What does everyone think about the carnival changes this year?

The big difference for me will be hopefully going to the track for the 10K a month before the Stradbroke instead of 2 weeks, so gives me a greater chance of getting 2 weekends away through the senate.

I thought I heard something about distance changes too? Would be a shame to change the 10K from the 1350m.

I'm a big fan of that Nova party on stradbroke day, it's so popular now that it's a mission to get food, drink or bets on in the public, so I'm happy to pay the $200 for ease of above necessities.

I see they have a punters den on 10K day, sounds good, don't know if anyone has been?

Just an observation after viewing a few english races over the past couple of weeks... most of the horses seem to shorten in the market in the days and hours leading up to the race, especially those near the top of the market.

It seems that the opposite is true in Australia - most runners seem to get out the market, especially in the hour before the race.

Why? Do the poms put up a better percentage early? Lesson learnt - get on early when playing in english gallops.

Here’s mine:

1) Winx – Cox Plate. Sure, you can talk about a biased track, but what she did was remarkable. Settled in behind them, got the gap when The Cleaner drifted out and just shot through it with a massive turn of foot. Was good enough to keep going after getting to the front way too soon and win by 5 lengths beating Might and Power’s track record. It’s not often that a Cox Plate is over so far from home.

2) Azkadallia – Myer Classic. She got back and then found a whole heap of dead ends in the straight, showed sharp acceleration a number of times only to be stopped in her tracks again and again, and still made a late dash to get 3rd. Remarkable run. Should have won by many lengths.

3) Azkadallia – Last race on Cox Plate Day. She settled last and wide. McDonald made a long, searching run from the school and she sprinted very quickly to be within striking distance at the furlong. Looked to be tiring at the 100 (when she went past me in the Upper Burston stand), only to rally late and make a lunge to just miss. Would have been a huge difference to my punting day and Cox Plate weekend if she won, but that’s racing.

Honourable Mention – Whoshot the Barman – Zipping Classic. Made a move from last to first a mile out, then just kept getting further and further in front from the turn. Not great opposition but absolutely toyed with them to win by 7.

Talking of Azkadallia – where to from here? Looks to have improved sharply this preparation to go from a win first up out of the city to be a good thing beaten in a group 1 on Derby Day. Queen of the Turf maybe. I wonder if she is one of those horses who just get too far back and find too much trouble and keep sucking the punters in.

Abe

A big program of 8 group races at Doomben on Saturday and I'm excited! This is my favourite race and race day of the year, you get a healthy crowd but it's not heaving like Stradbroke day and the 10K is often a race won by the best horse or the 'people's champion' so it's a great spectacle.

Some of my best 10K day memories:

- Waiting in the betting ring til the death to get top odds for Falvelon from Brian Ogilvie, a big plunge for a few poor students (200 on at 3/1). There was a big tip around for Lord Essex but the champion Falvelon cruised past at the 100 to the cheers of the crowd. We then buttered up again on Oli in the last, Mervington, which saluted and a huge night followed.

- Apache Cat's second win, taking 3.80 off Eric Phillips and watching the A Cat cruise up around the turn to high 5's all round. But wait Black Piranha out of the pack gave plenty of heart palpitations but Apache held on.

- A man singing for 5/2 about a 2/1 chance in the bookies ring, must have been in the late 90s.

- Things getting heated between 2 rival dress up bucks parties ending in Superman and Batman slugging it out behind the grandstand before the cops intervened.

Worst memories:

- Jumping off Apache Cat and onto Reigning to Win (!) because of an irregularity with his blood?! Sheer madness, he bolted in by 5.

- Being keen on Hot Danish for a month before jumping off on the morning due to persistent rain then watching her storm clear and hold off Whobegotyou.

Anyway... I'm finding the race very very difficult to assess this year. There is no stand out WFA performer.

Our Boy Malachi was a bit so so in the BTC Cup, although I don't think Berry rated him really well. Berry looked like a genius rating Dan Excel on Sunday night but I have my reservations. Maybe not quite up to group 1 class. Ditto Generalife.

Srikandi was entitled to do more in the straight even after missing the jump. Knoydart is an enigma, obviously the best run out of the BTC cup but maybe just doesn't have the will to win.

Sacred Star is very good but off a setback? Boban out of form for a long time.

I'm left with 2 at the moment - Bring me the Maid ran the best sectionals in the BTC Cup, but maybe not suited at WFA, more of a stradbroke horse. I liked Charlie Boy's win the other day and Shinn is worth a length.

In other races on the day I'm very interested to see how Bring a Secret goes in the Sires. Looks like a big gangly thing and won very well last start, jockey said more ground will only help. A quantum leap in class up to this and then the Atkins, but maybe it can give the Olive stable their first group 1. I've had a small larup pre-post.

Srikandi
5.50
Our Boy Malachi
5.50
Bring Me The Maid
9.00
Generalife
9.00
Knoydart
9.00
Scissor Kick
11.00
Charlie Boy
13.00
Rock Sturdy
15.00
Sacred Star
15.00
Rekindled Power
15.00
Boban
17.00
El Roca
17.00
Temple Of Boom
17.00
Big Money
26.00
Fontelina
26.00
Time For War
26.00
Flamingo Star
26.00
Nite Rocker
51.00
Alma's Fury
67.00
Neo
101.00
Hidden Warrior
201.00

Well I have raided my betting accounts and booked flights and accom for the cox plate weekend this year and looking for some input from anyone who has been before.

1) RE grandstand tickets on the cox day - I'm only going off what I can see from last year but looks like there will be a limited number of tickets available to the public in the inner circle, burston and upper burston stands. What's the difference in these? What's best? And would they go up for sale on ticketek? I've heard you have to go stand or spend the day rubbing up against other sweaty, drunk men.

2) Would you go grandstand on manikato night or ok for general entry?

3) Have a few hours to spare on the Friday, would it be worth calling into living legends (I think it's close to tullamarine) before heading into the city?

4) Any other tips for a group of country hicks?

Thanks

Abraham

Hi all,

All that I seem to hear and read about corporate bookies is negative, what’s the fuss all about?

The number one complaint is about being cut-off for winning, and heaps of people say that this has happened to them and love to tell people about it. I don’t hear many people saying that all of their bets get accepted. I am a small time punter that doesn’t win in the long run, so I have never been cut off. I think I know enough about racing that I could probably eek out a profit if I put the hours in and had the discipline, but racing is just a bit of fun for me. I have a browse of the form, but I can’t justify spending more time when there are more important things to do. I also have far too many bets of a Saturday, but again I am willing to take that loss in exchange for the fun of a full afternoon of punting.

I find that I get much more ‘bang for my buck’ with the corporates. The odds that they offer are much better than the TAB, and some of the promotions are great. 20% quaddie/trifecta bonuses, refunds etc… Also sometimes I get a 100% matched deposit with a free bet ($100). I have been very selective with these and it has come off a couple of times – e.g. Ocean Park in the Cox Plate and Miracles of Life in the Blue Diamond. Having this boost to my account has been great – that Cup week after Ocean Park was excellent, betting freely (recklessly at times) from a free bet. I know that there are restrictions on drawing out money, but I have drawn out a few times without issue. So I just want to acknowledge for small time punters like me who probably won’t win in the long run, the corporate bookies can keep us in the game longer and give us better value for our punting dollar.

So if the corporates are here to stay, what do you think needs to change? Rules on putting more money back into the industry and on accepting bets?

Interested to hear.

Hi all

Not wanting to sound boastful but the stars have aligned this year and I will be making a once in a lifetime trip to Paris on the weekend. No sightseeing, no touristy stuff, just 2 big race days.

I am posting about this a) to see if any people who know a bit about international racing can help to find a few winners, b) perhaps to serve as a reference for any site users who want info on the weekend in years to come, as I have found it a bit hard to work it all out and c) in case you might be interested in hearing about the arc weekend first hand.

After 6 hours on the train to study the form I'll be arriving on the Saturday and going straight to Longchamp. Looks like it's 14 euros to get into both days! What a bargain. I don't know anything about who will be running on this day, but I'm sure they will put the fields together later in the week. I am planning on going low key. I will then hopefully have a decent stash of cash to bet it up on Sunday. 7 races, 6 of which are group 1's.

My bank for betting is 430 euros, way more than usual. I had a bet on spirit of boom in the stradbroke this year at 50/1 that was going to be my arc bank, I thought I was in the money at the furlong but 4th doesn't pay. Anyway, much later that night at the treasury I put $20 into a $1 machine and it started singing, no idea what happened but I walked away with some green prawns that I converted to euros the next day, and I have kept it stashed since.

I think I will have a decent crack on the arc (100) and a throw around a few 20's in the other races. As well, I'll try to snare some exotics (Im sure they have trifectas, dont know about a quaddie).

I have been following the news on the arc and watching the lead ups. I am pretty convinced that I will back novellist, I was so impressed by the win in england (but has the form held up?) and then the even run at baden baden was fine in the circumstances. At around 6/1 I think he is the go. Orfevre obviously impressive but 5/2 is a bit short for mine.

I don't have much idea about the other races - looks like moonlight cloud is going around in the sprint, but will probably start in the red I guess with heavy french support.

Here is some info that I found on the races other than the arc, any thoughts would be much appreciated or even to be pointed in the direction of a decent European tipster to follow.

I will try to give an update on the Saturday night and then a review afterwards.

Prix de l'Opéra - Group 1
For 3 year olds and upwards
Distance: 2,000 m | Flat Race | Purse: 400,000 EUR | 7 Runners
Favourite: The Fugue 2.80

Prix de la Forêt - Group 1
For 3 year olds and upwards
Distance: 1,400 m | Flat Race | Purse: 300,000 EUR | 7 Runners
Favourite: Moonlight Cloud 2.00

Prix du Cadran - Group 1
For 4 year olds and upwards
Distance: 4,000 m | Flat Race | Purse: 300,000 EUR | 9 runners
Favourite: Véréma 5.00

Prix Marcel Boussac - Group 1
For 2 year olds
Distance: 1,600 m | Flat Race | Purse: 300,000 EUR | 5 Runners
Favourite: Royalmania 3.00

Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere - Group 1
For 2 year olds
Distance: 1,400 m | Flat Race | Purse: 350,000 EUR | 7 Runners
Favourite: Kingman 3.00

All the best, Abraham.

I'm sure a few R & S forumites have been to the Arc, so wondering if there are any suggestions as I am a first timer this year. I don't really know where to start.. I haven't had much success from the old google search.

I believe there is racing on the Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday being the main event obviously. Is it worth going to both? Do you need to buy tickets in advance? Worth going grandstand? Can't seem to find any pricing.

Thank you.

Abraham

Yes I know we have a great days racing this saturday, but keen to hear early thoughts for epsom day as there could be some great odds to snap up early. For mine:

Epsom
Neeson didnt look too good on the weekend, not sure why he is still fave. Dont know about rothesay second up. Firebolt was very impressive, i think it could be the one.

Metrop
A lot to like about herculian prince. His last start was full of merit and i think the extra distance will suit. 3rd up, solid on pace, you can just see him kicking at the 400m and being strong right to the line

Spring Champion
Pretty tough. Praecido ran on pretty well on sat.

Flight Stakes
Surely nothing could improve enough to trouble parables or more strawberries. ill be going with parables over the mile in a hopefully more evenly run race. i think she will be able to unleash that great turn of foot off a more genuine tempo. surely strawberries wont get such an easy time in front.

the shorts
at least half of the punting public will be on hot danish. not sure what weight she will get under set weights + penalties? you can bet she will be long odds on after her great first up run. could be some decent competition from thankgodyourhere, grand rhumba and albert the fat. danish might be the anchor in all ups.

roman consul
I think pressday is going here? I like this horse, well above average.

Turnbull in Melb
Shoot Out to bounce back on the big track, a great quinella with my fave horse typhoon tracy.

One question
Need to be back at the airport for a 7.30pm flight. i see the last is at 5.30pm, and the airport is pretty close to randwick. Anyone have any idea of taxis on epsom day from previous years? doesnt look like there are any trains close, might be buses? need to leave before the last?

Thanks, Abe

And the winner is... Squid69 who found Our Lukas for a healthy bet, well done! I plodded to the line in second, with Mantank a close 3rd. Not a bad trifecta I reckon. 731278 just missed out with three seconds that would have pushed him well in front. That´s racing!

Talking points:
- Chris Munce is a genius distance rider, gave Crossthestart a perfect run
- Dariana proved that ‘you can only believe what you see’, running right up to her brilliant trial on Tuesday to easily win the derby
- Daunting Lad the 8 year old cruised past the heavily backed favourite in the lightning and won like a good thing, how could you pick him?
- Rothesay and Our Lukas franked their last race form, both winning their respective races with ease
- Black Piranha made it 2 straddies in a row, coming from 15th to nail Melito by a short half head. Corey Brown takes 2nd for the 2nd year in a row, and I was on both of them. Next year!

I have enjoyed organising the comp, it has given me an interest in the winter carnival races in cash strapped times! I would certainly do a few things differently next time, but overall I think it has gone ok.

Weekly winners:
Week 1 – Trevalma
Week 2 – Smiley Bandit
Week 3 – Smiley Bandit & The Urger
Week 4 – 731278
Week 5 and inaugural champion – squid69

FINAL PLACINGS

1.squid69 - $500
2.Abraham Froman - $240
3.Mantank - $224
=4.SmileyBandit - $175
=4.Yakeckhid - $175
6.RedcarBoy - $80
=7.Reamer - $0
=7.Hinksy - $0
=7.Magpie magic - $0
=7.Trevalma - $0
=7.lance barnard - $0
=7.Northerly#1 - $0
=7.the urger - $0
=7.jet - $0
=7.731278 - $0
=7.Oli-D - $0
=7.Oldtimer - $0
=7.Bondy - $0
Cheers, Abe