Macca

If you watch the race closely you'll notice that the jockey did indeed see Super Seth coming. That's why he was riding Alligator Blood right to the line. I thought the jockey might have got done for over use of the persuador! He was desperately looking for the finish. I get that you were being lighthearted but others take these things very seriously. The truth is that the horse didn't quite see out the trip where as Super Seth was eating up the extra distance. The last 600m was 00:35.14 but Super Seth probably closed with 00:34.00 (or less) It came from a long way back. A great ride by Zahra. And I'm not talking through my hip pocket as my money was on Alligator Blood ? By the way, it's always easy to pick which horse Matty Hill has backed (or not backed) Mind you, he's got nothing on the late Bill Collins or Bert Bryant.

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Well you don't necessarily nail picks so we need to get lucky if we use pick 3 on a prospect. And that's all.they really are - prospects. The so-called experts say otherwise but they get it wrong a lot. Not that they'd ever admit it ... too busy evaluating the next batch. For the above reasonong I'd swap the pick for proven talent. And Ben King looks to be more than just a prospect now. Pick 3 probably wouldn't be enough and he may have no interest in coming to us anyway. Who knows?

It's too complicated to explain but the bottom line is that we do not have to go to the draft with a first round pick (this season) But we do have to use a first round pick next season (?) Phone only here but there are links (via google) that can be posted up if anyone else has the time. My gut feeling is that we can go either way ... i.e. we've got our eye on a prospect at pick 3 but we might use the pick in other ways if the right configuration came our way.

Apparently we don't have to use a first round pick this year as we used 2 first round picks in 2015. So according to the rolling method we've used 2 first rounders in the last 4 seasons (2015 - 2018) So we're in the new cycle of 4 years. Google will point the way through the various links

A good case in point is 'Cape of Good Hope' yesterday winning the Caulfield Stakes. But the form was there for all to see DZ if we are prepared to acknowledge that the middle distance Group racing held overseas are superior to our's held in Australia. The very best horses from overseas aren't here but the 2nd tier are. And 'Cape of Good Hope' has been running very good times over those middle distances despite not winning those contested races. As an example it recorded a time of 01:52.50 for 1900m.at its last start and 01:59.50 for 2000m in its 2nd last start. Both were Group 1 races. Albeit on 'Firm' tracks but firm is often good in real terms. The definitions vary. And those times are a lot quicker than what we run in Australia. They ran the 2000m in 02:02.52 in the Caulfield Stakes yesterday which is still very slick but the overseas horse got the spoils. But times aren't everything. Winning form at Group level is even more noticable. It's why the Cups and Cox Plate are being targeted by overseas connections. In fact, if we count Avilius as an overseas horse, 6 of the top 7 in the betting in the Cox Plate are from overseas. Mystic Journey being the outlier. Lys Gracieux is favourite and Cape of Good Hope is equal 2nd favourite along with Mystic Journey.

I was on Alligator Blood as well Wadda. Looked home at the half furlong. A lot can happen in that final 100m. Jockey not at fault though. Rode it all the way to the line with no let up. Just got beaten by a better horse on the day. That's racing. A $2Million race these days so it's a fine line between ultimate glory and running 2nd. But to the winners go the spoils and Super Seth looks a real good middle distance horse if they race it on.

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I mainly do exacta's JV and I've got Noire on top with a couple of others. The race in question is a good one for the exotics. Should be a great day's racing.

Acting is in race "6" Gorg ... Horse no.4 I've included it already in an Exacta. Quick from the barriers and the speed map has the filly leading on settling down. Slow 'em up and then sprint away in the straight (?) ... not a lot of early speed in the race so it might take some catching. If I get time I'll post up a preview of Saturday's racing but it's a terrific card at Caulfield (the Toorak Hcp is a really good betting race) whilst up at Randwick there are 5 stakes races which includes the inaugural running of the Silver Eagle.

You're right JV ... good pick up! I was in a bit of a hurry late last night and neglected to adjust the scoreboard Which makes you the new leader. And ironically, the 'Schillaci Stakes' is being run on Saturday. So you've hit the front right on time. Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 6 - JV7 5 - Dee Zephyr, Go the Biff 4 - Macca 3 - Dappa Dan 2 - DeeSpencer, Layzie, Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth p.s We are actually playing for a sheep station! At least that's what I thought we were playing for!

Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 5 - Dee Zephyr, Go the Biff 4 - JV7, Macca 3 - Dappa Dan 2 - DeeSpencer, Layzie, Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth

Best Bet Saturday Caulfield Race 7 No.5 Avilius (Win) $2.50

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And here are the major replays from yesterday I'll post up a replay of Surprise Baby's Bart Cummings win when it becomes available

Favourite now Wadda ...

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Leaderboard in the Tipping Comp 5 - Dee Zephyr, Go the Biff 4 - JV7, Macca 3 - Dappa Dan 2 - DeeSpencer, Layzie, Clintosaurus, Gorgoroth And here are the games again ...

5 other Group 1 races to support the Arc at Longchamp tonight Wadda. As a follower of European racing most of the horses involved are now quite familiar. Apart from the 2 x 2yo Group 1's. For those interested go to www.racingpost.com for a comprehensive form analysis and guide. Enable will stamp herself as one of the very very best if she can win a 3rd Arc. The fact that it's never been done before says a lot. But as previously stated, I give 'Softsass' a real chance. The race is on at midnight tonight. As for our best bets, Osborne Bulls pulled up lame and my default move is to go back to the class. As it was, I should have picked Sunlight (BM's pick) or Surprise Baby. But you live and learn. As for Surprise Baby, we've now got a local horse and an adopted local (Steel Prince) to cheer on in the great race. Surprise Baby is a real show too. Won very well yesterday and came home in 00:35.16 for the last 600m. That is good going in a 2520m race.

Fair point and Bedford could be a genuine contributor. We have to find a way and I suppose I'm looking at known commodities as well as speculation recruits. Bottom line is that if McDonald & Weideman fired this season we'd be just looking for the add-ons to make our forward line one of the best. And some back-up to the 2 talls. But instead of that we've got Petracca, Melksham & Fritsch as 3 medium sized forwards but we still lack real marking power. And a forward or 2 who can play in a physical way. The little fellas come into it almost as a matter of course if the big boys are fit and firing Small forwards are valuable but they need to be working in a funtional forward line line. So I'm advocating having one before the other. Thus my call for Jones & Viney forward. At least they"d fight hard for the ball and whilst Viney is a bit dodgy in front of goal he can get a lot better with a lot of practice. Jones is fine in front of the big sticks. And competition within the ranks is always healthy too. They are both competitive beasts but both are good team men.

We could up the ante to 4 years and front end his contract. Hopefully we've got a final card to play and length of contract gives real security. It's always a gamble and we've been burnt previously but that stuff is in the past. We need to win and we need to win now. And if we don't spend the money on players like Elliott, those who we've already got listed get the money instead. The cap has to be filled somehow. 100% these days but I stand corrected.

The Occam's Razor remark wasn't necessarily attached to what I'd said beforehand. It was said to AF in terms of looking for the most obvious reason why we performed poorly this season. And in my opinion, you don't have to look very far. One could conclude that the reason we performed poorly this year is because we couldn't be stuffed trying. Or one could look for a more complex answer. But in my opinion it's the former argument. We did not turn up. So AF may believe it's a lot more complex than that (I'm presupposing) and he has every right to have that reasoning. At other times I might agree with him but not this time Ralph. Bottom line is that the club failed and we've reverted back to kind. If you don't agree so be it. Look, I get it. People don't want to get too despondant about their team because they want to believe that success is just around the corner. But that's not how I'm wired. I don't need that stuff and prefer realities. So what is your evaluation of the season? And I don't want any excuses. Give me a brutal assessment (if you can) By the way, every team gets injuries and every team has off-season surgeries. So if our list management team, FD & Coaching can't cover for a few injuries, then that's the fault of the club as well. You're supposed to have depth in pro sports.

AVB is constantly injured and we can't be relying on him.being available. Hannan is overated. I don't dislike either player but one doesn't play and the other doesn't play very well. Got any other options? Show me some talent As for fitness, try bone-lazy. The team hardly gave a yelp all season and should be called out for it. Actually, Lewis did call out the playing group with his speech at the B & F. Don't let them off the hook AF. We've let them off the hook in the past by sacking coaches. Look at all the assistants that have departed. What does that tell you? It tells me the message isn't getting through and the players are calling the shots again. Occam's Razor.

What I saw this season is a whole forward line that doesn't apply pressure. Do any of them know how to lay a tackle? For the most part our forward line was dysfunctional. Let's not mince words here AF. Jones is in the forward line to get the ball a dozen times and kick a couple of goals. Which would be a big step up to what we see now. As for forward pressure, he'd be no worse than the ineffective lazy lot that are there now. In fact, Jones is an ideal type. Don't compare him to Eddie Betts and the like. There are a number of different types of small forwards that can be effective. He'd only be a fill-in for a year anyway Anyway, if his midfield days are gone and we're looking for better options in the backline then there's only one area left where he could play. Unless you don't play him at all - and that won't be happening because he's still better than 2/3's of the list (which is filled with C & D graders)