $3.10 favourite. Winner was Philda, carrying 54kgs. Distance from the winner was 6.8 lengths. Time 1 minute, 29.77 seconds which was a record. Shocking's rating in that race was 94.
> Last Start - first of 15 runners at Flemington on 31st October 2009. The Lexus is a 2500 metres Group 3 event run on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. Track conditions were Dead, ridden by Michael Rodd from barrier 2, carrying 53.5kgs. $4.40 favourite in betting. Second horse was Hume from New Zealand carrying 53kgs. Margin was 2.3 lengths. Time was 2 minutes, 38.32 seconds. International rating in this race was 99. Michael Rodd went on to ride Shocking to victory in the Melbourne Cup over 3200m at his next start on the following Tuesday.