Macca

@Wadda We Sing will be doing cartwheels in Copenhagen. 'Ace High' wins the Group 2 Hill Stakes and is now right on track for the Cups. I had 'Egg Tart' going in a trifecta so got a collect from one of our best bets. Loomed up but out-sprinted to the line by Ace High. 'It's Somewhat' ran on well and that horse might be making a return to form.

Ha ha! No mate, missed that one. Up at Randwick the Metropolitan is a very tricky race and is wide-open. I reckon the dividends for the exotics will be very high regardless of the outcome. Need a lot of luck with that one, less so with the Epsom where it's a lot more clear-cut.

And before long it will be 2 years out as it is in all the major sports all over the world. We're just catching up here in Oz but people are the same all over. As inevitable as night following day Free agency opened up the thinking Those rallying against change are wasting their time. The club's best strategy is to bypass the 'If you can't beat them, join them' angle and to get to the forefront of change. I reckon that's what we're actually doing but we're not being very loud about it.

Ha ha! The Cups will be a tipsters nightmare if half or even a 3rd of the 2 fields are made up of Overseas horses. Most of which will be having their first start in Australia in those 2 races. The overseas form is there to try and comprehend but you've probably got to go by the ratings and then trust those ratings. Not easy, not easy at all. Doesn't bother me that much as I don't really up the ante in the Cups races ... I much prefer the Group races at WFA, Set Weights or Set Weights + Penalties. The staying races have never really been my go layz but everyone's different.

Can we assume you don't want any GF updates Wadda? ha ha I'll be watching the feature races from Randwick 'live' ... I'd prefer an Eagles win because the Pies fans that I know and come across will be unbearable for years if they win an unexpected flag. At least the Eagles fans are out-of-towners ... I barely ever come across an Eagles fan in my neck of the woods. They are as scarce as GWS supporters.

A couple from the Kaiser Chiefs ...

It sure did ... very disappointing was 'Trap For Fools' DZ. Never really looked like it. As disappointing as Nature Strip in the Moir St. Hard to see it running out the 1200m in the Everest but of course, the horse is entitled to run a bad race so I may be speaking too soon. Weir just mentioned that the horse might even be a doubtful starter in the Everest - end of the campaign earlier than expected? Viddora scorched them though ... might be a chance for the final slot in the Everest now. Brave Smash was flying too - the extra 200m will suit that horse hands down.

Moir Stakes is up next in 10 minutes ... I got a few collects early Wadda including a percentage of the early quaddie so reasonably well in front with an interest in the last 2 races. Chautauqua failed to jump so that is probably the end but maybe not ... WA racing might invite the horse for the Winterbottom Group 1 - wouldn't surprise me anyway. But I always believe that all things are a possibility. DK Weir sounded very confident about 'Nature Strip's' chances - well drawn and he reckons it should be running 2nd after settling - outside the leader (which I reckon could easily be 'Ball of Muscle' or maybe Houtzen) 'Friday Night at the Valley' is a nice add-on to 'A Day at the Races' ... there's probably a couple of decent feature races most nights so that suits me.

Ah well, Chautauqua has had a magnificent career. He'll have a nice retirement and the horse might even be used as a clerk-of-the-course horse down the track - there's an idea. Unless they keep trying to get the horse to run. Maybe Honkers?

C'mon Chautauqua! Jump!

Ha! Are you laying odds Clint? Apparently the horse arrived at the course and is displaying a calm manner ... whatever that means, who knows?

And now 'I Am A Star greets the judge ... very impressive. Wasn't even going to have a bet in the first 2 races but have picked up a trifecta & a F4. Smallish dividends but I'll take the wins. Plus, I'm alive in the quaddie. Your multi bet is looking good @Dee Zephyr ... I've got both of your choices going as well so here's hoping.

Ended up taking an early quaddie @Dee Zephyr which is unusual for me but Sunset Watch gets the first leg up. I've included 2 of your 3 remaining choices as well as a couple of spec chances. I've targeted races 3, 5, 6 & 7 for some trifecta action. The Valley is good Friday night entertainment with the footy over & done with.

Good luck with the 4 pick DZ ... I haven't looked at the first 2 races but 'I Am A Star' is a very good horse. 'Trap For Fools' loves the Valley and should win. In fact, I reckon if Sunset Watch salutes, you'll get the 4.

My 2 Best Bets Serie A (Italian League) 2.00am Sunday $2.80 Juventus Win & Match Score +2.5 Goals vs Napoli EPL Saturday Midnight $1.95 Arsenal Win & Match Score +2.5 Goals vs Watford That gives us 30-1 for the 4 DZ without BM's input and without our European Correspondent's input ... haven't applied odds boost either.

Weir got 1st, 2nd & 4th in the Benalla Cup ... missed on Lord Fandango of course but thems the breaks. Went for a bit of value so nothing ventured, nothing gained. I will be watching the DK Weir horses in the feature races in the bush over the Spring.

My tips ... Philadelphia, Seattle, KC

An ex-player on Sportscenter was saying that their defense has a few weaknesses - more so in the secondary but that might be injury related. But all the teams get injuries so it is not a singular reason - unless that injury is to a gun QB where the back-up is way below ordinary. The Rams will now be the hunted though so they will get dissected by all ... but having a wise-head like Wade Phillips to support their young coach is an excellent situation for them. They are the team to beat in the NFC, that much is true

Yeah, top class game between 2 very good teams Dappa. You've got to wonder how the Vikings could possibly lose that badly at home to the Bills? Costly loss as next up for Minnesota is at the Eagles. And if one of the NFC North teams can get on a roll then the Vikings could easily be playing catch-up for the season. Mind you, I don't believe that the Packers, Lions or the Bears are all that great. But you never know. As for the Rams, who's gonna stop 'em? Their defense gave up points but their offense is supreme with Goff at the helm. And the Vikes were always likely to score with their good offense.

Just a box5 DZ ... nothing jumps out at me although the favourite 'Mr Garcia' has strong claims. I'm hoping that a couple of my 'value' runners can beat it home. With these Country cups it's more a matter of looking for the horses that might have been set for the race ... and we know that Weir targets these races.

Excellent opening drive by the Vikes Game-on by the looks of it

The wonders of the internet hey Wadda! One of your favourites 'Voodoo Lad' is out of the Moir Stakes tonight .... it is still a crack field though with any number of chances including the boom sprinter 'Nature Strip' Been having a bit of luck with the Country Cups this year so I may have a bit of a go at the Benalla Cup this afternoon. Weir sets his horses for these Cups and he's got 3 of the 11 runners engaged today.

Nice pick Wadda ... the Premiere Stakes will probably be upgraded to Group 1 status soon enough too. 2 weeks out from the 'Everest', many of the sprinters from the Everest will continue to contest the $500k race. Very classy field as it was last year when 'In Her Time' won. The racing is going to be great on the weekend ... really looking forward to it. My Best Bet is in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday Caulfield Race 8 No.9 Grunt $3.40

A new page so here are the games again ... Public holiday in Victoria tomorrow so we locals get a chance to watch the Vikes @ Rams game live. Ideal. Vikings are at Philadelphia next week so they'll need to get a move on after dropping a game to the Bills at home. Only the 1 point on offer for 3 correct 'Road' winners this week so good luck all.

Fair enough Gonzo although I believe that many equate a top 5 pick as a top player (A grade or at least B+) and if that doesn't eventuate they will blame the recruiter, the club and then the player himself. And then bang on about who should have been picked instead. It has to be remembered that these high school age kids are not the finished product by any means and that many of these prospects never progress much past their last junior year (Morton, Toumpas, Cook, Gysberts etc) So therefore, the draft and the draft picks attached is a flawed concept in at least some respects. True value? A matter of opinion but I have outlined my reasoning in previous posts. Busts happen and they happen a lot ... you can get on a good run, a bad run, a middling or indifferent run. We have seen our fair share of busts so hopefully we continue the good run that we're having of late (Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem, Oliver et al) And there's now a real chance that we could be a major player at the top end of the draft again. Who would have thought?