BETTING ESSENTIALS - AP says: "Betting Essentials is exactly right for me and my approach."

Warren Block's Daily Report - Friday, 3 April 2026
- Betting Essentials - Results Update and Expansion (Part 2)
- Jockey-Trainer provincial statistics - five states - SNAPSHOT profile Teo Nugent
- Matrix day-by-day results for Friday and Saturday racing
- Wizard Freebie - The Wizard Matrix Report
- Wizard Ratings, Raceday, Matrix, and Selectives Results
Betting Essentials - Results Update and Expansion (Part 2)
Since the Wizard formguide website/service was redeveloped in late 2023, additional information has been incorporated into the Wizard's reports - Essentials, Raceday, Watch, Magic, Matrix and What-IF.
In the Daily Report the day-by-day results of various wagering options are detailed, focusing on the two key Wizard ratings - the time-honoured Wizard rating (WRat), and the new Wizard Matrix rating (MaxR).
A summary of these results for the current season follows.
The overall results are:

Breaking the figures down to enable a month-by-month comparison we have:

Getting the most out of the Wizard is made easier if one understands what each of these ratings options seeks to "measure".
The WRat assessment is a relative weight assessment which is adjusted to reflect a number of factors in addition to the inherit ability of the horse, the major ones being:
- form cycle (improvement, peak/plateau, deterioration)
- distance ability
- fitness (days since last run)
- form pattern (runs from spell)
- consistency
- trainer
- jockey
So, WRat is a rating that focuses solely on the fundamentals of horse race assessment.
The Wizard Matrix rating (MaxR) casts its net wider and brings into the ratings assessment an adjustment which reflects betting market movements, overnight and early on race morning, in addition to the WRat's traditional factors.
One impact of these differing ratings approaches is on the odds profile of the top rated runners of each methodology. Because the WRat is based on fundamentals and ignores current market information the odds range of the top two rated WRat horse tends to be wider than that of the top two MaxR rated runners that do reflect market sentiment.
In particular, it is worth noting that the WRat second top rater can deliver double figure odds winners, even up to 50/1. This is an important factor when it comes to betting bank building, and recovery during a drawdown period.
On the other hand, the MaxR rated runners whilst they tend to be at shorter odds, overall they outperform WRat in terms of win percentage, which is a key factor in determining the length and impact of losing runs.
Tomorrow, this discussion will continue.
Jockey-Trainer provincial statistics - five states - SNAPSHOT profile Teo Nugent
Today, jockeys in each of the five mainland states who are currently prominent in their state 2025-2026 provincial premiership, with the stats covering the past two years. Note, however, that these stats cover the rider's results in all races, irrespective of location.
The Jockey/Trainer combinations that are included are based on the following criteria: The Jockey/Trainer combination is listed when a jockey's record shows at least 2 wins when riding the Wizard top-rater, or at least 3 wins when riding the race favourite, or 4 wins if the runner is in the $2.00 to $5.90 odds range, for that stable. Also included are the overall percentage stats for the jockey when riding a Wizard top rater or race favourite, for any stable.

To add to this weekly insight, here is a Snapshot Profile of Teo Nugent (via ChatGPT et al) which makes for some interesting reading.
Teo Nugent is based primarily in Victoria and has enjoyed success in both country and metropolitan racing. Born and raised in Warrnambool, Victoria, he grew up immersed in racing through his family; his father, John, trained jumpers, there was a connection early to Ciaron Maher, and his mother was a jockey. His career has not been without setbacks, including a serious race fall in 2023 that required hospitalisation. ttrausnz+2
Early Background
Teo's passion ignited at 15-16, helping his parents after school before committing fully. He worked for local trainer Quinton Scott, balancing Year 10-11 school until quitting mid-Year 11 for full-time stable duties with 20 horses. To professionalize, he spent 10 months in Ireland's RACE academy, riding for trainer Michael Halford. Returning at 18, he apprenticed to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace at Caulfield. He made his race-riding debut at Casterton in September 2017. racing+1
Riding Locations
Teo rides mainly in Victoria, is highly regarded, and is currently third the 2025-2026 provincial/country premiership with 59 wins.
Key Trainer Partnerships
A significant relationship is with Ciaron Maher, starting via family links, which has yielded stakes race opportunities. His workload across Victorian stables ensures consistent success. He has built a reputation as a tireless rider willing to travel significant distances in pursuit of rides and winners. This work ethic has helped him maintain a consistent book of rides and develop strong relationships with a wide range of trainers. ttrausnz+2
Major Wins
In terms of major achievements, his first stakes success was aboard Grandview Avenue in the Listed Carlyon Stakes at Moonee Valley. The breakthrough win was his 2021 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate dead-heat on Portland Sky (Matt Laurie). magicmillions+6
Matrix day-by-day results for Friday and Saturday racing
The tables show the results for the past eight weeks for the day on which racing occurred. So, today being Friday, this Matrix DOW (Day of Week) report covers the past eight Friday and Saturday results. The day-after results are included so that they are available on race-eve, rather than only on race morning.
(The daily Matrix report aims to assist subscribers contain the number of bets to manageable proportions and improve the strike rate. The report is posted to our website between 10:30am and 10:45am each day with an update at 12 noon.)

Wizard Freebie - The Wizard Matrix Report
The Wizard publishes on this page one of its Wizard reports or special features, either completely or a part thereof. Today, a Wizard Matrix (First Four) Report for one meeting. The full report and all other reports for all meetings for today are available now for subscribers
The Wizard Matrix report aims to assist subscribers contain the number of bets to manageable proportions and improve the strike rate.

Click here for an explanation of the Wizard Matrix report.
Wizard Ratings, Raceday, Matrix, and Selectives results
We publish these full results daily so that subscribers can see the results of the Wizard's ratings options, and Report-content, and thereby formulate a selecting and betting strategy that suits them individually. The Wizard ratings should not be seen as "tips", rather as objective assessments that can be used to inform one's own judgement as to the relative chances of the runners in a race.
The full day-by-day results for Wizard (Wrat) top 4 rated runners, the Raceday Qualifier, and the Matrix (MaxR) 100 pointer, the MaxR top-two, the What-IF top-two Filtered, together with the Matrix W1+MaxR100 Selective qualifier, and the Matrix W1+*EO+MaxR100 Selective qualifier. Also included are the overall results for last week and the last four weeks. The 2024-2025 column shows the WRat results for the full racing season.
This results summary is colour coded so that it is easier for readers to track the relative performance of the Top Rated (blue) and Top-Two Rated (green) ratings options on a daily, and longer term, basis. The best overall qualifier (yellow) is highlighted. Also, the single runner options are grouped separately, as are the two-horse and multi-horse options results, again to make comparisons easier.

The following table shows this week's results of alternative options with respect to possible Matrix Selectives combinations, as well as weekly summaries. These combinations are accessible via the Wizard MATRIX report which is posted to our website between 10:30am and 10:45am each day.

(Key: The first of the two columns for each Selective combination shows number of qualifying races and the second column shows the strike rate. Headings: RWM is Raceday,Watch,Magic, RWM 2/3 means two or three qualifying, Rday is Raceday report qualifier , Magic is Magic report qualifier, R/M is Raceday and Magic, WR1 is Wrat 100, MR1 is MaxR 100.)
The following table shows where the winner of each race run yesterday was rated by WRat, WMod, WHcp, and WExpk and was the qualifier in the Wizard Raceday Report. (Note: The Wrat [W] winner results report on both the top rated and top-two rated winners.) The Raceday Report winners under the Top Rated column are from those races where there was only one Raceday qualifier, and under the Top 2 Rated on the rare occasions where there were two qualifiers in a race.

Header: WMHER = WRat (W), WMod (M), WHcp (H), WExpk (E), Raceday (R).
For a full explanation of the table click: How to read the Wizard Ratings Results