Racing terms
Class
Class describes the standard of competition a race represents. The Australian hierarchy runs from Maiden through Class 1 to Class 6, then Benchmark handicaps, Listed, Group 3, Group 2 and Group 1 at the top. Class is the single most useful piece of context in form study: a three-length win against maidens tells you far less than a narrow placing at Group level, and a horse rising more than one class after a soft win is a classic vulnerable favourite.
In use
Winning a Class 3 does not prove a horse handles a Benchmark 78 field.
On FormRace
Class movement is one of the features FormRace's model reads on every runner.
Related terms
BenchmarkA rating-based handicap class where weight follows each horse's rating.MaidenA horse that has never won a race, or a race restricted to such horses.Group RaceThe top tier of black-type racing, graded 1 to 3.Listed RaceBlack-type racing one tier below Group 3.False FavouriteThe shortest-priced runner in a race that does not deserve to be.