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The 2008 Railway Stakes is as always shaping up to be a very, very interesting race. Raced at Ascot over 1600m, the 2008 Railway Stakes is a Group 1 handicap race for 3 year olds and above, worth a handy $1,000,000. At fixed odds of $21 (UNITAB) my pick for the 2008 Railway Stakes has to be David Hayes trained The Fuzz. I know his form is not the strongest it has been at present, but we all know he is a classy type; and from the 7 gate with Brad Parnham aboard he should sit just off the speed, I reckon he is every chance to topple his more fancied rivals in the Railway Stakes.

The Railway Stakes 2008 field/final acceptances:

1 MARASCO 14 FRED KERSLEY - WILLIAM PIKE 57.5
2 NICONERO 8 DAVID HAYES - BRAD RAWILLER 56
3 SNIPER’S BULLET 5 TRACEY BARTLEY - MICHAEL RODD 55
4 BANK ROBBER 2 GAI WATERHOUSE - BLAKE SHINN 54
5 THE FUZZ(NZ) 7 DAVID HAYES - BRAD PARNHAM 52.5
6 ACTION PAK 15 JUSTINE ERKELENS - SHAUN O’DONNELL 52
7 ANNENKOV(IRE) 1 PETER MOODY - LUKE NOLEN 52
8 BEAT THE STORM 10 ROSS PRICE - LUCAS CAMILLERI 52
9 FAMOUS ROMAN 11 KEN WILLIAMSON - JASON WHITING 52
10 GILDED VENOM 9 STEVE WALLACE - PATRICK CARBERY 52
11 HARTLEYS DREAM 17 PETER GIADRESCO - TROY TURNER 52
12 MAJESTICAL(NZ) 6 MATTHEW ENRIGHT - WAYNE HOKAI 52
13 PILLAR OF HERCULES 12 PETER MOODY - GLEN BOSS 52
14 RIGHTFULLY YOURS 4 MICK PRICE - CRAIG NEWITT 52
15 TARZI 3 NEVILLE PARNHAM - STEVEN PARNHAM 52
16 GRAND NIRVANA 13 FRED KERSLEY - PETER KNUCKEY 50
17 I COMMAND 16 JEREMY EASTHOPE 52

Blue Ribbon Foundation Sprint Stakes TOP PICK: COCINERO
Blue Ribbon Foundation Sprint Stakes ROUGHIE: TOUR GUIDE

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Below is the Blue Ribbon Foundation Sprint Stakes 2008 field/acceptances:

1 CAPTAIN BAX Kris Lees - Corey Brown 20 58.5
2 COCINERO Robbie Griffiths - Nicholas Hall (a) 2 58.5
3 IN THE SHADOWS Peter Maher - Brad Rawiller 17 58
4 CHANGING EYES (NZ) Richard Jolly - Craig Williams 13 56
5 KORCULA Tony Noonan - Nash Rawiller 16 56
6 RIGHTFULLY YOURS Mick Price - Damien Oliver 5 55.5 95
7 TOUR GUIDE Gillian Heinrich - Michael Rodd 3 55.5
8 JEUNEYMAN Ryan Hooper - James Winks 15 55
9 LET LOUSHE (NZ) Lee Freedman - Dwayne Dunn 6 55
10 SNORT Rick Hore-Lacy - Brett Prebble 14 55
11 BIG PRODUCTION (NZ) David Jolly - Luke Nolen 11 54.5
12 CANARY ISLANDS Anthony Cummings - Mark Zahra 12 54
13 JUGGLE THE BOOKS Jarrod McLean Mark Pegus 9 54
14 ANTIDOTES Bart Cummings Blake Shinn 4 53.5
15 BONDED John Moloney - Chris Symons 8 53
16 UTILITY (NZ) Pat Carey Ben Melham 19 53
17e OUR MONTAGUE Tony Noonan - Kerrin McEvoy 18 53
18e HIGH INTENSITY Stephen Theodore - Peter Mertens 7 53
19e BEXAAR Ian Hutchins 10 53
20e IMASHADOW Gwenda Johnstone - Mark Pegus 1 53

Of $100000 and $1500 trophy. 1st $61000 and trophy of $1500, 2nd $18000, 3rd $9000, 4th $4500, 5th $2500, 6th $1000, 7th $1000, 8th $1000, 9th $1000, 10th $1000.
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM

Emirates Airline Plate TOP PICK: GOD’S HAND
Emirates Airline Plate ROUGHIE: THE FUZZ

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Below is the Emirates Airline Plate 2008 field/acceptances:

1 SIR SLICK (NZ) Graeme Nicholson - Michelle Payne 13 58
2 THE FUZZ (NZ) David Hayes - Damien Oliver 12 58
3 CONFECTIONER David Hayes - Craig Williams 16 57.5
4 RAILINGS Michael Moroney - Greg Childs 7 56.5
5 ANNENKOV (IRE) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 6 55.5
6 MISSION CRITICALMichael Moroney - Kerrin McEvoy 9 55.5
7 NEW SPICE Brian Mayfield-Smith - Corey Brown 18 55.5
8 ELECTROMOTIVE Lee Freedman Dwayne Dunn 11 54
9 SARATIME John Moloney - Chris Symons 5 54
10 MAGNETIC Michael Kent - James Winks 8 53.5
11 THE WOLVERINE (NZ) Leon Corstens - Steven King 4 53.5
12 EXTEND John Sadler - Nicholas Hall (a) 3 53
13 DELAGO STAR Kim Waugh - Danny Nikolic 2 53
14 JABAL TARIK Lee Freedman - Brett Prebble 1 53
15 GOD’S HAND Bart Cummings Blake Shinn 17 53
16 PACINO Clinton McDonald - Jeff Lloyd 15 53
17e ROAD TO ROCK Anthony Cummings - Mark Zahra 14 53
18e PERUSEN Brendan McCarthy 10 53

Of $150000 and $1500 trophy. 1st $90000 and trophy of $1500, 2nd $27000, 3rd $13500, 4th $6750, 5th $3750, 6th $3000, 7th $3000, 8th $3000.
(LISTED).
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM

Lexus Stakes TOP PICK: ROMNEYA
Lexus Stakes ROUGHIE: MARVEEN

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Below is the Lexus Stakes 2008 field/acceptances:

1 MARVEEN Robert Smerdon - Corey Brown 8 56
2 MONTANA FLYER Gai Waterhouse - Blake Shinn 1 56
3 ROMNEYA Lee Freedman - Kerrin McEvoy 2 53
4 OKAYLAH Lee Freedman - Dwayne Dunn 3 53
5 PACHANGA (NZ) David Hayes - Craig Williams 4 53
6 KOMACHI Gary Portelli - Brett Prebble 12 53
7 MELPOMENE Brian Mayfield-Smith - Damien Oliver 7 53
8 APENNINE Mark Jackson - Nikita Beriman 10 53
9 CANNY GROOVE Rodney Douglas - James Winks 11 53
10 BUBBLE BELOW Michael Kent 6 53
11 DUBAI MISS Tony Noonan - Chris Symons 5 53
12 PRINCESS PULSE (NZ) Michael Moroney - Mark Zahra 9 53

Of $150000 and $1500 trophy. 1st $90000 and trophy of $1500, 2nd $27000, 3rd $13500, 4th $6750, 5th $3750, 6th $3000, 7th $3000, 8th $3000.
For Three-Years-Old Fillies. Set Weights plus Penalties. (LISTED).
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM

Schweppes Tonic 1000 TOP PICK: AICHI
Schweppes Tonic 1000 ROUGHIE: HIPS DON’T LIE

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Below is the Schweppes Tonic 1000 2008 field/acceptances:

1 EXCEEDINGLY GOOD Lee Freedman - Dwayne Dunn 13 58.5
2 AICHI Peter Snowden - Kerrin McEvoy 4 57.5
3 HIPS DON’T LIE (NZ) David Hayes Johnny Murtagh 7 56.5
4 PENNY BANGER Robert Smerdon - Damien Oliver 8 55.5
5 AL’S BEST MATE Peter G Moody - Luke Nolen 2 55
6 STRUMMING John Sadler - Nicholas Hall (a) 10 55
7 WADDINGTON Royston Carr - Greg Childs 3 55
8 BRUNELLO Mathew Ellerton - Chris Symons 9 55
9 FORAYS David Hayes - Craig Williams 6 55
10 THAT’S A FACT Greg Baker - Dean Yendall 1 55
11 TURQUIA Robert Smerdon - Ben Melham 11 53
12 SEEKING ATTENTION Anthony Cummings - Mark Zahra 5 53
13 MYTHICAL SPIRIT Mick Price - Craig Newitt 12 53

Of $100000 and $1500 trophy. 1st $61000 and trophy of $1500, 2nd $18000, 3rd $9000, 4th $4500, 5th $2500, 6th $1000, 7th $1000, 8th $1000, 9th $1000, 10th $1000.
For Three-Years-Old. Set Weights plus Penalties.
No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM

Herald Sun Stakes top pick: Neroli
Herald Sun Stakes roughie: St Trinians

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Below is the Herald Sun Stakes 2008 field/acceptances:

1 ILLUMINATES Graeme Rogerson - Michael Rodd 13 56
2 GABBIDON Steve Richards -Blake Shinn 11 56
3 MUSIDORA David Hayes - Johnny Murtagh 5 56
4 PARTIVA Michael Kent - Michelle Payne 3 55
5 JEWELLED GATE Leanne Aspros - Glen Boss 8 55
6 NEROLI Peter Snowden - Kerrin McEvoy 2 55
7 GUILD Peter G Moody - Luke Nolen 1 55
8 ST TRINIANS Phillip Stokes - Jeff Lloyd 17 54.5
9 MALOOSE Michael Kent - Steven King 6 54.5
10 SENSATIONAL TOY Luke Oliver - Brett Prebble 4 54
11 HANNA ROSSATony NoonanDanny Nikolic 12 54
12 JACQUELINE ROUGE Tony Noonan - Greg Childs 7 54
13 AMBERINO John Moloney - Chris Symons 18 54
14 JOYEUSE Mathew Ellerton - James Winks 16 54
15 SURFSIDE CHRISTMAS Lee Freedman - Dwayne Dunn 14 53
16 GOLDFIELD ASHES Brian Mayfield-Smith - Craig Williams 10 53
17e DISTINCTIVE LASS David Hayes - Damien Oliver 9 53
18e ROUGH CHANCE Leon Macdonald 15 53

Of $150000 and $1500 trophy. 1st $90000 and trophy of $1500, 2nd $27000, 3rd $13500, 4th $6750, 5th $3750, 6th $3000, 7th $3000, 8th $3000.

For Four-Years-Old and Upwards Mares. Set Weights plus Penalties. (LISTED)No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 16 + 4 EM

The Melbourne Cup field 2008 is very, very close to being finalised (final acceptances), and the field looks extremely strong. The 2008 Melbourne Cup is raced at Flemington, on the first Tuesday of November, is a race over over 3200m (2 miles). It is without doubt Australia’s biggest, and most widely recognised thoroughbred race; affectionately referred to by many as “The race that stops a nation”.

Now the 2008 Melbourne Cup has 10 overseas raiders vying for it, but as always, I’m prepared to overlook all the hype, and tip a local. And that local who I’m tipping to take out the Melbourne Cup of 2008 is ZIPPING. I love this consistent fella, and at $16 fixed odds (UNITAB) I bloody hope he does! I could bang on about all the formlines all day… but hey, I don’t really give a shit; my Melbourne Cup 2008 ‘hard-earned’ will be on Zipping, and I hope he gets the dough!


Below is the 2008 Melbourne Cup field/acceptances:

1 SEPTIMUS (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 1 58.5
2 EFFICIENT (NZ) John Sadler 4 58
3 ALL THE GOOD (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor 2 55
4 MASTER O’REILLY (NZ) Danny O’Brien 7 55
5 HONOLULU (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 3 54.5
6 NOM DU JEU (NZ) Murray Baker 5 54
7 C’EST LA GUERRE (NZ) John Sadler 6 54
8 ZIPPING John Sadler 12 54
9 YELLOWSTONE (IRE) Jane Chapple-Hyam 15 54
10 MAD RUSH (USA) Luca Cumani 16 53.5
11 ICE CHARIOT Ron Maund 17 53
12 VIEWED Bart Cummings 18 53
13 LITTORIO Nigel Blackiston 13 52.5
14 RED RULER (NZ) John Sargent 14 52.5
15 ZARITA (NZ) Pat Hyland 8 52
16 BOUNDLESS (NZ) Stephen Mckee 9 52
17 GUYNO (NZ) Lou Luciani 22 52
18 GALLOPIN (NZ) Danny O’Brien 23 52
19 BAUER (IRE) Luca Cumani 25 52
20 RIVA SANPeter G Moody 10 51.5
21 VAREVEES (GB) Richard Gibson 19 51.5
22 PROFOUND BEAUTY (IRE) Dermot K Weld 20 51.5
23 NEWPORT Paul Perry 27 51.5
24 RED LORD Anthony Cummings 28 51.5
25 PRIZE LADY (NZ) Graeme Sanders 21 51
26 BAUGHURST Bill Wilde 29 51 0.5
27 ALESSANDRO VOLTA (GB) Aidan O’Brien 11 50.5
28 BARBARICUS Danny O’Brien 24 50.5
29 ZAGREB David Hayes 26 50.5
30 MOATIZE Bart Cummings 30 50
31 GLISTENING (GB) Michael Moroney 31 50
32 GET UP JUDE Diane Poidevin-Laine 32 50
33 CAPECOVER (NZ) Alexander Fieldes 33 50
34 SADDLER’S STORY Robbie Laing 34 50
35 MAGIC INSTINCT (GB) Peter G Moody 35 50
36 BOOK OF KELLS Bart Cummings 36 50
37 LARGO LAD David Hayes 37 50
38 CHIEFCOMINGFIRST (NZ) Bevan Laming 38 50
39 DANDAAD (NZ) Bart Cummings 39 50

The Flemington Salinger Stakes field 2008 looks very strong this year, and as always it is shaping up to be a very interesting race. Raced over 1200m the 2008 Salinger Stakes is a Group 2, and is worth $350,000 to the winner. I’m finding the form-lines quite hard to read in this years Salinger Stakes, so I’m to go with an old friend; the Bart Cummings trained Swick.


Below is the Salinger Stakes 2008 field/acceptances:

1 BON HOFFA Wendy Kelly - Vlad Duric 1 58
2 SUNBURNT LAND Mathew Ellerton - Chris Symons 6 56.5
3 SWICK (NZ) Bart Cummings - Michael Rodd 4 56.5
4 VALEDICTUM Danny O’Brien - Glen Boss 2 56.5
5 PUBLISHING John Sadler - Nicholas Hall (a) 14 55.5
6 KEEN COMMANDER Denise McGrath - Shane Dye 9 55
7 FIGHTING FUND Guy Walter - Hugh Bowman 13 54.5
8 HOT DANISH Les Bridge - Danny Nikolic 11 54.5
9 FRITZ’S PRINCESS Kris Lees - Jim Cassidy 15 54
10 NUCLEAR MEDICINE Gordon Yorke - Scott Thurlow 10 54
11 GREAT IS GREAT Leon Corstens - Craig Newitt 12 53.5
12 AICHI Peter Snowden - Kerrin McEvoy 8 53
13 BISCAYNE BAY Paul Perry - Jeff Lloyd 5 53
14 BELLA VALENTINA (NZ) Michael Moroney - Michelle Payne 7 53
15 KILOTON Tim Martin - Corey Brown 3 53

The Myer Classic field 2008 looks very strong this year, and as always it is shaping up to quite an open affair. Raced at Flemington over 1600m the 2008 Myer Classic is a Group 1 for 3 year old and upwards fillies and mares; and is worth $500,000 to the winner. I’m finding it really hard to gauge the form lines in the Myer Classic field; so I’m going to go with an old mate Serious Speed. At fixed odds of $13 I’ll certainly be cheering hard for him if he looks any chance in the Myer Classic! Anyone else got a strong tip for this race I’d love to hear it…


Below is the Myer Classic 2008 field/acceptances:

1 FORENSICS Peter Snowden - Kerrin McEvoy 7 57
2 MIMI LEBROCK Bart Cummings - Michael Rodd 16 57
3 ABSOLUT GLAM Danny O’Brien - Damien Oliver 2 57
4 SERIOUS SPEED Leon Macdonald - Danny Nikolic 4 57
5 GALLANT TESS David Payne - Jeff Lloyd 11 57
6 ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS Kris Lees - Corey Brown 5 57
7 TRANSLATE David Hayes - Brad Rawiller 1 57
8 BELLINI ROSE (NZ) Mathew Ellerton - Chris Symons 10 57
9 TAN TAT DE LAGO Peter G Moody - Luke Nolen 13 57
10 EL DAANA David Hayes - Craig Williams 8 57
11 AUTUMN JEUNEY Michael O’Leary - James Winks 12 57
12 TRICK OF LIGHT (GB) Michael Kent - Steven King 9 57
13 DANE JULIA (SAF) Lee Freedman - Dwayne Dunn 3 57
14 BERNICIA Guy Walter - Hugh Bowman 6 57
15 PRIMA NOVA Anthony Cummings - Nash Rawiller 15 57
16 ROSE OF CIMMARON Anthony Cummings - Mark Zahra 14 57

The Flemington Victoria Derby field 2008 looks to be a one horse race. And of course that horse is the unstoppable Whobegotyou! What a future champ this fella looks! Raced over 2500m the 2008 Victoria Derby is a Group 1 for 3 year olds, and is worth an astonishing $1,500,000 to the winner. The 2008 Victoria Derby doesn’t hold an enormous amount of my interest… I’m just interested to see if Michael Rodd can steer him to the outside from barrier 4, and do what everyone thinks he can do.

Below is the Victoria Derby 2008 results video replay:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqMlRFWVLh0

Below is the Victoria Derby 2008 field/acceptances:

1 WHOBEGOTYOU Mark Kavanagh - Michael Rodd 4 55.5
2 CARNERO Dean Binaisse - Shane Dye 3 55.5
3 REBEL RAIDER Leon Macdonald - Clare Lindop 15 55.5
4 PRE EMINENCE Mick Price - Craig Newitt 1 55.5
5 THE TIGER Colin & Cindy Alderson - Rhys McLeod 10 55.5
6 WOOKAH David Hayes - Corey Brown 8 55.5
7 TUSCANY VIEW Greg Lesnikowski - Dwayne Dunn 2 55.5
8 BUFFETT (NZ) Danny O’Brien - Damien Oliver 5 55.5
9 LARRY’S NEVER LATE (NZ) Rodney Douglas - James Winks 6 55.5
10 ST CULPE Michael Moroney - Greg Childs 11 55.5
11 ORCA Guy Walter - Danny Nikolic 12 55.5
12 RELENTLESS LAD (NZ) Graeme Rogerson - Jim Cassidy 14 55.5
13 PADDY O’REILLY (NZ) Russell Cameron - Glen Boss 9 55.5
14 MY SCOTSGREY (NZ) Shaune Ritchie - Craig Williams 13 55.5
15 FLASH’N DOUGH Stephen Theodore - Jason Benbow 7 55.5