Macca

Our culture at times has been very good especially during the Barassi & Northey tenure's. Neale Daniher's time as well wasn't too bad. And we are doing quite well now. So it isn't 50 years H unless you measure things by premierships. But you are spot on about the fish rotting at the head ... we have had any number of poor managers or people in positions of authority failing at their jobs. Blaming the A-end of a problem is just an easy out. Poor management = poor culture.

A former no.1 pick still resonates - it never ends. We are what we turn out to be - preconceived notions matter not to the subject matter

I Want You (She’s So Heavy) Written by: Lennon-McCartney Recorded: 22 February; 18, 20 April; 8, 11 August 1969 Producers: George Martin, Glyn Johns, Chris Thomas Engineers: Barry Sheffield, Jeff Jarratt, Tony Clark, Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald Released: 26 September 1969 (UK), 1 October 1969 (US) John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar, organ, Moog synthesiser Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar Ringo Starr: drums, congas Billy Preston: Hammond organ Read more here ... I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

Form Analysts Had some luck with Tony Brassel but his winners tend to be the short-priced favourites. - not a lot of value and us punters are looking for a tipster that can find a way to get the favourite beaten. So for NSW racing, I keep drawing blanks. Brad Davidson can be good but he goes too far the other way. Paul Joyce the same. Ron Dufficy is good but he has a few too many biases. So it's David Gately (Gator) for the Vic Metro & James Jordan (JJ) for all things in SA. Both tipsters aren't biased and they both offer terrific value. They will do a bit of both - find a way to get the short-priced favourite beaten but equally, they will go with the shortie when it suits. What I do is pick out their value picks and go from there. Both for straight out bets and the exotics. Gator's Saturday picks can be found on Racing.com under the banner 'Best Bets' whilst JJ's tips are listed on Saturday mornings also on Racing.com. Ben Asgari for Vic Country racing is worth a look-see with his tips (more so midweek) ... his tipping suits the exotic punters. He recognises a couple/few chances in any given race rather than having a standout pick. So if you like 2/4 or 2/5 exacta's, there is value in his tips if you can pick the eyes out it. Ben's tips can also be found on Racing.com.

Enjoy the day Gorg ... SB appearances are rare unless you're a Pats fan so to even make it that far is an achievement in itself. But it's all about the winning and I hope you do win ... and if you do win you'll have beaten a great organisation in the process. All the best.

Adds up to 25-1 or thereabouts but more like 30-1+ with the aid of the odds booster. That's good odds for a 3pick Anyway, it's all about Serie A tonight & tomorrow! Best of luck to all!

Stand corrected then DS ... I don't remember where I got those figures from. I blame the government! I did think those numbers were a quite low ... the pro bowl used to get 10-12 million which in itself is a high number (all things considered) Now down to 8 million which still seems quite high.

Sale races postponed to Monday DZ Edit: El still listed and it was down to 8 runners but now back up to 11 ... watch this space!

My tip ... Rams 29 Pats 28 Paging @DeeSpencer @Clintosaurus @JV7 @DemonDave @titan_uranus @WERRIDEE @layzie @Dr. Gonzo Remembering that we play for 5 points in this, the final week. Made up of 3 points for the correct winner and a bonus 2 points for your winning team's score being within 3 points of the winning team's actual score. The losing team's score has no bearing. e.g. If the Rams win and their score is 26-32 then I'd pick up a total of 5 points for nominating the Rams as the winner (with a score of 29 points) Now that I've used my score as the example you can rest assured that that won't happen. The advanced jinx. Only 3 people have a chance of winning but podium places are up for grabs. The honour board eagerly awaits your presence. Good luck all and go Rams!! Leaderboard - Post-Season Tipping Comp 12 - Gorgoroth 8 - Go the Biff 7 - DeeSpencer 6 - Clintosaurus, Dappa Dan 5 - Dee Zephyr, Macca 4 - JV7 3 - DemonDave 1 - titan_uranus 0 - TWSNBN

Apparently at least 100 of the 250 horses (in work) have been relocated from the Ballarat stables ... and the top 50 have gone to the top 4 trainers according to one local trainer. But above all, it's just a very sad situation all round. And unless the operation is restructured with new trainers from the outside, the staff are going to be out of work. As it stands, it's business as usual but that will almost certainly all change in 24 hours. Read more here ... Ballarat mood changes after Steward raids

Here's a couple of laid-back numbers ...

On SBS tonight - Spurs vs Newcastle. Coverage starts at 11.00pm.

Monday Special Italy Serie A 6.30am $3.00 Roma Win & +2.5 Goals Match Score vs AC Milan I'm giving them the forgive run!

Hutchy said the same thing ... horses often tend to shift out a bit in the straight but as you said, the door could have been shut. Bons Away is a very good horse that previously was less than a length off winning its last 4 starts (3 Group 2's & 1 Listed race) Because of that recent history, the awareness of Bons Away's finishing speed had to be high on the radar. Hard luck.

Thought it was home for you mate ... bad luck. The winner had the dream draw and the dream run.

Alizee way too classy in a class field - hands and heels too. Impressive.

The size of the fields (3 or 4 horses) at Morphettville has to be a genuine concern ... from a punting point of view I stay away apart from the last couple of races (which are often BM64 lottery races anyway) James Jordan's tipping talents are wasted over there ... he's a really good tipster in what is fast becoming a ghost-like environment. I blame the government but that level of blame is quite apt. They do nothing but take from the industry over there.

I've started taking our choices straight out as well as in a tri-bet. 1 winner and it's at least money back most of the time. So it's a good percentage play. I know you go on the place as well when it suits (in a multi) so that's a good alternative also.

2 from 2 for you Wadda since your return ... well done mate. I was on Lamborghini for an ok collect. The 2nds & 3rds contribute to the strike rate so that S/R is starting to look a lot better. That's my excuse anyway!? Best Bet Strike Rate (running tally) 80: 31 - 13 - 12 Australian Group & Listed Races

I can't wait for the better races to get into full swing DZ ... I can figure out exacta's & trifecta's to a certain degree because of the multiple choices involved but straight winners in the lesser races is strictly your domain! Maybe we should give you a couple/few choices so that Wadda & myself can just pick up the collects! ? We can call you 'Deeza' as you are officially 'lands version of Gator. Wadda, Deeza, Macca & BM can be Beema. What do ya reckon?

Damien Oliver in staying races when he is on a good or decent horse ... a no-brainer? Timed his run to perfection to edge out my choice (Pissaro) That's racing - always something to learn!

Apart from the exodus of horses from the stables the rest of it is just speculation on the penalties and whether there might be any more revelations. There is a major difference with regards to penalties on the possession of 'jiggers' as opposed to the use of them. An arbitrary penalty versus a minimum 2 years is my belief but I stand corrected on that one. And the arbitrary penalties could be anything ... the racing authorities have been known to come down very hard with these sorts of indiscretions. And there are 6 charges. At a guess I'm thinking 2 to 5 years but I may be way off beam. Using historical references Mel Schumacher received a lifetime ban (later reduced to a 10 year ban) for pulling the leg of another jockey in a race in the 60's (and no, I'm not pulling your leg with that story Wadda) And there has been all sorts of other draconian penalties handed down from time to time. It could be a case of the bigger the name, the bigger the penalty. That's if guilt is found of course ... but again, the findings and penalties are often arbitrary based, with regards to the indiscretions. Not being forthcoming with information is very often frowned upon too.

Ended up getting 27-1 for our tri-bet (see Wadda's post above - #3088) Best of luck to all !

It's the owner's calls I suppose. Probably an immediate backlash from the scratchings tomorrow as their horses are now out of sync with their program's. It's a ruthless world we live in. The owners may be pre-empting the possible/probable penalties that may or may not be handed down on Monday. The logistics of movement with regards to the 700+ horses is going to be quite enormous ... I'm thinking there might be 30+ trainers involved with the relocation of all the horses. There has been talk of placing trainers into the Ballarat & Warrnambool stables so that a number of the horses don't have to be moved. Of course, no penalties have been handed down yet but it's not looking good Wadda

And the exodus begins Chris Waller: Nature Strip, Yes Yes Yes Robert HIckmott: Trap For Fools Kris Lees: Brave Smash Ciaron Maher: Extra Brut, Night's Watch Lindsay Park: Amphitrite, Hawkshot, Chauffeur Patrick Payne: Banachek, Invincible Amici, Nussink Archie Alexander: Gallic Chieftain