Hey Mav,

To be honest, its not really a great days racing tomorrow and the wet track will just make it worse. But, we gotta go with what we're given, so here goes...

Race 1 - Think General Patton might be the way to go. Hes got some sort of talent and has won on the wet before so if he runs to anywhere near some of his good town runs of last campaign, he'll be tough to stop. Noble Gaze will probably lead them here and will give them something to catch. He doesn't win very often, but he has shown good ability so i'll give him a chance in this sort of race. For 3rd i'll include Sea Chain who should appreciate this class after being in the tough 3yo race last time. Nice chance.

Race 2 - Pathetic. I've settled on Brave Action because there wasn't as much wrong with him as there was with all the others. Got a bit of time for this trainer and this horse has shown some talent in and around the place...must've had injury problems though, being so lightly raced. Maybe Baron Ruthven can go OK here, but the only reason for me including him is Hawkes...don't know anything more about him. Hamah is a total money-muncher and you'll go nuts backing him, but he can run into placings every now and then.

Race 3 - This is one of the better races on the card and i think Accardo is the one here. The last run was as good a pointer for a race like this that you're ever going to see. Got to the line strongly at the death after taking a while to wind up. Given the fact that run was over 1200m, the extra 200m looks ideal and i think he'll win this. NZ horses are killing us in these 2nd tier sort of races...lucky we got the group 1s . Feelin Dandy was a nice enough run last time after having some good money placed on him in the ring and can go better tomorrow with a softer run. Good wet form too. My Son Day might just need to run in easier races to win, but i'll give him another go in the wet with the 1 alley. He might be able to improve with those conditions tomorrow. Who knows though .

Race 4 - Think this Sirmione should go close here. With the run up here for experience under his belt, i think he can get away with this. To my eye, they aren't overly strong and so you wouldn't need a world beater to get over them. Sweet As has been looking for this journey and gets to it tomorrow which should give us a better idea as to where she is at. I was expecting more from her in recent starts, but getting to the longer journey might be the tonic she needs for an improvement. Monashee Mountain's are going great guns here in QLD too. Ima Joker won like an alright one the other day at Ippy, but i'm just concerned about the quick back-up...particularly since the horse sounds like he has some problems.

Race 5 - Best race on the card in terms of the quality of horses, i just wish they had more acceptances. With the rain coming, i think its a race in 3. Starlactic, Black Ink and Natural Destiny. I know thats not exactly a big call but you'll earn your keep picking the right one to back. Black Ink was a terrific run in the Straddy after leading and being on the wrong side of the track. Starlactic has been in super form, but there are issues surfacing about potential leg problems. Natural Destiny is the unknown in the area after coming up from Sydney. Given all the above info, i've settled on Starlactic even though hes got an injury cloud. I've been on him for his last 7 or 8 starts and i don't like to stop when a horse does so well for me . I think hes really going places, even if he loses tomorrow. Handles the wet fine too. Black Ink, as i said, was a fantastic run last time....the weight is the concern tomorrow on the wet ground though. Natural Destiny won't be far off, and the connections have a very big opinion of him. Don't be surprised if he wins this comfortably...but i'll stick with Starlactic at this stage because hes got the runs on the board in these Brissy races.

Race 6 - The main race of the day, the winter stakes. Tough race actually. You could have 6 picks and not get a placing. Having said that, i really think Geelong Magestique has a huge hope here, at big odds. The last run was very good considering the ground di not suit her. With the rain coming, she is really brought into this race and so i think is well worth an E/W gamble. I've had an opinion of Funlove for a while now and i'll include her tomorrow, although i've got my doubts. Having said that the last run was good...those 3yo town races are frequently good form references. I've put La Sizeranne in for 3rd because shes got the light weight and you'd think that the EF 1500m would suit her down to the ground.

Race 7 - To be honest, i don't actually care. Maybe the top 3 have it in their keeping. Empyreal, Bazelle and Ring Of Fire, in that order, but i couldnt care less. These end-of-carnival staying races are pretty poor and having this as a group 3 is a joke.

Race 8 - Good one to finish on. I think its between Smart and Mighty and Daunting Lad. I've settled on Daunting lad. Who'd have thought drawing barrier 20 in a Stradbroke would be preferable to drawing barrier 4 before the race? Well thats the way it turned out and poor old Daunting Lad had no hope when he was stuck on the inside. His form prior to that was great and so i think he can go close in this. Smart and Mighty is the tried and true galloper in this field in that he has won at the track and distance (in very good fashion, i might add). I think they are both worth a wager and you shouldn't be too far wrong. I'll put Deuxieme in for 3rd because he tends to bob up in these sort of races every now and then and there should be sufficient speed on here for him to have his chance.

Overall, not a great days racing but there should be some good betting opportunities. I like Accardo and Geelong Magestique with eachway chances going to General Patton and Daunting Lad.

Good luck everyone,

Sven