Macca

I like No.7 I'm a Ripper $7.50 Drawn nicely and should be leading or near the lead on settling because of its barrier speed ... and if its a leaders track or if the inside going is good, the horse should be ideally placed. Won a Group 3 two starts back over the same distance at Doomben so it should be in the finish at least. Anyway, here are our picks so far with BM to finish things off with a couple of selections ... Pick 1 No.2 .... Religify $7.50 Pick 2 No.11 ... Tyzone $4.60 Pick 3 No.7 ..... I'm a Ripper $7.50 Pick 4 @binman Pick 5 @binman Ipswich Race 8 Eye Liner Stakes Listed 1350m $175k

I don't see why not DZ ... I may look overseas though as there are plenty of quality Group 1's raced overseas during our winter. Something different. There's the Irish Derby & Oaks and any number of WFA Group 1's from 1200m up to 2400m. I reckon Merchant Navy & Redkirk Warrior might also contest the Group 1 Darley July Cup (14th July) down the straight 6 at Newmarket - another $800k up for grabs for the sprinters. Both horses have been entered for the race.

My best bet for the weekend ... Belmont Race 6 No.1 Pounamu $3.80 Drawn 2 which will probably mean the horse will be able to trail nicely in behind Material Man & Great Shot and then hopefully swoop over the top and win. Those 3 horses could easily take out the trifecta too ... the 3 stand out above the rest. Gatting & Falcon Crest are on the 4th line of betting at 15-1. A 3-3-5-5 First4?

The Trifecta/First4 race for this week ... Ipswich - Eye Liner Stakes Listed 1350m $175k Pick 1 @Dee Zephyr Pick 2 @Wadda We Sing Pick 3 @Macca Pick 4 @binman Pick 5 @binman

That will do then DZ ... and you're up first for at least 1 more week. I believe we''re at the end of the 4 week cycle after this week but we talked about having a break over winter. There's 1 more Group 1 race next week from Doomben (Tatts Tiara over 1350m for Fillies & Mares) and then there's not a great deal happening until mid August when Winx returns in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. So 2 more goes and then a recess? Anyway, here's the race in question again - as you stated, there's some value runners involved. Ipswich - Eye Liner Stakes Listed 1350m $175k Just some news re Royal Ascot - Merchant Navy & Redkirk Warrior have been withdrawn from next Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes but both will run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m $1Million 23rd June) instead. The dash down the straight will suit both horses and they share 2nd & 3rd favouritism behind 'Harry Angel' ... click on the link above for more details of the race from Racing Post UK (another excellent horseracing website)

Things just got a little warmer over in Russia ... Spanish football federation sack coach Julen Lopetegui on eve of World Cup opening match

Time for some tips? Group winners & runners up ... Uruguay/Russia Spain/Portugal France/Australia Argentina/Iceland Brazil/Costa Rica Germany/Mexico Belgium/England Columbia/Poland That will do for now but I'm thinking I'll miss on at least 5 Countries out of the 16! Tips for the Round of 16 / Quarter Finals / Semi Finals & Final match-ups and winners once the Groups are decided.

@Dee Zephyr @binman @Wadda We Sing Not a great deal to choose from this week in terms of a big stakes trifecta race but I found a Group 3 race and 2 listed races that might appeal. Pounamu takes on Great Shot & Material Man again over in the West whilst the Ipswich Race Club has it's day in the sun with a couple of keenly contested listed races. Belmont - Hyperion Stakes Group 3 1600m WFA $150k Ipswich - Ipswich Cup Listed 2150m $175k Ipswich - Eye Liner Stakes Listed 1350m $175k Belmont Racecourse ... Ipswich Racecourse ...

Here are the replays of the 3 Group 1's from Doomben on Saturday ... Stradbroke Handicap JJ Atkins Plate

Yep, a grand effort by Justify DZ - here's the replay (logon to watch) Apparently the horse's breeding rights have been sold to Coolmore for $60Million so that might be it for the horse in terms of racing. It's done more than enough, all the same. I missed on the double though ... had 'Hi Happy' & 'Robert Bruce' in the preceding event but both just missed in a blanket finish in the Manhattan Handicap. Really liked the look of the turf track with the hedge all the way around acting as the fence ... (watch the replay of the Manhattan Handicap here) Next up is the Royal Ascot Carnival which goes for 5 days from June 19 ... all days should be on the free-to-air station. We've got Merchant Navy & Redkirk Warrior racing in the sprint events as well as a few familiar names from HK, the UK & the USA.

$1.95 at Sportsbet but I opted to do a few doubles surrounding the race and the preceding race. Just looking for some value. 'Justify' is no certainty and plenty have stumbled at the final hurdle before - it's a tough 3 runs over 5 weeks and the distance increases each time as well. I certainly wouldn't back against the horse though ... has to be included in multiples.

Yep ... coverage on ESPN starts at 7.00am and the Manhattan Stakes is on at 7.40am. It's a step up from 1900m to 2400m for 'Justify' but I'd like to see it take out the Triple Crown. Bravazo & Tenfold could be running on as they did in the Preakness (they finished 2nd & 3rd respectively)

Yeah El Magnificence ran very well didn't it DZ. As Wadda said, one to definitely watch. My tip in the West 'Art Series' was disappointing but the horse had no cover in the run. Onto Belmont Park tomorrow morning for me - I've taken a few doubles involving the Belmont Stakes and the preceding race, the Group 1 Manhattan Stakes. It's a pity the meeting isn't on the free-to-air station but ESPN are covering the 2 main races at least. They like a good build up in the States - 65 minutes lead up time to both races! That's time for 3 shouts over here.

Well, we missed with Super Cash but you can't have them all. Whilst the lightweights stood out pre-race Santa Ana Lane was carrying 3 kgs less than its last run - and that was in a Group 1 race over 1200m. Relished the going too. Healthy dividends in the exotics and once again the placings were filled by the classy types. Close but no cigar.

Well, we could always put together a place card Wadda ... another weekly task! Only joking - we're doing quite enough already. Peaceful State put me out of my place multi but I decided to go again with the others as a saver bet. Playing with house money as I did ok out of the 4th race at Doomben.

Ok, here's our 5 picks for the Stradbroke Handicap Perast Voodoo Lad Santa Ana Lane Champagne Cuddles Invincible Gem Lots of value there so good luck with however which way your betting strategy plays out. If any 3 of the 5 feature in the finish the trifecta is sure to pay well.

I have also put on a multi with 'Art Series' for the place only (with Sedanzer & Peaceful State to both win) ... paying 30-1. In fact, I have done a few place multi's today ... 'Heavenly Thought & Prompt Response also both offer decent odds for the place. Might be the way to go today Wadda.

I'll take Santa Ana Lane in the Stradbroke. Here's how we sit ... Perast Voodoo Lad Santa Ana Lane @binman @binman

Didn't realise it was the same race ... we don't want to be betting against each other!! Forget Despatch ... go El Magnificence! Maybe a trifecta race if I'm up on the day.

Slight departure with my best bet this week - a bit of each way value. A Black Booker. Belmont Race 5 No.4 Art Series $7.00 win ($2.65 place) As stated earlier, the horse has never run out of a place in its 12 runs and has had 2 starts at Belmont for 2 wins. Goes hard at the finishing line too. Drawn wide but has good early speed - they run straight for the first 450m of the 1400m races at Belmont as well.

Well the Stradebroke Handicap it is then - here's the racenet.com form for the race We probably should wait and see on the track conditions, weather outlook & the scratchings so maybe Saturday morning is the go for our tips? And are we just picking 5 horses and then we work out what we're going to do with the picks with our own betting strategies? If so, the order is as such ... Pick 1 - @Dee Zephyr Pick 2 - @Wadda We Sing Pick 3 - @Macca Pick 4 - @binman Pick 5 - @binman n.b. The Brisbane Cup & Derby are over the 2200m whilst the Dane Ripper Stakes & Stradbroke Handicap are over the 1350m so all 4 races involve a decent straight run until the first turn of their respective races ...

Well you have to give credit to the MVRC in their efforts to attract some of the World's best middle-distance WFA performers for the WS Cox Plate. If they were to secure 2, 3 or 4 of the horses listed below they will be doing very well. Read more here ... Cracksman one of 13 invited to take on Winx in Cox Plate 2018 The LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January 2018 - 6th May 2018

It's always good to follow a few horses DZ ... apart from the 'Zephyr' there's been Pounamu, Ace High, Le Romain and a couple/few others that we've followed up on. Speaking of which ... 'Despatch' is running around in race 9 at Flemington on Saturday whilst 'Art Series' is running in the 5th race at Belmont (Art Series has not run out of a place in it's 12 runs to date) Both horses seem to know where the finishing line is. And the Stradbroke has that Newmarket Hcp feel about it in terms of the 2 top weights drifting in the market (Impending/Santa Ana Lane vs Redkirk Warrior/Brave Smash) Winning Group 1 form over the distance ticks 2 very big boxes. And as much as the race often suits the lightweights, both top weights have dropped a couple/few kgs from their last few runs.

Yeah we might be best to wait until maybe Saturday for our tips Wadda

Well the Dan went out on a good note at least ... won 8 races and over 400k for the connections so a more than decent career. And Doomben on Saturday gets all the attention ... lets hope the track holds up. I'm going in for some First4 action in races 3 through to 8. The fields are strong, the racing starts early and we're all done by 4.20pm. Should be a really good days racing DZ.