Macca

On 'After the Last' on the racing channel they showed an overhead shot of the Newmarket from the start and Redkirk was way out in front from the get-go. David Hayes made mention that the outside going was a lot slower too (and he'd know) There's real talk of taking the horse to Royal Ascot (mid/late June) although because of the Hong Kong ownership the horse may go to HK first. The horse was good to me today as I also had it in a double with Kementari as well as landing the trifecta. I also had Merchant Navy in a few other small multi's so the best bets can be used in a variety of ways including of course, adding another horse in the same race/races (as I did with Redkirk) Kementari was the banker as was Gailo Chop ... got one but missed on the other.

The Newmarket Handicap & The Randwick Guineas (2018)

I'll post up the replays of the Newmarket Hcp & the Randwick Guineas when they become available but here's the G1 Canterbury Stakes & the G1 Australian Cup (2018)

Anyway, for those who may wish to partake, there's a few decent races at Canberra tomorrow (Canberra Guineas, Canberra Cup & Black Opal Stakes for 2yo's) 'Assimilate' is favourite in the Guineas, 'Show a Star' favoured in the Cup whilst there are a few chances in the Black Opal. There's some decent races on Monday as well at Morphettville (Nomothaj is running around in the 2yo Classic!) ... more on that meeting tomorrow night.

I was a little up for the day but still playing with house money ... no hard luck stories either. The highlights in terms of the racing were the impressive wins by Kementari & Redkirk Warrior whilst credit must go to the Hayes clan for getting the chocolates with Harlem (was its last run a track gallop?) Happy Clapper was too good in a highly competitive Canterbury Stakes whilst Redzel was also too classy in its race. Estijaab ran a very quick time to win but that track was probably closer to a fast 2 than a good 4 judging by a lot of the other times. The other big story was Hugh Bowman falling (no broken bones apparently and he should be ok) and what happens to 'Performer' now ... the stewards might have a bit to say on that one. It's now out to 8.50 for the Slipper.

Sugar Bella should win but not a tip D77. It's very short

The Hayes clan again with Harlem ... my goodness they know how to hide their horses' ability.

Don't go KK ... we need all the help we can get!

What a horse! Kementari did easy in the end. A class above.

This is where the best bets can help D77 ... without Wadda nominating Merchant Navy as his best bet, I probably don't get that trifecta. I knew Wadda liked the horse before he nominated the horse so I included the horse as a winner in my trifecta. Same goes for Shillelagh in the next race ... both binman & yourself especially like the horse's chances so I have therefore included it in another trifecta.

Mixed reactions there ... took a special horse to defeat our pick but I wasn't going to make Redkirk my best bet anyway. Mind you, I did get the trifecta which payed very well considering the first 3 were my 3 picks to win. Anyway, we've still got 3 picks going (or at least I have)

See D77's post above They are now saying Hugh has concussion issues and has possibly lost a few teeth. No other reports of any other injuries (as yet) It must be a real shock coming off a horse at that speed ... with no pre-warning of course. The horse just went sideways (left) in a flash. It wasn't squeezed for room or anything like that. It had clear ground.

Well if there is any vertebrae damage or any broken bones or fractures, you wouldn't think so Wadda. Collarbone, the AC joint or the ribs would have all been impacted. We forget sometimes how much of an extreme sport it is for the jockeys ... the horses too of course. My initial thoughts were that the horse wasn't impressed with the persuader and reacted accordingly. Could be wrong of course.

That was a nasty fall for Hugh Bowman ... I've rewound the race a number of times and it looks like the horse just suddenly goes sideways under pressure. The horse goes to the left whilst Hugh goes to the right. Hope he is ok ... apparently moving now after initially laying motionless.

Udyta Clarke trained the winner of the 300k Bernborough Hcp (Someday) back in late December. Saluted at 40-1 in what was another great story.

The Australian Cup is an interesting trifecta race ... a good dividend beckons with so many horses being able to get into the finish. Homesman & Hartnell have claims as well. Gailo Chop is good odds though, all the same.

The tipsters are all hot & cold Wadda ... and it's always been that way and it always will be that way. Even working as a team has its issues but its got to be better than 1 person's opinion. Anyway, I've got a hot tip for the Adelaide Cup (Monday) from another mate who only ever gets 3 or 4 of these tips per year ... these tips rarely, if ever, don't come through. It's a Weir horse which will be ridden by Craig Williams - No.11 Ormito.

For the punters, the 'Get On' crew should combine their thoughts for each leg of their quaddie pick. And if they bomb out, they all have to wear it. Again, they are just trying to outdo one another ... which is fun to watch but not very helpful. Unless one follows a particular tipster who's strike rate is highly profitable, I don't see the point in taking them seriously. Never have in fact.

I agree Wadda ... we can't be betting against each other with regards to the best bet otherwise the idea dies just as quickly as it started. I understand that we should be able to say whatever we like but in terms of a team effort, the combined best bet is the only real team aspect here. But punters more often than not prefer to fly solo and the combining of thoughts is a usually regarded as a foreign concept I've never understood that thinking because it simply doesn't work from an overall perspective. That doesn't mean we have to all fall into line, it simply means that we should try and avoid going against another persons best bet here (what anyone does privately is a different matter) It would probably be a lot different if there were a dozen of us here ... if that were to be, the thread would almost certainly turn into an online version of a TAB outlet We'd all be trying to outdo one another. If you watch 'Get On' on Racing.com then you'll know what I'm talking about ... whilst the show is a lot of fun and often informative, they are all trying to outdo one another. Even in their quaddie pick they fly solo in each leg rather than work as a team in each leg.

I now prefer to name the team in a formation style ... it's not copying soccer, it's keeping it real. A 2 - 5 - 6 - 3 - 2 formation as a starting point but some fine tuning would obviously be needed. Hibberd Oscar Vince Jetta Frost Lever Lewis Hunt Oliver Gawn Tyson Brayshaw Jones Petracca Hogan Melksham Garlett T Mac Interchange: Salem Harmes Hannan ANB

Latest (max) odds for our 3 best bets (with one more to come) Flem Race 6 No.11 Merchant Navy 5.50 Rand Race 7 No.3 Kementari 3.00 Flem Race 8 No.4 Gailo Chop 3.40 Combined payout - 56.00 Australian Group & Listed Races

Yep ... the 'tallness' of our defence is going to depend on match-ups. But I don't necessarily just see Frost as a tall just because he is tall. As stated previously, he's getting better at spoiling which is a defenders bread & butter plus, he has natural leg speed. Oscar is a different type of defender. The acquisition of Lever will probably improve the output of Frost & Oscar plus, we can leave T-Mac to develop as a forward. Win/win/win.

Frost's best attribute is his dash out of defence and we need that attribute ... we can't be relying on Hunt alone as a good opposition coach could curtail Hunt's dash. Having 3 speedsters out of defence would be even better but the speedsters all would need to be decent players as well. But Frost's spoiling efforts last night were very good (I watched him carefully) ... he got a fist to the ball on a number of occasions and sometimes those spoils aren't noticeable. 10 x 1%ers as compared to our next best with 4. He's getting a lot better at killing a contest. However, I don't necessarily see it as Frost or Oscar anyway ... it can be both especially if both are playing different roles.

Many are wanting their 15 minutes of fame Col ... and the internet and social media allows those who crave that attention an easier passage. In a way I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Most of it is quite harmless of course but what happened over at 'ology was a very real thing.

And if the AFL were concerned about losing their tax-exempt status they wouldn't have entered into agreements with the various betting agencies. Following the money means having a diligent checks & balance approach. Any talk of the pokies going is pure unadulterated nonsense ... why would the AFL give a leg-up to their Rugby League counterparts. All those Leagues clubs in NSW won't be going anywhere (nor the partnerships)