GONSTA

Freeman's on fire first 2 heats of the cup and now first 2 heats of the sprint.

Have a great day bblunt,

you can't really miss ! Even after a bad day on the punt the train back to town is usually hilarious, there is lots to look at on and off the track, a few drinks (or twenty), brilliant !

Taking on the bookies certainly adds to the day as well.

I thought they looked pretty straightforward tomorrow, but now I see Chris has agreed with several of mine so I am now rethinking

But for what it is worth add in Gatewood to Chris' list and perhaps be a bit cautious around Streama as I suspect there are a few who will be much more competitive in this than the Caulfield race - perhaps Yosei as the bolter if it gets out of the gates on terms.

Pete sure is a legend. An outstanding broadcaster who is such a natural. Never forget the days when Francie used to ring up paraletic on a Saturday afternoon and sign off with a song. The best radio entertainment.

By the way, who is the clown Stefan who has been on the air the last few months?? About as pleasant as listening to a chainsaw going through corrugated iron! Cant tip and has a hangers-on role which makes me wonder does his dad own the station!

Seeing as others have raised the unfortunate 'issue' of Stefan's involvement on Radio Trackside, I will add my complete, 100% endorsement of the comments above with a plea that he continue his fantastic work behind the scenes and NOT a microphone!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
ReillyM - you hit the nail completely dead centre on the head with your comment about the weird voice he puts on when speaking on air: it drives me insane and I have even been known to turn off Radio Trackside when he's talking!! [albeit only till my heart-rate has dropped back to normal] He is seriously the most unfit person I have ever heard behind a mike - just terrible.

Be positive hesi......even with these demons, he has in past and will do so in future,outperform most of the current bunch.

Ok so I'm pretty excited about going to Flemington for the first time. Yesterday it was 34deg in Melbourne and today going for high of 17. Tomorrow 18, Saturday looks ok, 21. Then 32 on Mon, 29 for Cup day. Not quite 4 seasons in one day but 4 in four days.

Have read a few Aussie blogs and quite a few saying it's the worst Derby Day fields in history. Bloody Aussie whingers would deadset complain at a funeral. Looks great racing to me though to be fair not as many superstars as usual.

Looking forward to Ocean Park giving them a spanking and Dundeel too hopefully as I've got a nice multi finishing on him and another lot going onto Americain in the Cup if he wins the Derby.

Going to be a belter seeing them fly down the straight in the Coolmore. Snitzerland too good? Apparently Nechita's pretty handy.

Every runner in the Lexus can make the Cup if they win so that's going to be awesome.

Any other stars in the making you can see running?

This link has fields http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/meeting.aspx?meet_code=845981

This has excellent form http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/Racing/fullform.aspx?meet_code=845981

Come on Rodge is an ex-vic who can run time when he gets a clean run into the first turn - not overly quick early

Brighton Bullet was an ex-Tassie dog who was then sent to NSW to race- again not overly quick early but can find the line well

Both will be very competitive with luck in running

Very even series this year - no absolute stand-outs but should be a good series with a bit of value for the punters

Stefan certainly isn't a fill in... I agree tho he annoys the hell out of me aswell... He seems to put on a completely fake voice when doing radio, like he's trying to add suspense but just sounds like a complete knob!

Sir Brian Martin, personally I'd like to thank you for every thing you do / have done for greyhound racing. For having the balls to speak out when something's not right, for not bowing down to the unprofessional NZGRA who at times looks like its run by primary school students. You are the best greyhound commentator in NZ by miles and not a bad tipster aswell! Now if only you could get race videos from all clubs uploaded online, you would be close to god! Haha love your work mate. Absolute legend

Kevin,

Peter Earley is my inspiration, my mentor, my hero, my boss, my confidante, my savior, my superior and the best greyhound commentator that New Zealand has ever seen.

He will never ever be my rival.

Brian

Perhaps he wanted tickets to next year's Arc
Whatever he wanted, he's been treated very shabbily.

Sounds reasonable

Knights Tour!!!
Xanadu
Burgundy
Rock 'n' Pop
Nashville

Amazing crop of 3Yo's, who's the better horse O.P or S.A?

Thanks ReillyM. What a group.

I have a sneaking suspicion Nashville is going to have a stellar season. Enormous first up, and I think wins the Couplands Mile all things being equal??

I still remember thinking he was freakish when we saw (and backed him!) first up on Couplands Mile day last year. Then he ran into Ocean Park a few starts later and got beat by a margin, but ahead of burgundy. That form looks ok now eh?

Howrude I don't know if you saw my post that some how got removed but I said ring the club, ask to speak to the manager and make a complaint. Say you were disgusted. Customer service and ' next race to go' should be top priority. Sheriff what's up with reasonable posts getting deleted? Explanation needed IMO

What's with all the posts getting deleted? A few more yesterday... They are fair questions that deserve to be on here. Someone's power tripping.

Howrude I don't know if you saw my post that some how got removed but I said ring the club, ask to speak to the manager and make a complaint. Say you were disgusted. Customer service and ' next race to go' should be top priority. Sheriff what's up with reasonable posts getting deleted? Explanation needed IMO

This is one of the most serious charges in the rulebook and a proven charge leads to a $350 fine...unbelievable!!!

I agree 100% that a $350 fine is ridiculous.

Many times I have been surprised at conservative driving tactics adopted by Ricky May on well-supported runners. I'm not suggesting anything untoward on the part of Ricky, I just find it odd that Stewards allow horses who are expected to win (or are at least expected to be competitive) to be driven in such a negative manner - e.g handing up the lead resulting in being locked away on the pegs, or not making an effort to improve the horses position until too late in a race, or staying in the one-wide line when horses are improving three wide.

I see Michael Formosa was recently suspended for 6 months in New South Wales for a drive at Newcastle, for failing to allow his horse the best opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing. A pretty harsh penalty in comparison to a $350 fine, for what is ultimately the same offence.

There is no protection for punters in New Zealand harness racing. If you are "unlucky" on a favourite in Australia you had better be ready to explain yourself - in New Zealand you were just unlucky.

Reading the Stewards report section of the Australian Harness Racing website is very interesting as there are regularly inquiries made by Stewards into driving tactics adopted, and this also often extends to analysing betting records.

Aw man.. I've only ever been use to hearing his calls in the C.D and I think when he did the Jewells in their first running it displayed how is the best going around. It's a huge shame to hear he has given up because as it has been said by all of you-he made everything so amazing and memorable..

My fav ever Tony Lee call has to be CINDER BELLA in the Kelt. She came from last and I can still remember it today and that was when I was about 12 and it has always stuck in my head.. The master!!

I doubt if he will read this - but you're a champion and I recall some of my mates one boxing day either last year or the year before when you called home Shylo and your call was amazing and my mates were just like the commentator sounds like a legend.. you were compared to rabs from Ch9 League fame.. Good luck in the future!!

Many great calls over his career and a well deserved retirement. Thanks for the memories Tony!

Lloyd I am with you - Gatewood today and Americain in the Cup. See below from Racing Victoria's website this morning which reads well from my perspective with $ on Americain

Americain - Trainer Alain de Royer Dupre
Trackwork: Very bright after his run in the Caulfield Cup. Had a trot and canter for a lap before cantering another and was keen to go faster.
Comment: ‘’His run on Saturday has not slowed him up a lot,’’ Stephanie Nigge, Track rider

Scooby - not sure why you think Gatewoods effort in the Herbert Power was so bad - to me he never seemed to get a chance and was hardly knocked around after?

I would have to say the more I look at this field the more I think it is a watch. Just so many different formlines and questions over a number of the "top horses".

Like most of us I hope OP can win it, but I'm not tempted to have a decent bet on him.

The 3yos all look decent but with question marks etc around timing of a pressured 2040m race etc.

MJ - no - just cant see her improving enough on previous effort here and last run.

Green Moon - like the Williams factor - but not particularly keen at the price.

So may cover Rekindled Interest who I backed last year and looked a bit unlucky, Shoot Out and Happy Trails as the absolute blow out - and sit back and enjoy it without too much stress

Yeah I saw that interview Trump now that you remind me of it. I remember thinking if I owned the horse I am not sure I would appreciate the jockey saying that !

My thinking is very much around a small spend on the race - perhaps tossing the 3 I mentioned in as roving bankers in a trifecta or first 4 and seeing what happens.

Possibly a wet track would improve Happy Trails bolters chance a little as well, but I take your point.

I just can't get keen on the Cox this year as a betting proposition - but excited to watch it !

No it wasn't. You quoted bblunt from BEFORE the doco was screened and BEFORE terry started posting on the 60 Minutes site. I think it's YOU that needs to follow properly. Problem is, you can't even follow what YOU are posting, never mind what anybody else is doing :D :D