Last weekend of Group 1 racing in New South Wales for a while, and the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) is certainly a great race to close out the carnival.

Giga Kick the obvious one to beat there but I think Private Eye deserves to be second pick and looks a shade of value. Forgive the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) run with excuses, he's run 123+ over 1300m and if J Pride is happy to run him here, I'm happy.

Nevertheless, we'll look a bit earlier to Race 5, the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) for the best, and I think Coal Crusher finds a cheap lead and takes plenty of catching.

Beaten a head at Rosehill last start, he does meet Bacchanalia 4kg better for that small margin and looks to get control of this race from the top. No doubt Vilana will take beating and is very well in at the set weights but Coal Crusher's record when able to find an uncontested lead is quite strong and I expect him to give a big sight.

One at a huge price that just piques my interest ever so slightly is Serpentine in Race 6, at 50-1.

He's the 'against' case of European stayers coming out here and beating up on Australia. Fancy an Epsom Derby winner (albeit a bad one), running 12th, 15th, 9th, 10th, 2nd, 20th in six runs down under, only one at Group 1 level!

Obviously he's struggled since his one hit wonder but he did run to 111 and 112 in two of his runs here which aren't being beaten a mile here considering the current favourite Protagonist has a peak of just 109 (albeit with a much better profile).

The very interesting thing to note is the switch to G Waterhouse & A Bott. If anyone can turn this guy's career around it'd be them, and three 1200m trials also signal plenty of intent to have him ready to do something here, just as they did with Sir Lucan first up off two years recently.

SYDNEY SPECIALS

Bet of the day: Race 5 #6 Coal Crusher @ $7

Each-way play: Race 6 #9 Serpentine @ $51/14