Macca

'Show a Star is also entered in the 200k Canberra Cup on Sunday ... currently showing 4.60. In fact, there are a few horses entered for both Randwick & Canberra. The Black Opal Stakes for 2yo's is now worth 300k as compared to the 2 Randwick races for 2yo's which are both also worth 300k.

Yep ... with the odds booster I just got 47-1 for the 3 saluting. As you said Wadda, that is excellent combined odds for 3 very classy racehorses.

With the other 2 best bets to come I will be doing the 4 trebles ... we're due for at least 3 of the 4 to get up. Just a small outlay on each but the combined odds will be a lot better this week.

You can get $6 for Merchant Navy at Ladbrokes (enhanced odds) And I also like Gailo Chop in the Australian Cup Wadda whilst also being concerned with Redkirk Warrior and Brave Smash in the Newmarket but ... Merchant Navy (52kgs) has only ever carried 55.5kgs up to 58kgs.

Continuing my theme of looking for the class horse which is the best horse I'll go with 'Kementari' in the Randwick Guineas as my best bet. Found a few standouts at Morphettville & Ascot but they are just good horses in inferior fields. We've got the 2 best bets so far so it's over to @Demon77 & @binman Here are the 2 best bets so far ... Flemington Race 6 No.11 Merchant Navy (5.50) Randwick Race 7 No.3 Kementari (2.90) Australian Group & Listed Races

As you blokes are well aware, I'm a trifecta punter so it stands to reason that I find the Group 1 races to be quite tricky. So to help each other in all the exotics (Quaddies, Quinellas, First 4's, Trifecta's and the like) I thought it might be an idea to post up our top 3 in the Group 1's. However, narrowing it down to 3 possible winners is no easier than trying to find one standout! Anyway, here goes ... Newmarket Hcp ... Redkirk Warrior, Brave Smash, Merchant Navy Australian Cup ... Gailo Chop, Homesman, Almandin Canterbury Stakes ... Global Glamour, Foxplay, Clearly Innocent Randwick Guineas ... Kementari, Pierata, Ace High

I should know already but the handicap conditions in the Newmarket Hcp means that all bar 2 horses (Redkirk Warrior 57.5kgs & Brave Smash 56.5kgs) are carrying 52.5kgs or less. I've also noted that David Hayes has mentioned a few times that in the sprint races the weight isn't such a factor (unless the difference is significant) So is 4 or 5kgs quite significant over the 1200m? You'd reckon it is and that probably explains why the top 2 horses are at each-way odds. What I do know is that there are a number of good or very good horses carrying very little weight in the race.

Ok then ... as stated previously, I will be watching the film and I'll make my own evaluation then. Obviously the film isn't for everyone but we could be talking about any film of any genre. I'll probably like it as opposed to those who don't care for it ... I still haven't seen 'The Artist' either but that film also received mixed reviews.

Sorted out all my trifectas tonight ... fine tuning only required. For years I did the form on a Friday night/Saturday morning armed with various publications but these days Racenet.com does the job. Race 6 at Randwick (Canterbury Stakes - Group 1) was a toughie even though there are only 9 runners ... I could make a case for 8 of the 9 winning. In the end I had to take a few educated guesses. The trifecta & first 4 could pay well in that race, all things considered.

lol ... I feel the same way about Redkirk Warrior - Ladbrokes is offering $8 but I was thinking of using the horse as my best bet. May still do of course and if so, I can see that 4 pick multi paying the big bucks! Trouble is that we start going South after we get to '2 from 2'! Maybe it's the week where we stick our necks out? You just never know Wadda!

It is a bit confusing with the distances for Guineas races, Derby & Oaks races A quick glance at the Australian Group & Listed Races gives all the distances for the 3yo races - here are the main ones in the Autumn ... Randwick Guineas 1600m (March 10) $1Million Rosehill Guineas 2000m (March 24) 600k Vinery Stud Stakes 2000m (F) (March 31) 500k Australian Derby 2400m (April 7) $2Million ATC Oaks 2400m (F) (April 14) $1Million

Ah ... so that's what you meant - makes sense now. I'd completely forgotten about him. I've edited that post. Take a look. So anyway - does 'The Shape of Water' shape up as the worst movie to win best picture at the Oscars? I haven't seen it but I know a few that have and they didn't care for it. 'The Artist' is another vying for top honours in that category (worst movie to win best picture) I will get around to watching 'The Shape of Water' regardless.

Edit: ha ha!

I favour the latter argument 'br' ... The risk of being caught using PED's is much much higher for a sportsperson in a sport that has stringent drug testing. Would-be cheats in sports where there is token testing are virtually free to do as they please. Transparency has a cost when it comes to stringent testing ... the more that get caught has the effect of turning people off that sport. So to keep the customers happy, just do the token testing. Works a treat.

The news is hotting up with regards to Nick Foles ... and it seems that Foles himself will be involved in the negotiations (that's according to coach Pederson) Nick Foles trade rumors: Eagles get a 'respectable' offer, AFC team dangled second-rounder

One thing is for sure D77 ... there will be a number of very good 2yo's that won't run a place in the race. The question is, which ones? And we might even have a surprise winner outside of the top 6. If 'Spin' gets a run it could surprise ... couldn't get a run on Saturday but nearly got up (and the inside running wasn't the favoured way of going) As you said, Sunlight & Written By have been outstanding whilst Performer & Estijaab haven't done a lot wrong. And then there's Santos (Gai has told us all to back him) and Seabrook was also impressive on Saturday. Prairie Fire and Nomothaj also have claims. I normally steer clear of the 2yo races but not this time around ... there's a lot of high interest and any number of chances can win the Slipper. Oohood for a place? ha ha

The strategy might mean to avoid Wadda! ... I have enjoyed the excellent feedback from your good self & binman though. What the chat has done is reinforce my trifecta strategy in terms of avoiding the big fields in Sydney & Melbourne but to also look elsewhere for the right type of trifecta races (Ascot, Sha Tin & maybe Morphettville/Doomben) I'm a great believer in 'whatever works' ...and if that means avoiding a bet in the odd big feature event, so be it.

If we use our 4 best bets as an example of going one-out, I would have taken a punt on Santos & Aloft but included a couple more with 'Care to Think' & Alizee. I would had Shoals in the Alizee race but not 'Crack Me Up' in the 'Care to Think' race (I didn't even have Crack Me Up in my top 5 in that race - hindsight says I should have, of course) I'll work something out but if not, I'll just stick to my trifecta's. For instance, a $40 quadrella = 3 or 4 separate trifecta's in terms of outlay. In the end, we punt the way we feel comfortable with.

I see ... so it's best to take a couple of others to win (as well as the raging favourite) in a race like the Challenge Stakes (where Redzel is already the 1.50 favourite) and hope that Redzel gets beaten. That principle would have worked in the Lightning Stakes as long as Redkirk Warrior is included as a winner. Sounds like a plan.

Never seen it EH but there again I rarely watch commercial TV (unless it's sport) I much preferred 'Take Care with Graham Kerr' ... which was a cooking show on the ABC that went for less than 5 minutes (which is about as long as a cooking show should go for)

I had the other one (Shumookh) but the winner was overs (Shoals 12-1) and the 2nd horse (Torvill) was also good value (17-1) ... I liked Shoals because I like giving the good horses a 2nd chance and if I recall correctly, you had it marked as a winner a few weeks ago in the Kevin Hayes Stakes. So thanks! The class horses can let you down (Care to Think, Alizee) but they can just as quickly bounce straight back. Speaking of which, Dixie Blossoms looked a class above in that win on Saturday. All that racing against top company was a telling factor. And as I'm quickly discovering, you still have to stick your neck out with the quaddies ... the same principle applies to trifectas but having 3 of my multiple (3 - 5 - 5) to win always puts me at ease ... 2 horses only to win just doesn't work (for me at least) Australian Group & Listed Races

Well, I think I've got a strategy for next Saturday but might take the safer quaddie option of the Sydney races Wadda ... I've always liked the smaller fields anyway and that's how I've usually done my trifectas (smaller fields) There's some great racing coming up at both Flemington & Randwick so we'll once again see a lot of the good horses running around. Ace High is again up against Kementari & Pierata in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and that race will be an interesting affair. And Redzel looks like it's a starter in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) Currently showing 1.50!

That is a good day binman ... I also got the Trifecta in the 8th race in Melbourne as well as in the 7th at Randwick. The initial dividend showed a 1500 payout in race 7 but because of the tie for 3rd, the dividend quickly went down to 745. Needless to say I was tad annoyed. That's a well thought out early quaddie ... I may try and do the same and try and identify at least one leg being a one-out or perhaps do as you've done with that early quad - 2 x one-out's.

Big Weekend coming up in both Sydney & Melbourne with 4 Group 1 events (Australian Cup, Newmarket Handicap, Randwick Guineas & Canterbury Stakes) Next Sunday Canberra hosts the Black Opal Stakes whilst the Adelaide Cup is on next Monday. Australian Group & Listed Races Here are the replays of last year's Australian Cup & Newmarket Handicap ...

Good points Wyl. Young people have so many choices with regards to 'live' sport these days that you'd have to wonder where Test cricket fits in. As an aside, there's the wane in popularity in the NBL based on (IMO) all the NBA games being beemed in. Yet, basketball has a high participation rate as a junior sport.