Macca

All the focus goes to Caulfield, Moonee Valley & Flemington for the next month and rightly so ... the racing is first rate with no fewer than 35 Group level races over 6 meetings. The best of the best, the creme de la creme! I've noticed that a few of the imported horses have been talked up this week with regards to the Caulfield Cup (namely The Cliffsofmoher and to a lesser extent Red Verdon & Best Solution) ... however, trying to evaluate the 2 Japanese runners is very tricky - the biggest issue being that they run on ultra-fast firm tracks in Japan so how does one read that form? Anyway, it's a very competitive field and if you can land the Trifecta or F4 you will have done very well. The exacta might be an option as the dividends are sure to be decent for all the exotics. Race Card - Caulfield (all races)

2 points up for grabs this week in the tipping comp. It's quite a simple task too - just pick 3 road winners from 3 picks. Easy as pie. Good luck! Leaderboard in the comp 1 - JV7, Go the Biff, Dr. Gonzo, Clintosaurus, Dappa Dan, Macca 0 - Everyone else. Guess the Lines Week 7 With Cousin Sal | The Bill Simmons Podcast (Ep. 428)

Yes you're right Chook but once things settle in general play that sort of line-up is what we'll see ... might even be 6 or 8 back on occasions (when applicable) The personnel and positions could change as well ... I just threw it out there to include Frost. We might see a 2/5 or even a 3/5 make-up as a departure from the traditional 3/3.

A bit of an insurance move as Jeff is still quite capable when he finds form Wadda ... the position he plays means the club needs at least 3 of those types unless the we had a Jeff Farmer/Ricky Jackson type. Let's face it, we wouldn't have gotten May unless we traded Hogan so I'm already starting to come to terms with the move. I'd still play Frost as a utility in the backline because we need his pace and dash out of defence. He is underrated. Jetta Oscar Hibberd Frost May Lever Salem As Roos often says, defence wins Championships and he is right. If Weideman really blossoms, we'll be fine.

I really rate Hogan and I am not as bullish about our ability to win without him as others are - it's a bit of a ruse as we've improved as a team and should be able to win without him. But win big? That's a different story. On the surface of it, it feels like unders but reading between the lines, there's seems to be a bit more to this trade than we can readily see. If Hogan dominates for Freo as I reckon he may well do, the loss will be even more transparent. May will improve the team but I'm still big on good key forwards in September so we will need Weideman to perform if we're to challenge. And T-Mac will need to continue performing. The irony is that we'll probably now need to recruit a key forward. The FD won't be satisfied with just the 2 realistic KPF options. An injury to the prospect or the revelation leaves us short up forward.

Sherman gave the referee a clear chance to pay a penalty layz ... with 49 seconds left the one thing a defender can't do is put his arm around a WR and impede that WR. A clear penalty but that doesn't mean the 49ers weren't unlucky to lose the game. San Francisco played very well and it took another clutch performance from Rodgers for Green Bay to prevail. And because of that I'm not convinced that the Packers can reach the post-season. Maybe as a wild-card or if the Vikings falter but we'll need a good dose of luck. We can beat any opponent on any given day because of Rodgers and his band of WR's but we can't do that all the time from what we're witnessing. And it is a case of 'what could of been' for the 49ers with Garoppolo out injured

Your Germany choice is a smart pick Wadda ... I'm on with 2 other picks that I dare not mention because of the mozz factor! I've really got nothing to recommend so I'm happy to go with your choice as the roving banker. Komm auf Deutschland! Germany have to win otherwise they are in danger of dropping down to League B in the Nations League. Even a draw will do them no good.

Yes, might do a 3 leg midweek 'special' Wadda ... the terrific thing with the Nations League are the match-ups. A lot of evenly matched affairs so good odds can be had if the right choices are made. Teams are looking to win the games too so as to avoid relegation and/or gain promotion out of all the 3 team groups. It's a really good concept and will gain acceptance soon enough.

Definitely like your three Wadda & 'The Cliffsofmoher' ran an eye-catching 4th in the Caulfield Stakes ... there are any number of other horses that I could include in a box5 trifecta. Maybe a 3-5-7 multiple trifecta and that way I can include a couple more. Also, it's always worth throwing in a $20 First4 with the huge pools involved. Even a small percentage can deliver a more than handy collect. I haven't got a standout winner for the Caulfield Cup (who has?) but if I had to pick one it would be Youngstar. Ran really well to run 2nd in the Turnbull especially the last 800m (44.30) and boxed on well when Winx went past it. Group 1 form can't be denied and it's only carrying 51.5kgs.

The late penalty against Sherman was costly for the 49ers ... they showed vision of Rodgers being tackled low but that wasn't the call. You give Rodgers a semblance of a chance and he will make you pay. I listened to the game and San Francisco in the end were rather unlucky to lose. I don't believe we've played all that well so far this season but we'll need to get better after the bye. @ Rams, @ Pats, vs Miami, @ Seattle and then @ Minnesota is a tough stretch but with Rodgers at the helm, we're always half a chance.

Not a bad days racing tomorrow at Caulfield ... more so the last 4 races which are the quaddie legs. Race 5 (The $350k Blue Sapphire Stakes) has only attracted a small field of 6 runners but with this rain about, 'Written By' may not have it all his way. Full Race Card - Caulfield

We missed the last 2 legs which is better than missing just the 1 leg in some ways Wadda. Anyway, it was a nice ride and good fun. And we do it all again next weekend ... as I indicated in an earlier post, I'll be looking for a sure thing with my early first choice and then some value with my second 'later' choice. I'll probably go with the 4/6 split bet again with the 4pick being the 4 'most-likely' picks. Should be able to get 10-1 to 15-1 on the 4 pick whilst the 6pick will no doubt deliver top odds.

My Packers line is -10 not -10.5 so I am absolutely not going to get caught out on a 10 point win to Green Bay. A collect is a collect. I'm taking no chances. But we need Spain to win first DZ ... at home, you'd reckon they should prevail and they know how to score. I can also see England scoring so fingers crossed on the match score. For some reason Laddies didn't have +2.5 available so I took +1.5 rather than +3.5.

Chiefs should win the AFC West but the Chargers might push them ... schedule isn't too tough and their week 15 game at KC could decide things. There again, KC could gap them under Reid and with the wunderkind Mahomes. The kid looks the goods with his timing - plays like a talented veteran.

With a dozen participants there was bound to be a few unforced errors. The good bit is that it is hard to fall too far behind because of the lack of scoring (this year at least) Here's a sneak peak at next weeks games (week 7) ... there's more than a few potential road winners there and with 2 points at stake, it's time to make a move. And may the better team win tomorrow!

Fabulous game of offense Dappa... dare I say it, welcome to the new NFL. However, I can equally enjoy watching a defensive low scoring game played in a blizzard. The season has lacked an abundance of upset victories although 5 or 6 divisions are up for grabs with only the Rams and almost certainly the Pats assured of winning their respective divisions. The Chargers are only 1 win away from KC & there are a number of divisions that are impossible to pick right now.

Yeah, you're right layz, it's a reach. I have to be fair to all ? But don't lose heart, perseverance wins out in the end and the winner will need to cash in on the 2 point weeks. And that could be you. Weeks 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 are all worth 2 points whilst week 17 is worth 3 points. In fact, there are total of 18 points available through to the end of the regular season. Currently, we have 6 co-leaders all sitting on a whopping 1 point. Leaderboard 1 - JV7, Go the Biff, Dr. Gonzo, Clintosaurus, Dappa Dan, Macca 0 - Everyone else. What can I say? It's a tough comp!

The 49ers line has come into +8.5 so if it comes to it, taking the slightly extra line +10.5 at $1.71 would be needed for the assured win. That's of course if Spain prevail. Here's hoping! ?

Ha ha! The 3 picks have to be road teams layz Not to worry, you could outright hit the front next week as week 7 is worth 2 points.

C'mon Spain! No monkey business!

I only just noticed you picked the Packers layz ...they're at home against your 49ers tomorrow

Yep ... I made mention of Too Darn Hot as it has gained a lot of attention over in the UK. Trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori it is destined for big things. Dettori especially was mighty impressed with the way it won that UK 2yo classic (Dewhurst Stakes) And the way things are going with the overseas representation, we may even see the horse here as a lightweight 3yo chance in the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate. Long range call of course but it does look like a real standout BM. The trainer mentioned that 2400m might be the horses limit but the mile or the mile and a quarter was it's ideal distance. I reckon the Cox Plate (post Winx) will almost certainly become an international affair much like the Caulfield & Melbourne Cup's are fast becoming. Money talks. And if the mooted move to relocate the Championships at Randwick to late November does eventuate, the $4Million Queen Elizabeth Stakes becomes the 5th huge attraction in the Spring. NSW want a piece of the action as witnessed with success of the Everest. And with the Internationals the punters need to trust the Globally recognised ratings and if those horses have performed well at Group level, that needs to be taken into account as well. I got 2 decent collects on Saturday by simply recognising overseas form & the ratings of those overseas horses. Just missed on the Yucatan race by not including 'A Prince of Arron' in the exotics. Kicking myself on that one ?

Big win for the Dutch this morning over Germany ... I believe the win is a historic win in terms of how long it's been or suchlike. Highlights ...

I reckon we'll get better at it too Wadda ... the team aspect and the transparency is a factor much like it is with the horses. Except with sporting events it's a 2-horse race - pun intended. And if we ever start another thread we already know what we're going to call it. It would have been a terrific title for another Marx Bros. movie. *Cartwheels in Copenhagen*

My tips ... Rams, Ravens, Seahawks Paging @DeeSpencer @titan_uranus @Dr. Gonzo @DemonDave