Macca

The Giro hots up tonight and tomorrow night ... the riders are just about to tackle Colle delle Finestre with Yates having a 28 second lead over Dumoulin with Pozzovivo trailing by 2:43 and Froome trailing by 3:22. Coverage on Eurosports. Tonight's profile ... And tomorrow's penultimate stage ...

Good choice DZ So here's how we sit with both trifecta races with @binman to fill in the gaps McKell Cup - Randwick Race 7 W/2/3 Ecuador W/2/3 Naval Warfare W/2/3 Our Century 2/3 ???????? 2/3 ???????? Kingsford-Smith Cup - Doomben Race 7 W/2/3 Le Romain W/2/3 Impending W/2/3 English 2/3 ???????? 2/3 ????????

Lovani has been scratched so you'll need to have another go DZ McKell Cup - Randwick Race 7 W/2/3 Ecuador W/2/3 ???????? W/2/3 Our Century 2/3 ???????? 2/3 ????????

My best bet for the weekend ... Randwick Race 6 No.3 Live and Free $2.50 Not exactly each-way odds but the horse is in fine form and should be getting into the finish with Brenton Avdulla on board. It's the best bet of a few of the Sydney Sky Racing pundits as well.

The last 2 have been scratched PD but the first 2 picks offer very good value - especially the Darren Weir trained 'Heavenly Thought' ... and 'Schism' is overdue to salute but again, it is very good each-way odds. An interesting one is 'Dafeenah' ... the bookies have kept it safe. Opened at about 5-2 and has stayed at those odds. It's only run is where it finished 12th of 12 where the horse looked like it over-raced. Won both it's trials though.

We need you to do the Kingsford-Smith Cup as well ... another 2 pkacegetters. We are doing 2 Trifecta races this week. Le Romain Impending & English are taken already! At your convenience BM ?

And I'll take 'Our Century' ... in form, lightly raced and has won or placed 3 times from 3 runs at the distance. Avdulla on board is a plus too. So here's how our 2nd trifecta race is looking ... McKell Cup - Randwick Race 7 W/2/3 Ecuador W/2/3 Lovani W/2/3 Our Century 2/3 ???????? 2/3 ???????? So if you've got the inclination to part with your wisdom on this race @binman , just post up a couple of likely placegetters at your leisure.

Not sure it matters a great deal DZ ... the 3rd pick is the tricky one as we're looking for a bit of value. But your pick 'Lovani' offers that value already so I may play it safe.

Well whilst BM is picking out his certainties we can go ahead and kick things off with the McKell Cup ... you liked Ecuador yeah? There are some other good fields up in Doomben apart from the 2 feature races ... specifically races 3, 4, 6 & 9. 'It's Somewhat' looks a standout in The Lord Mayors Cup (race 4)

Yep ... we'll get this one out of the way first DZ and then we can throw things open for the McKell Cup. I'll take 'English' as the 3rd pick to win ... although, I reckon it's a race in 2 between Impending & Le Romain. There's a couple of others that have run some very slick times of late but not at WFA level or against this sort of class field. So it's over to @binman to finish things off in the Kingsford-Smith Cup - we'll need 2 placegetters BM. W/2/3 Le Romain W/2/3 Impending W/2/3 English 2/3 ???????? 2/3 ????????

And it's now Vegas vs Washington in the final. The absolute newcomer vs the team that has often exited early in the playoffs. An unlikely match-up but here we are. Game 1 is next Tuesday 10am and then Thursday 10am for game 2 with game 3 on Sunday week at 10am. AEST. Really looking forward to this final and the bookies have installed Vegas as $1.60 favourites. I reckon it's line-ball but I'm leaning towards the Caps.

We could always have a go at the McKell Cup as well - punters lament and all that! Same format and we can play around with the picks as we see fit ... as previously stated, with the small fields it's not a bad idea to eliminate 3 or 4 horses and then shoot for the first4. Just a thought. ps ... the Oaks race is very tricky with a lot of the horses that may be at the end of their respective campaigns (already)

Ha ha! I reckon we'll get this one Wadda but not sure about the dividend for the trifecta. However, I play around with our picks and incorporate a first4 in there as well. I really like Le Romain as well but I'm third up this time around so it's over to @Dee Zephyr

My preference would be the Kingsford-Smith Cup so Wadda, you can decide out of the top 2 preferences if you like.

And continuing my theme of highlighting the overseas Group 1's whilst our racing gets scaled back for the winter, here are the 3 Group 1's scheduled for this weekend (The Curragh - Ireland) Sky Racing1 & 2 are covering the events for those who have cable but I believe the FTA racing station does cover these big events from time to time. Especially at the Royal Ascot week long carnival in June where we'll see some Aussie representation. Irish 2000 Guineas 1600m $620k Gold Cup 2100m $470k Irish 1000 Guineas 1600m $620k

Blinkers on for the first time ever and the Zephyr just sped away from them like a horse possessed. I wonder if the connections might be tempted to give the Dan a couple more runs with the blinkers on? Anyway, it's trifecta time again ... the Kingsford-Smith Cup & the Queensland Oaks are the 2 standout choices and I'll throw in a 3rd choice from Randwick. Kingsford-Smith Cup Doomben Race 7 Group 1 1350m $700k Queensland Oaks Doomben Race 8 Group 1 2200m $500 McKell Cup Randwick Race 7 Listed 2400m $150k If you've got a preference just post up your choice at your convenience @Dee Zephyr @Wadda We Sing @binman

And here's the replay of the race DZ ... (you'll need to logon to view the replay) Dan Zephyr Goes Out in Style With a Commanding Final Performance

Led from the jump, slowed them down and then kicked clear in the straight. Textbook win Wadda

The Zephyr wins by 4 lengths ... what a way to go out!!

We're now down to 4 runners in a 30k race ... blinkers on first time. Will the Dan salute DZ?

Here are the replays of the weekend's Group 1's ... both here and overseas. Couldn't find the 'Preakness Stakes' though. Will post up later on if available. The Goodwood (Morphettville 1200m) Doomben Cup (2000m)

I see Dan Zephyr is entered for race 5 at Geelong tomorrow. Only 5 in the race too!

There's a couple of overseas Group 1 races coming up later tonight and early tomorrow morning ... I haven't had a bet in the Preakness Stakes (8.48am) as it's hard to see 'Justify'* being beaten and it is too short - Good Magic could run 2nd to the odds-on favourite though. I don't mind 'Limato' (each-way) in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (12.40am) ... it should get into the finish. *If 'Justify' does win the Preakness as expected it will be shooting for the triple crown in the Belmont Stakes held on the 9th of June.

It was such a wide open race (Doomben Cup) and the exotic dividends reflected that ... we now know that Comin' Through can run the 2000m and it won in impressive style.

Yep - I'm happy with 'Life Less Ordinary' Let's get on!