Qualification information for Nutrien Equine Classic finals

Participants contesting heats of Nutrien Equine Classic pacing series find below the conditions and parameters for qualification into the April 11 finals at Melton Entertainment Park.

1. The finals shall comprise a maximum of 12 starters plus emergency.

2. All heat winners will automatically qualify (including first past post for respective sex in states with combined sex heats, or highest placed horse that accepts invitation).

3. Remaining horses will qualify for the final in the following order:

• Next ranked horse, based on finishing position and mile rate, from state who conducted highest number of heats in Victoria or NSW. If same number of heats conducted in both states, then defaults to state hosting respective final.
• Next ranked horse from alternate state of Victoria/NSW.
• Repeat above until field limit reached.

4. In the event of Victoria or NSW having less than six acceptors in a division and the heat being abandoned, horses that accepted for the abandoned heat will automatically qualify. 

5. In the event of a dead heat for any finishing position in a qualifying race, preference in state ranking will be given to a horse who places outright for the same finishing position, regardless of mile rate. In the event of two or more horses each finishing in the same position and recording the same mile rate in a qualifying race, preference will be given to the horse with greater lifetime stakemoney.

Example: 2YO C&G, Victoria hosts two heats, NSW one heat, Queensland single combined sex heat