#Benchmark 70

Fixed price operator TAB.com.au has installed joint favourites from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable as well as the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team for Sunday's rich $300000 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool. One of Australia's newest feature races will be run for the fourth time on Sunday over a gruelling 4600m trip, making it Australia's…

A plethora of recent racing has produced a midweek card of only six races though there is enough depth to keep us interested. With warm weather the track should be no worse than soft and with the rail out 11 metres I will be looking for those that make their own luck.

With most of Wednesday's races having multiple chances I am keen to find a bit of value and won't be afraid to back more than one in a race at the Gold Coast. BEST BET: DYNAMIC DUO (Race 8 No 6) NEXT BEST: PRINCESS LUNAR (Race 2 No 7) VALUE BET: SEA COMMITS (Race 5 No 11) Quaddie numbers are: Race 5 - 4,8,11 Race 6 - 1,4,5 Race 7 - 1,2,5 Race 8 -…

Back to Doomben and with fine weather forecast a good track is likely. The track always plays to on-pacers and with the rail out 5.5 metres I will be looking for those that can make their own luck. A pair of European imports have my attention and I am also expecting the Maher/Eustace juggernaut to continue. BEST BET: HILLCREST AVENUE (Race 5 No…

With fine weather the track may even get into the good range though with the rail out eight metres, I will be looking for those that can go forward and take a position. BEST BET: ZATTASTAR (Race 1 No 6) NEXT BEST: SAFEEYA (Race 3 No 2) VALUE BET: ROCKIN' ARTIE (Race 6 No 8) Quaddie numbers are: Race 5: 2,3,8 Race 6: 2,5,8 Race 7: 1,3,4,5 Race 8:…

Ipswich has been getting plenty of racing and with the rail out between eight and 10 metres that will make it tough for those drawn in the boondocks. The tight track favours front-runners and with a bit of light rain around to take the sting out of the ground I want to be on those that can make their own luck.

Craig Williams can end a personal drought while giving trainer Dan O'Sullivan his maiden Group 1 win in Saturday's Victoria Derby. Williams last won the Victoria Derby 15 years ago on the David Hayes-trained Kibbutz when the jockey and trainer enjoyed a superb partnership during the mid-2000s. Williams's best Derby result since that triumph was on…

Friday night racing continues on for another week at Moonee Valley, as they host a competitive nine-race program this Friday. The track is currently rated as a Soft 5 and with some rain on the forecast over the next couple of days, we may not get to out of the Soft range on race-day. The rail will be in the 4m position for the entire circuit when…

What a Golden Eagle we've got this year - and that's before we even get to the actual race. Controversy reigned this week when actions were taken to allow the Chris Waller import Welwal to take his place in the field. The horse's rating was bumped up and the field was expanded from 18 to 20 to ensure he could make the cut. Another mitigating factor…

Leaders dominated last week at Eagle Farm and with rail going out to four metres much of the same can be expected. Once again, there are southern raiders coming up in search of good ground but previous experience on the track is advantageous. The talented 3kg claimer Angela Jones is currently leading the Queensland Metro Jockeys premiership and I…

Ten races will become the norm in Brisbane over the next month, coinciding with the big spring meetings in the south and punters have more than 120 acceptors to sift through in order to find the winners at Eagle Farm on Saturday. A couple of impressive triallers kick off the day in the 2YO Fillies Plate. Chris Munce's daughter of Spirit Of Boom…

Some interesting Southern invaders muddy the waters but previous form on the track proved a good guide at Eagle Farm last week and I expect much of same for this big 10-race card featuring the Queensland Cup. They were coming from everywhere to win last week and on a good surface with the rail out two metres there will be few excuses.

Racing returns to Sale Turf Club this Wednesday with a very competitive eight-race program kicking off at 1pm AEDT. The track is rated as a Soft 5 currently, but with some good weather around in Victoria we could find ourselves on a Good track on raceday. The rail will be out in the 5m position for the entire circuit. Our best bet at Sale will come…

The third meeting in five days will test the track but the rail goes out three metres and on a soft surface all horses should get their chance. With good depth in most races I will be staying with the in-form stables and riders. BEST BET: ROLLER COASTER (Race 5 No 5) NEXT BEST: STARZAM (Race 8 No 11) VALUE BET: HILLCREST AVENUE (Race 6 No…

Another off-season meeting brightened by some talented ones resuming. With fine weather forecast a good track is likely for Eagle Farm and with the rail out seven metres all horses will get their chance. With no standouts on the card I will be avoiding the short-priced ones and looking for value runners from in-form stables.