Macca

Juve are one of my go-to bankers in soccer ... much like the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Man City was money for jam last night - I was very confident so in effect I had 2 bankers and Deeza's AC Milan choice was another obvious standout. 11-1 boosted for 3 no-brainers - it's nice when it all goes to plan Wadda! Since I've switched to the 3pick as the default multi (about 2 weeks) I've had 3 collects and nearly always get 2 from 3. It's almost like a professional punters way of betting (with regards to multi's) ... a little boring but a collect is a collect. Group racing with the horses is similar. Better to be on a proven performer rather than too many spec picks.

I threw Juventus in, in your absence Wadda for a handy collect! ?

Over to you Wadda to clinch the deal!

Ok, here are my standout performers from yesterday ... Warwick Farm (keep in mind the track was rated as a Heavy8) Fiesta & Estijaab - streets ahead of the rest in a race run in a very very good time. Champagne Cuddles very impressive - it's a good horse. Caulfield (track a Good4 but the track did cut up so more like a slow5 towards the end of the day) 'Crack the Code' is worth following especially over the 1200m against her own gender. 'Nature Strip' is an absolute star - only query is the 1200m too far? 'I am Immortal' looks the goods - a real fighter and the Blue Diamond is well and truly in its sights. Both 2yo fillies 'Lyre' & 'Vinicunca' have emerged as genuine chances for the Diamond. 'Hawkshot' is another emerging type and the Australian Guineas is his for the taking. The Orr Stakes didn't tell us a lot - the race was not a truly run affair. 'Avilius' is a class performer - a blackbooker without question.

We've got any number of excellent sprinter/milers running around so I reckon Kementari is one of a whole bunch of those types that can get into the finish in those types of races on any given day. In real terms, it's a bit of a lottery. Winx is the exception of course and I reckon she would mostly dominate even at 1200m ... but those sprints often throw up skewed results so she'd lose occasionally because of barrier draw or track conditions. And for the mere mortals, that's always a factor, in any race. So don't feel bad @Wadda We Sing ... to me the best bets are only a guide. For instance, I used our 3 tips in 3 different types of exotic bets because I'm really only looking to get the picks 'Into the finish' (being an exotic punter) ... had a multi with the 3 picks but my stake was a negligible amount. So no loss. In the recent past I've won with my tips running 2nd or 3rd because I'm an exotic punter. Tom Melbourne has helped me win a few decent trifectas so I have nothing against good old Tom either. And the positive for all of us is that the horse that beat 'Social Spin' in 'Hawkshot' is an emerging 3yo star. I'm one to always give credit to the winner even if it beats my horse. We lay our stake and if we lose that's on us ... all factors need to be taken into account including a horse not getting a run. That's racing. Social Spin did it's best but the winner looks like it is just a superior horse (so far) I picked up a small percentage of the F4 in the race and would have still got it if Social Spin had have got into the F4. That's the main reason I rely on JJ & Gator to find me some winners (and both of them are very good) ... I'm reasonably good at the exotics because it involves multiple choices. Straight out punting is not for me. Nor are quaddies. With Avilius, James Cummings wanted to 'declare it' and he may as well have to my ears. Class prevailed - emphatically. That will be my pattern with the best bet - primarily. Footnote: Gator tipped Dealmaker in the Social Spin race but I reckon he might mark 'Hawkshot' on top in the Australian Guineas (March 2nd ... 3 weeks time) And if he does, I'm getting on. Positive reinforcement. Tipsters have patterns. JJ went off 'Domination' yesterday because the horse has let him down a couple of times previously - it won and you could tell he was filthy! That's racing. Still, he picked 5 other winners.

Monday Morning Special EPL at 03.00am $2.10 Manchester City Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score vs Chelsea

'Hawkshot' ran a second quicker in the Autumn Stakes in comparison to 'Manuel' in the Orr Stakes. That equates to about 5 lengths. So, even though it didn't look like Manuel slowed them up, in effect, that's what happened. The horse had a decent kick because it had been cruising up front. Smart tactics by Luke Currie and the connections of Manuel but you have to wonder about the tactics of the backmarkers in such a big race. Just an opinion but 01:24.47 is just too slow for a G1 over 1400m. Not enough early speed or speed on settling down sets things up for the frontrunners. They dawdled in the Caulfield Cup last year until the jockey on Best Solution went for broke at the 3 furlong pole.

5 winners for JJ today ... got the winner in the lucky last thanks to James. 5 from 8 is good tipping by any measure with 2 of the 5 offering good value.

Best Bet Strike Rate 84: 33 - 13 - 12 Australian Group & Listed Races

Might be easier for each of us to nominate a blackbooker whenever applicable and then we can keep a tally along with the strike rate ... but I'm in favour of being quite circumspect with the picks otherwise we'll end up with hundreds of horses. So far today my standout performer is 'I am Immortal' ... Manuel was great but can it do it again? 'Crack the Code' as well as it now a Group winner. Nominate & vote?

Yeah but it's only 2 weeks until AFLX ... just joking! ?

2 dividends though Wadda - dead-heat for 2nd. 600+ all up.

A boilover - 'Manuel' wins after leading all the way. Against that field? Wow! Whooda thunk-it? I reckon I did a 'KB' ... 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th (and probably 7th!)

We're about to find out how good 'Whispering Brook' is too ... but it's a crack field with any number of winning chances. Last year they dawdled up front and then Hartnell won in a blanket finish. There is a bit of early speed this time so hopefully we'll see a truly run race ... I've got a F4 going in the race but I reckon Redkirk Warrior gets into the finish.

Yep ... but the Hayes horse looks a goodin' It was a tough race to find a clear winner. Social Spin nearly always leads but Hawkshot drew the 1 barrier and as we found out, has excellent barrier speed. Too good.

Because it drew the 1 gate it had to be run for luck ... jockey could have switched to the outside but I reckon the horse was ridden to instructions. With 2 leg multi's there's always the option of re-booting.

It's great ... but sometimes the choices just can't get a run. Naseeb the classic example. On any other day the run presents and it wins by 2 lengths. A good thing beaten. That's racing.

'I am Immortal' with a gutsy win in the Blue Diamond Prelude for C & G's ... fought hard to line - always a good sign. The Blue Diamond is shaping up as keenly contested affair. The next race for the fillies will tell us something too.

We're both on it Wadda ... Naseeb is his best bet of the day so fingers crossed.

2 from 2 so far for James Jordan over in Morphettville today ... I was on Blue Hope in race 2 so 'Safari JJ' might be in for a decent day. Got a few multi's going with his selections. Go here for his tips

Nature Strip just way too good for that lot ... beat a few handy types such as Voodoo Lad though. Just too quick and they can't get near him. And how lucky is Chris Waller inheriting this horse? Like winning lotto.

I think it's 6 from 7 ... Phar Lap territory!

Craig Williams mentioned that the track is running really well Wadda and it's still a Good4. Anyway, the super-tipster @Dee Zephyr has got 1 on the board again with 'Crack the Code' saluting. Looked the winner a long way from home. Hands & heels as well - often a good sign. A blackbooker.

Yeah I was thinking of putting up a 3/5 exacta ($12) as I've been doing quite well with that type of exotic bet in the racing off-season. Can one multi up an exacta with win bets Wadda? But I am doing a 'Deeza' and will be putting on a box6 F4 in the CF Orr Stakes ... only issue is that I narrowed it down to 8 choices then PL (in advance) kicked in! Anyway, I'm on with our 3 choices so good luck everyone!

If the AFL wanted the concept to work at a local level you'd reckon they'd be more inclined to want to get most of the locals onside. But instead of that, there seems more of a backlash to the new wiz-bang ideas. With each new innovative idea comes more scorn. It's as if they're doing it that way deliberately. Which makes me think they can really only be aiming at a younger audience (35 or under) and a possible international audience in the same demographic. Play to your audience. A percentage of those in the older brackets could jump on later (that often happens) I do like the idea of Aussie rules being played at a number of those classic arena's around the world but that would be years in the making. Also, their business model might be decades long (think China) It's one evening, probably paid for by sponsors but lets face it, the AFL is cashed up so the cost would be a drop in the ocean anyway.