Previewing the weekend of racing: Your best bets for October 19-20
There’s some Friday-night action this week before the weekend proper gets under with a bumper Saturday of racing, where most of the attention will be focused on Caulfield.
Cameron Rose
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I've never heard a conversation about footy or cricket that I haven't wanted to join in immediately. If you disagree with me, you'll be made to work very hard to change my mind!
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Caulfield Guineas day: Group 1 previews and tips
What a huge day of racing awaits on Saturday at Caulfield.
Previewing the weekend of racing: Your best bets for October 13
Caulfield Guineas Day down in Melbourne and The Everest being run at Randwick has produced what will be the best day of racing Australia has to offer.
The Everest mega-preview and tips
It’s finally here. The Everest isn’t the race that stops a nation, but it has certainly become the race that has captured the attention of a notoriously fickle Sydney sports market.
Randwick Spring Champion Stakes Day: Preview and tips
The Spring Champion Stakes is the last Group 1 of the Sydney spring, and in recent times it’s rare when the race hasn’t had a lasting impact.
Flemington Turnbull Stakes preview
Turnbull Stakes Day is an important cog in the Melbourne spring carnival.
A close grand final does not a classic make
Let’s get something straight from the outset – this was not one of the great grand finals.
Caulfield: Underwood Stakes Day preview and tips
The huge weekend of racing kicked off at Moonee Valley on Friday night, travelled up to Randwick for Super Saturday, and concludes with Underwood Stakes day at Caulfield.
Randwick Super Saturday: Previews and tips
Super Saturday at Randwick, comprising the Epsom Handicap, the Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes, used to be the biggest raceday of the Sydney spring.
Moonee Valley: Group 1 Moir Stakes preview and tips
Friday night at Moonee Valley kicks off a huge weekend of Group 1 racing.
In the era of the unexpected, will the form reversals continue in the grand final?
We’re in the AFL era of the unexpected.
Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes preview
The Melbourne spring carnival is clicking into gear nicely, and this Saturday Caulfield hosts the Rupert Clarke Stakes as the feature Group 1 of the day.
Group 1 Golden Rose preview
The Golden Rose has quickly become one of the most exciting races of the spring carnival in either Sydney or Melbourne.
Melbourne will beat West Coast, and this is why
Of all the teams left in the finals, the last one West Coast would like to host is Melbourne, yet that is what they are faced with this weekend.
Flemington preview: Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes day
The Makybe Diva Stakes is the feature race at Flemington on Saturday, and has drawn a high quality field befitting its Group 1 status and purse of $750,000.
Randwick preview: George Main Stakes, The Shorts
Like Black Caviar before her, the excitement around an upcoming raceday is palpable whenever Winx is racing. A party atmosphere is prevalent on course, and that’s what is sure to be happening on Saturday at Randwick.
Losing elimination finalists Geelong and Sydney share many parallels
The elimination final losers are always a talking point out of the first week of finals, and this year has been no exception.
Unprecedented strength in the bottom half of the eight
Much like how every Olympics is declared ‘the best ever’, so too are we tempted to look forward with similar anticipation when on the verge of AFL finals.
Group 1 Memsie Stakes Preview
Spring is in the air, or at least it will be on Saturday when the first of September is upon us.
We’ll see! The four year olds are dominating at the moment, and I’m happy to be with them. Happy to look at some value.
Randwick Super Saturday: Previews and tips
Breaking a track record on your own steam is no mean feat, especially at WFA. Agree though, I couldn’t back him at those odds in by far his hardest test yet.
Yeah, it’s always on that time, could do with it a race earlier.
Moonee Valley: Group 1 Moir Stakes preview and tips
You’re assuming I have a problem with what happened to Brayshaw, I think.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
I still don’t see why. We want the players to take shots at goal, correct? Rather than passing to create better opportunities? So therefore, encourage them to take the shots by add more value.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
In this situation, isn’t a behind more of a penalty than it currently is, so we’d want to incentivize goals more, and make them worth more than six?
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
I thought week one of finals was probably the most intense I can recall, that laster for longer across the four games than usual. High pressure, high intensity will always lead to lower scoring, but I thought the games were great.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
I tend to agree, but my biggest issue is that we’re always seeing unintended consequences when rule changes happen.
As long as we have coaches that want to coach defensively, there will always be unattractive footy that the AFL doesn’t like.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
I don’t have a problem with a lot of the niggles and punching, but I understand that some would.
I couldn’t believe my eyes at the scheduling of Collingwood in week one of this years finals. It was staggering at the time, and that hasn’t changed.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
The building of forward pressure leads to congestion, and I guess in some ways depends on it. The AFL is obviously keen to strip that back.
AFL rule changes are coming: The good, the bad, the indifferent
I just had a bit of a hectic day on the whole, I never got a chance to reply. I read most of them though, some very entertaining comments, including ripping into me which I don’t mind.
I don’t think it’s so much about writing Grunt off, but it’s always hard to know where the new 4yo’s sit, and we’re not sure of his best distance yet. Three absolute class horses at the top of the market, if Grunt can win he’ll be a player in everything he contests.
Group 1 Memsie Stakes Preview
Yeah, I’m not sure how much of a punting option the Memsie is. History is pretty clear though – single figure odds and Group 1 winner previously, so you’d think it will be one of the three big chances. No result will surprise of those.
I don’t mind early 3yo races, particularly SWP. I find that those carrying the penalties find it hard to win, so I’m always looking for something on the minimum that’s in form and has a touch of class.
Group 1 Memsie Stakes Preview
Macca, who cares whether you get something out of it? I do. Others do. The players obviously do.
You may not like Quarter Pounder’s either. Does that mean McDonald’s should take them off the menu?
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
I don’t have a problem with niggle, it’s a physical, heated game. I understand if the AFL wanted to crack down on it, but I have no idea why supporters would want that.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
The cult of purity, I like that.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
Funnily enough, I thought it was real time speed that showed it more evidently. Either way, there is no doubt in my mind it hit the post, nor in Josh Jenkins’.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
Paying a free kick for hands in the back at the five minute mark of the first quarter doesn’t fundamentally change the game if they get it wrong. Removing someone with a red card does. The AFL have shown they are not competent enough to have that responsibility.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
I could have put “the good old days” in quotations like I did there.
And footy is at its best when fuelled by spite. And it does get the blood of players, coaches and supporters pumping. That’s undeniable. All of these things raise the level of intensity, and footy is at it’s best when intensity is high.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
Anything less than 7 will not go down well, and I think they’ll read the play correctly on this one.
Andrew Gaff: How many weeks, and where will he be next year?
Very good pick-up Marcus, well noted.
Sure, Richmond are first, but it's not daylight second
It’s a fair call about GWS, the difference probably being they can still finish top four, and weren’t coming from that far back.
Sure, Richmond are first, but it's not daylight second
Pithy analysis Brian, and hard to argue against. There’s a good chance it will be Richmond v GWS in the first final, first vs fourth. The loser will likely end up having to go through Perth.
Sure, Richmond are first, but it's not daylight second
The premiership percentages are certainly weighted in favour of not finishing on top, it’s not often that the double gets completed.
In Richmond’s favour now is a top two finish being all but secure, so they can have a little lull now, and then peak again in September.
Sure, Richmond are first, but it's not daylight second
I’m not big on Geelong, I think the ladder is true reflection for them.
That said, they are a huge chance of an upset this Friday. They’ve got everything to play for, Richmond doesn’t. The Tiges are coming off a brutal game against Collingwood, six day break, Prestia already ruled out, others would be sore. I’ll be tipping the Cats.
Sure, Richmond are first, but it's not daylight second
I can’t wait for the race Razzar, it’s going to be so hectic. Plenty of speed and tactics are going to be required, with quick decisions needed. He might just be too good, but I’d need $3.50 to be backing NS.
Moonee Valley: Group 1 Moir Stakes preview and tips