Macca

Trapeze Artist to race on! And the owner has insured the horse for $50Million. The horse will race on for 12 months and then be retired to stud. So it's next Spring, Hong Kong in December, the Autumn and then Royal Ascot and then that's it. Maybe 10 -12 Group 1 races in all but it might only be 8 or 9.

'Homeland' just continues on with its excellence. Nearly at the end of season 7 and the story lines seem never ending. 'Billions' is great and is getting better in its 3rd season. Paul Giamatti & Daniel Lewis continue to shine but Asia Kate Dillon is stealing the show portraying Taylor Mason. And 'Westworld' has just started up again (Season 2) ... First episode was action-packed but I'll need to listen to a few podcasts to find out what the hell is going on. The time-lines need figuring out too but the various podcasts clear things up.

Enjoy your break bm ... one of us will alert you on the trifecta race once we decide which race it is. Picking a decent trifecta race is half the battle - my preference is the Group 1 or Group 2 WFA or SW fields but that's just me. Thanks for your ongoing contribution too ... we need all the expertise possible! The format will probably be the same (3 - 5 - 5) and the tipping order may well be the same considering we won first time up. But that may change going forward. It was ... W/2/3 ... Wadda W/2/3 ... Macca W/2/3 ... binman 2/3 ........ Dee Zephyr 2/3 ........ Dee Zephyr

The other link didn't work so I'll try again ... Explaining Nick Foles' new contract and what it means for Carson Wentz, the Eagles and Foles himself (and the fans?) So often these articles are written in a way where it's like reading an article out of the Financial Review or BRW. You have to read between the lines to figure out where you sit as a fan of the team or the sport. Personally, I don't really care about the money but unfortunately, that's what a lot of sports are about these days. The money. And it might be a CB or in the OL for the Packers ... Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick & Denzel Ward have been touted for the secondary. Quenton Nelson would be a terrific pick-up as an OG

It's all academic now anyway Dappa ... at least for this season at least. Foles would have to be happy with the revamped deal. And a lot of non Eagles fans would be happy to see Foles staying as well - apart from those who might want to see the Eagles weakened. My view is that I am glad he is staying.

That's not quite right Dappa ... you and I thought he may get traded before the 2018 season but it looks like he'll at least start the season in the absence of Wentz. We were talking about the possibility of Foles being traded whilst his currency was high etc etc. That is how I remember the conversation. Gorg's opinion was that he'd stay.

That's right Dappa ... from memory Gorg made the call that Foles would end up staying. I suppose the whole 'will he/won't he stay could go on for quite some time though ... especially if/when the Eagles make the switch back to Wentz. It's still newsworthy from my point of view. As for the draft, I know that the Packers have a stack of picks outside of the first 3 rounds ... 12 picks in all over the 7 rounds. Whether we use them all is another matter. Our needs are many especially at CB, RB, OL, OG, SS & TE. I'm not up with all the prospective would-be draftees but I never usually am until the last couple of days or so before the draft ... and sometimes just on the day! The other question is whether the Pats trade up for a QB prospect - there's been plenty of talk especially surrounding Josh Rosen. Interesting fact that I heard the other week ... that a 3rd of all NFL players from year to year are undrafted players. Considering there's over 2000 total players in any given year on various rosters that makes about 650+ undrafted players.

I've only heard that we may well find out some time this week (whether the horse races again) The connections obviously can't do both (race on or retire to stud) but one of the owners was talking about another season (Spring & Autumn) and then Royal Ascot. But he said it as if it was an option only ... the other option is to earn up to $40Million in stud fees. Money talks and we've seen what often happens previously. The Everest must be tempting though ... worth about $7.8Million to the winner next Spring. And there's obviously a lot of high stakes Group 1's from 1200m up to a 1600m (it would get the mile you'd reckon) both here and at Sha Tin, Japan & Europe. Here's the other Group 1 from yesterday - The Champagne Stakes ...

I like it ... And DZ for short?

Well, the trifecta collect has got to be worth more than 1 win you'd reckon Wadda ... here they are in separate formations ... Best Bet Strike Rate 44: 20 - 9 - 2 Trifecta Strike Rate 1: 1 - 0 Australian Group and Listed Races

They ran a track record (01:20.33) in yesterday's All Aged Stakes and that might mean that Trapeze Artist's rating could go up a point or 2. If that happened the horse would become the 3rd highest rated horse in the World (according to the Rankings) I hope they don't retire the horse to stud but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Here's a replay of the Group 1 All Aged Stakes ...

Or 'Showtime' ha ha ... the horse ended up landing out first combined trifecta and we may look back in a few years (after cleaning out all the betting agencies!) as a reminder of where it all started. 'Ted' works of course. Nicknames are normally bestowed upon so we'll no doubt come up with something ... yours (Wadda) has just stuck hasn't it? The Zephyr race is a tricky one by the way ... a small field but trying to figure it out is not easy.

The Skip works and if you keep coming through with the goods (Showtime) it will be an apt nickname. I've got the easy bit going 2nd ... First & Third choices are tricky with regards to possibly taking a chance on a winner. I'll have an interest bet with the Zephyr race too ... time to study up. Maybe a First4 so I can include the Dan? 2-4-6-6?

As you and others are no doubt aware Wadda, I like my trifectas so was very happy with the return yesterday. The more the merrier I say and I like the idea of having multiple chances to win. The combined expertise works for me. There's a decent Group 2 sprint race at Doomben next Saturday that I've identified but I'm happy to go with another race if we want to continue the exercise. Sha Tin is my personal target next Sunday with 3 big Group 1 races (1200m, 1600m & 2000m) A number of the World's best horses are running around so that gets my attention. If we go again do we keep the same tipping order after our success yesterday? @Demon77 acting as 'The Skip' to finish off the bet worked. There's a nickname in the making!

And well done with 'Sprightly Lass' @binman Needed a win after so many misses ... Osborne Bulls will give us 2 from 4 if it salutes.

Yep .. a good start D77 The trifecta effectively paid about 3-1 for the full outlay and if Le Romain had have held on it probably would have paid a fair bit more. Full marks to the winner though - Trapeze Artist is some sort of horse. Good pick with 'Showtime' mate ... I can honestly say I wouldn't have included it if it was just me. The team wins first time up.

Seabrook wins for those who have followed the horse ... El Dorado Dreaming was a good thing beaten. Couldn't get a run for a long way in the straight and then flashed home.

I have boxed our first 3 and also had a go at the First4. I much prefer to bet on the Group 1 WFA races over the classic distances ... it's where my main interest lies with the thoroughbreds so I suppose that stands to reason. As an example, I haven't had a bet in the next race (The Champagne Stakes) for the above reason. Too hard

There's a few favourites going down D77 ... Nature Strip just got beaten by a bolter

So Far Sokool had every chance but never really threatened. Had no kick like it did at its last start.

It looked the winner at least twice ... and then did a Tom! As you said D77, there's plenty left for the afternoon

So here are our 4 best bets (best available odds) ... Randwick Race 3 No.2 Dothraki $3.50 Randwick Race 5 No.4 So Far Sokool $4.80 Caulfield Race 7 No.11 Sprightly Lass $4.20 Randwick Race 9 No.7 Osborne Bulls $2.50 And our trifecta at Randwick Race 7 W/2/3 .... No.10 Trapeze Artist W/2/3 .... No.2 Brave Smash W/2/3 .... No.1 Le Romain 2/3 .......... No.8 Tom Melbourne 2/3 .......... No.11 Showtime 1, 2, 10 / 1, 2, 8, 10, 11 / 1, 2, 8, 10, 11 There some value there and best of luck to all!

Yep .. the pressure is on you D77 ha ha! But hey, some are at their best under pressure so fingers crossed. I actually reckon it's a good way to do it ... I like the fact that you've got 4 horses earmarked too. Of course, if our first 3 run in the first 3 then it will be all academic.

Doesn't look like we'll get much rain in Sydney so I'll commit to my win choice in our trifecta race (The All Aged Stakes - Randwick Race 7) I have to give Brave Smash another chance ... back to the 1400m which is somewhat ideal and the way they're saying the race will be run suits the horse as well. Drawn 5 which is not a bad barrier at the distance (at Randwick) So here's how the configuration sits so far (3 - 5 - 5) ... Win/2nd/3rd Trapeze Artist Win/2nd/3rd Brave Smash Win/2nd/3rd ???????????? 2nd/3rd ??????????? 2nd/3rd ??????????? So it's over to @binman for the other winner and then @Demon77 for the other 2 horses that can get into the placegetters. Good luck!

Best bet ... Randwick Race 5 No.4 So Far Sokool (4.50) ... was extremely impressive at Bendigo a couple of Saturday's ago running a very slick time over the 1400m - streeted its rivals. This race isn't an overly strong one and the horse has drawn a good gate (4) ... the 1.80 on offer for the place might be the safer bet in a multi but I genuinely believe the horse can win.