Macca

The more I look at this the more I reckon that the outrage is completely over the top ... the angry mob are baying for blood but are those angry people consistent with their views with regards to other forms of cheating? I don't think so. As always, context needs to be applied but the outraged often prefer to look at these matters in isolation. PED use in all sports is a far greater issue but no one wants to ralk about it (including in the AFL where the drug testing standards are negligible) . . and then there is the widespread tanking (cheating) that went on for years & years. And CA will never find out even 20% of the truth so we'll never know the truth either. My gut feeling tells me that they all knew but is the crime that bad anyway? Most people would know that all the teams have cheated in the area of ball tampering so why should we cop the full brunt alone?

Here's a replay of Saturday's Golden Slipper & The George Ryder Stakes ...

Here's a couple of podcasts about the ball tampering furore ... BBC - 'Shocked and Stunned' ... Australia Wakes up to Ball Tampering Nightmare Cricket Unfiltered (Oz) - Ball Tampering Crisis Special

An unprecedented move ... mid test and all. World reacts to Steve Smith’s decision to step down as captain in Cape Town

Correct So why the difference in reaction? The answer to that question is extremely complex. I suppose the quick answer is that we can often act in a hypocritical manner. But there's also the love of a sport (or the opposite), the non-admission of guilt vs the admission of guilt (although the cricketers had very little choice), the protection of a sport vs a sport where the participants are often viewed as being extremely arrogant. I don't believe that the cricket test team is all that well-liked either - with the exception of a few thousand, the team doesn't really have a 'fandom' element. With footy, it's often the opposite. It's a very complex comparison.

Warner is a great example Bonkers - he should have been pulled into line a long time ago but instead of that, he's often allowed to run amuck. There's a separation/disconnect between those who oversee the sport and the participants - proof of that was the long, drawn-out pay dispute that went on forever. The team has underperformed for over a decade now - we're no longer a great team. Yet the team often acts and behaves as if it is a great one.

Not asking him to 'Shoot from the hip' ... he's just a beige CEO who never seems to say or do anything of any real substance. A fence sitter. Smith has admitted guilt - the 'investigation' only really needs to find out who exactly was involved in the fiasco. Sutherland spoke as if he was completely in the dark and he isn't. He would have spoken to Smith but told us he hasn't spoken to him. I don't believe him. The team has been a law unto itself under Sutherland's watch.

Can't wait for the Test to restart again tonight ... a sell-out crowd will be baying for blood. Could be a hostile crowd and there will be nowhere to hide. Sutherland's press conference was beige ... but I've never liked him as a CEO anyway. CA could do better. Hard to see Smith surviving this ... as a captain at least. Others could lose their spots or standing as well.

Hard to believe that 5 senior players believing that (a) the concept of ball tampering was a good idea and (b) that they'd even get away with it. Cricket fans will want blood and mass sackings ... but I've always believed that ball tampering goes on as a matter of course. And there's been a number of incidents over the years that reinforces that view. However, the incident just looks so brazen & blatant. And idiotic. This team is not well-liked to begin with so the repercussions could be enormous. But there's no excuse looked at in isolation and the person most responsible for this fiasco is the captain Steven Smith (unless Darren Lehmann knew about the plan as well) ... there's a press conference on at midday with James Sutherland - that will be more than interesting.

Santos will win it's fair share of races D77 ... that was a hot field.

'Kings Will Dream' does it easy - Dominant! One to watch. Into the Caulfield Cup now (automatic) Darren Weir again - he's done well again today. Winners everywhere.

'Sunlight' & 'Written By' were game in defeat - it was a really good race. Estijaab had to do it from the outside barrier - a great win and a great ride by Avdulla. And once again the exotics pay really well - Oohood was the difference but it always gets into the finish - it nearly won! Santos just couldn't finish off. There's a big future for a number of the runners.

And I'm doing well at Morphettville & now Mornington. 3 wins and 3 trifectas in a row from JJ's tips. The man is unstoppable - Safari JJ!

Ace High had every chance but D'argento too good. Started favourite and rightly so in the end. Ace High just hasn't had that zip about him in this campaign ... battled on well but we were looking for some brilliance.

And now for the Winx show ... I'm intrigued to see how close Kementari can get. Happy Clapper is in great form as well.

What a champ! So consistently good hey Wadda? Looked the winner a long way out - Darren Weir again!

JJ's tip for Race 3 - In Heart's Wake (No.6) Edit: 2nd again - is the dream over?

Thought 'Alward' was going to get to the line first but just missed ... money back if you took it each-way.

Ha ha! You know, that never happens but it just did!

Apparently it was the wrong tip ... anyway, you got the win, Wadda. I backed Tunes each-way so money back (as it was in the first race) By the way, Tunes has had over 100 races!

JJ likes Tunes in the next at Morphettville (No.3)

JJ likes Blue Morpho in the first (No.6)

The winner of the first (I Am Excited) ran 1:11.45 so the track may not be all that badly effected by the rain. The horses weren't cutting the track up that much either.

Good call Wadda ... So here are the 4 best bets ... Rosehill Race 3 No.6 Alward (4.60) Rosehill Race 4 No.1 Gailo Chop (2.30) Rosehill Race 6 No.1 Ace High (6.50) Mornington Race 7 No.11 Kings Will Dream (2.35) Combined odds of - 160-1 (best available)

So our 3 best bets so far (payout 'best available') Rosehill Race 3 No.6 Alward (4.60) Rosehill Race 4 No.1 Gailo Chop (2.30) Mornington Race 7 No.11 Kings Will Dream (2.35) Over to @Wadda We Sing for the final tip. Good luck to all today ... it will be a great days racing.