Yes, he's in...Victoria's #1 Caulfield Guineas prospect, Carrara, WILL be a runner in Sat's $1 million classic. Part-owner Frank Tagg reports the horse has put on weight and worked strongly since his win in the Grp 2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m). Corey Brown is booked for the ride. In overnight betting, Carrara was a $16 chance to take the classic. Interstate raiders Denman, Trusting, Manhattan Rain, So You Think and Queenslander Phelan Ready dominate the market.

Peter Snowden says Guineas fav Denman has settled in well in Melbourne sincehis arrival almost a week ago. PS says: 'All reports are good on him ahead of Saturday's race...'It is going to be a fantastic race but he deserves his place as favorite as he's won six of seven starts...He hasn't been to the mile yet and so that's the doubt on him. I'm confident it won't be a worry, but they've got to go and do it.''

Tip from a jockey... Michael Rodd says: 'Maldivian is absolutely flying. He's going even better than he was going last year. We managed to win the Cox Plate then, so, bearing that in mind, I'm getting a bit excited about his chances of doing it again.'

Will champ jockey Craig Williams get the boot from much of the spring carnival? Could be. He's facing a careless riding charge from Flemington on Saturday and he should know his fate on Tuesday. This is when he faces an adjourned inquiry into the alleged careless riding on Maldivian in the Turnbull Stakes. CW will call Glen Boss to give evidence on his behalf. The outcome could be significant because on Monday CW has an appeal hearing against a four-meeting suspenion for excessive use of the whip at Moonee Valley on Sep 25.

The Lloyd Williams-John Sadler camp is delighted by the way stable runners fared at Flemington on Saturday. Especially the win by Efficient in the Turnbull. 'That was a great win and we were expecting a big run from him,' says Nick Williams. 'He'll go to the Cox Plate and then the Melbourne Cup now...We're also very happy with C'est La Guerre. He bounced back after his last run and will run next week in the Yalumba, then go to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.' The third Williams-owned runner, veteran stayer Zipping, also ran nicely and will head either to the Cox Plate or the Mackinnon Stakes before a likely attempt at a third straight Sandown Classic 2400m.

Lee Freedman is also a happy man. He was thrilled by Speed Gifted's performance to plough through bog conditions to crush his rivals in the Metropolitan. Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter will announce a Cups penalty for the win on Monday. Speed Gifted was outside the Caulfield Cup elimination list at equal 63rd in order of entry. The Metrop win took him past the first ballot clause for the $2.5 million race but he still needs a penalty of at least 2kgs to be assured of a run. With 51kgs, Speed Gifted has 8kgs under weight-for-age. A 2kgs penalty will lift him to equal 24th for the 18-horse field. More than six horses higher ranked are certain to miss the Caulfield Cup. Freedman says: 'His win was emphatic and showed me that he is a real Melbourne Cup horse.'

Efficient, winner of the 2007 Melbourne Cup, is now the favorite for this year's big race after his stunning win in the Turnbull Stks 2000m at Flemington. The Betstar market has Efficient at $7.00 (6/1), just ahead of Speed Gifted $8.00 (now Caulfield Cup fav). Last year's Cup winner Viewed is at $11.00 in the wake of his stout effort in the Turnbull. The market:

Efficient 7.00
Speed Gifted 8.00
Viewed 11.00
Profound Beauty (IRE) 13.00
Vigor 13.00
C'est La Guerre 15.00
Cima De Triomphe (GB) 17.00
Master O'Reilly 17.00
Daffodil (NZ) 21.00
Precedence 21.00
Roman Emperor 21.00
Shocking 21.00
Alcopop 34.00
Capecover (NZ) 34.00
Changingoftheguard (IRE) 34.00
Kirklees (UAE) 34.00
Light Vision 34.00
Mourilyan (GB) 34.00

Latest Cox Plate betting from IASbet.com:

WHOBEGOTYOU 3.60 1.65
PREDATORY PRICER 7.00 2.50
MALDIVIAN 8.00 2.75
EL SEGUNDO 11.00 3.50
HEART OF DREAMS 11.00 3.50
BLACK PIRANHA 15.00 4.50
EFFICIENT 17.00 5.00
SO YOU THINK 17.00 5.00
TRUSTING 19.00 5.50
RANGIRANGDOO 21.00 6.00
NOM DU JEU 26.00 7.25
RAFFAELLO 26.00 7.25
RED RULER 26.00 7.25
ROAD TO ROCK 26.00 7.25
SPEED GIFTED 26.00 7.25

Speed Gifted has leapt to outright favoritism for the Caulfield Cup following his emphatic win in the 2400m AJC Metropolitan at Randwick. On the latest Betstar market, the import is at $5.50 (9/2), ahead of Predatory Pricer $8.00 and Vigor $9.00. The market on Saturday night:

Speed Gifted 5.50
Predatory Pricer 8.00
Vigor 9.00
Cima De Triomphe (GB) 11.00
Daffodil (NZ) 15.00
Kirklees (UAE) 15.00
Maldivian 15.00
Master O'Reilly 17.00
Shocking 17.00
Light Vision 21.00
Red Ruler (NZ) 21.00
Roman Emperor 21.00
Whobegotyou 21.00
Baughurst 34.00
C'est La Guerre 34.00
Hissing Sid 34.00
Viewed 34.00

The tip: Expect at least a 1.5kgs penalty for the Caulfield Cup for Speed Gifted, winner of the AJC Metropolitan. This will ensure he gets a run in the big race. The Lee Freedman-trained stayer has moved to equal 36th in the Caulfield Cup order of entry having passed the elimination clause of winning a feature race at or past 2000m. Stable spokesman Sam Pritchard-Gordon says only the handicapper can push the galloper further up the order of entry and this looks inevitable given the ease of Speed Gifted's victory.

Flemington latest: Predatory Pricer has moved to favoritism for Sat's Turnbull Stakes. TAB Sportsbet has him at $4.60 (apprx 7/2), just ahead of Vigor $5.00 (4/1), Maldivian $5.50 (9/2) and Red Ruler $7.50 (13/2). Early betting on the Blazer Stakes sees Sydney raider Hot Danish firm at $2.70, from Neroli $5.00 and then Pravana and Estee both at $9.00.

Glyn Schofield is brimming with confidence over his rides in the Epsom and Metrop at Randwick on Saturday. The Sth African is on Road To Rock in the Epsom and Ready To Lift in the Metrop. He says: Ready To Lift has been grand to me...She has really done wonders, never puts a foot wrong when she gets over ground...A mare that stays well, obviously not drawn flash but speed will be on.She has a handy galloping weight too; she won with 58kgs last start and drops to 53.5kg on Saturday.' On Road To Rock, he says: 'I'm very happy with what I've got...He has a favorable draw, he'll get a good run though the race...I'm pretty happy with him, for sure.'

It's all quiet on the Aussie front as far as the spring's international raiders are concerned...They're taking it easy out at Sandown. Godolphin's Kirklees and Crime Scene and the Luca Cumani duo Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico have done only walking exercise since their arrival almost a week ago. Godolphin's foreman Tommy Strang says: 'In the last 48 hours they have totally eaten up as they would have back at home in Newmarket.' The Caulfield Cup on Oct 17 is the immediate target for Kirklees and Crime Scene is a liklely starter in the 2400m Geelong Cup -- after which a decision will be made on a crack at the Melbourne Cup.

Luca Cumani's foreman Charlie Henson says he's happy with the progress of Cima de Triomphe and Basaltico. Cumani, frustrated by 2nd placings with Purple Moon and Bauer in the Melbourne Cup,reckons he has a good chance this year. But Basaltico must win the Geelong Cup to ensure a Cup start.

Latest betting on the Epsom 1600m (Grp 1) at Randwick on Sat sees Rangirangdoo on top at $3.10 (Canbet.com.au market)...Only 3 other runners are under $10.00. They are Drumbeats $4.40, Road To Rock $5.50, O'Lonhro $9.00. Next in the market is Strat's Flyer $14.00.

AJC Metropolitan betting on Thursday has Speed Gifted a clear fav at $3.50, ahead of Ready To Lift $6.00, Mr Clangtastic $6.50, Bellagio Wynn $11.00 and Lodge The Deeds $13.00.

Craig Williams will take over from Damien Oliver on favorite Vigor in the Caulfield Cup. Trainer Danny O'Brien says: ' The 51kgs was always going to be a bridge too far for Damien Oliver and in looking for a replacement we wanted a natural lightweight and with Craig the current champion jockey, he's a pretty good replacement.'

Those whip rules lash out again...Damien Oliver and Craig Williams are the latest leading jockeys to break racing's new whip rules. Williams copped a four-day suspension and Oliver a $400 fine at Moonee Valley on Wednesday.

She's OK...Singapore mare Jolie's Shinju has recovered well after her weakening performance in last week's JRA Cup at Moonee Valley. The Jolie's Shinju team says the mare will target the Grp 1 Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Oct 10 next start.

Corey Brown looms as the hot jockey for Sat's Epsom and Metropolitan double. He's on fav Rangirangdoo in the Epsom and rides highly-rated import Speed Gifted in the Metropolitan. The Lee Freedman-trained gelding must win the 2400m Metrop and draw at least a 1kg penalty from the handicapper to make the final Caulfield Cup field.

Caulfield and Melbourne Cups fav Vigor is the early fav at $4.50 (7/2) for Sat's important Turnbull Stks at Flemington, according to the market from TAB Sportsbet on Wednesday afternoon.

VIGOR 4.50
MALDIVIAN 5.50
PREDATORY PRICER 6.00
RED RULER 8.00
EL SEGUNDO 8.00
ROMAN EMPEROR 9.00
MASTER OREILLY 12.00
EFFICIENT 17.00
CEST LA GUERRE 23.00
RED LORD 23.00
ZAGREB 31.00
ZIPPING 31.00
VIEWED 31.00
SCENIC SHOT 51.00
JOE BLOW 81.00
BAUGHURST 151.00

There's been big money for Speed Gifted to win Sat's AJC Metropolitan. TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie says: 'He's $3.60 to $3.20 since we recommenced betting...He's by far the best backed runner we've had today.' Two other runners are in single figures -- Ready To Lift at $5.00 and Mr Clangtastic at $9.00.

Miss Marielle and the NZer Nom du Jeu are sharing favoritism for Sat's 2000m Grp 2 Craven Plate. TAB Sportsbet has them at $4.60 each.

MISS MARIELLE 4.60
NOM DU JEU 4.60
PACINO 6.50
BID SPOTTER 7.00
MENTALITY 11.00
CAPE DAMORE 11.00
ABSENT FRIENDS 16.00
MUSIC REVIEW 16.00
FULMONTI 18.00
COMMON OBJECTIVE 18.00
STORMHILL 18.00
CAPE BRETON 35.00
EMISSARY 41.00
SCARLET 101.00
TERANABA 101.00
SPEED GIFTED scr

Kris Lees has taken drastic action to replace injured Jim Cassidy on Fritz's Princess at Randwick on Sat. He's booked Hong Kong-based Darren Beadman. KL says: 'If you are going to get someone to replace Jim Cassidy you get the best.' DB will also be riding the Chris Waller-trained 2YO Much Much More in the Breeders Plate. The colt is owned by connections of Hong Kong-based Aussie trainer John Moore.

Sam Spratt has won the 08/09 New Zealand Lady Jockey Championship Series and now she gets a chance to ride against Australia's top female jockeys in a special race at Moonee Valley on Oct 9. Sam is NZ's leading female jockey, finishing 2nd on the national Premiership table with a total of 112 wins. She was the #1 jockey in NZ on prizemoney won ($3,403,278)and winning the most Group and Listed races over the season. At the Valley, Sam will take on the likes of Kathy O'Hara, Clare Lindop, Libby Hopwood, Mandy Radecker, Chloe Chatfield, Michelle Payne and Linda Meech in an RB78 hdcp over 2040m.

Steven King has lost his appeal against a careless riding suspension. The decision means he misses out on the ride on Predatory Pricer in the Turnbull Stakes. Dawyne Dunn is the replacement rider.

Nice to see that the connections of Black Piranha are sticking with regular rider Tye Angland for the Cox Plate campaign. There were ugly rumors Tye would be axed after BP ran 2nd at Randwick on Saturday. Don't know why. What was wrong with the ride? He gave the horse every possible chance. Trainer Con Karakatsanis says: 'Tye has been an integral part of the success with this horse and we think it's in the horse's best interests for him to be aboard in Melbourne.' Tye deserves some loyalty, anyway. He's ridden the horse 15 times for 4 wins, 9 seconds and two 4ths.

Big news for the girls...Michelle Payne has landed the prize ride on El Segundo in the Grp 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Sat. She's the replacement for suspended regular jockey Luke Nolen, who is out for 20 meetings. Michelle got the ride ahead of a swarm of top-name jockeys. Trainer Colin Little says: 'Michelle has ridden El Segundo, and she actually won his maiden on him, and she's always helping me out riding work, so it was not really a terribly hard decision to make.'

Best of luck, Jimmy...Jim Cassidy is undergoing surgery today (Tuesday) to repair two of his fingers which were almost severed in a gardening accident on Monday.

Rangirangdoo is maintaining clear favoritism for Sat's Epsom Hdcp (Grp 1, 1600m) at Randwick, according to the latest market (Tuesday) from Canbet.com.au. It has Rangi at $4.00 (3/12) with Drumbeats $6.00 (5/1) on the second line. The market:

RANGIRANGDOO 4.00 1.746
DRUMBEATS 6.00 2.25
BLACK PIRANHA 7.00 2.50
ROAD TO ROCK 7.50 2.62
OLONHRO 8.00 2.75
ROCK KINGDOM 14.00 4.25
TYPHOON TRACY 15.00 4.50
HEART OF DREAMS 16.00 4.75
TRIPLE HONOUR 16.00 4.75

AJC METROPOLITAN

SPEED GIFTED 4.00
READY TO LIFT 4.60
MR CLANGTASTIC 8.00
HUME 11.00
ROMAN EMPEROR 11.00
SIX OCLOCK NEWS 13.00
BELLAGIO WYNN 15.00
STREETFIGHTER 15.00
THE EMBASSY 16.00
VOICE COACH 16.00

Trainer Gai Waterhouse is giving top Melbourne apprentice Brenton Avdulla his big chance to become a star in Sydney. He'll replace stable apprentice Daniel Ganderton, whose spring carnival is over after he broke his leg in a fall at the Newcastle Cup meeting.

Trainer Paul Murray will ask Hong Kong-based James Winks to ride Predatory Pricer in Sat's Grp 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000 metres) at Flemington if regular jockey Steven King fails in his appeal against a careless riding suspension. A decision is expected on Tuesday.

Cruel luck for The Pumper...Jim Cassidy has serious injuries to his fingers after an accident at his Sydney property and may have to miss the spring carnivals. His manager Matt Privato says the veteran rider was trimming a hedge at his Sydney home when the machete he was using slipped, severely cutting his hand. He says: 'It looks like a really nasty gash, almost down to the bone through his fingers.' JC had a strong book of rides at Sat's Randwick meeting, including Bellagio Wynn in the Grp 1 Metropolitan and Fritz's Princess in the Grp 2 Shorts.

Alcopop has been penalised 1kg in the Melbourne Cup following his JRA Cup win at Moonee Valley. His weight is now 51kgs but he remains low in the order of entry -- 83rd position. Mr Clangtastic has received the same penalty for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, taking his weight in them to 51kgs.

Lee Freedman has booked Corey Brown to ride pre-post fav Speed Gifted in Sat's Grp 1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick. The import isn't qualified for the Caulfield Cup and Freedman is using the Metrop as a last-ditch attempt to secure a start in the big race.

Glen Boss looks like gearing up for a big spring...He'll replace the suspended Craig Newitt on the Mick Price-trained Light Fantastic in the Grp 2 Baguette Stakes (1200m) and on Rightfully Yours in the Scalzo Food Stakes (1400m). Anthony Cummings has booked Boss for the ride on Red Lord in the Turnbull Stakes and he'll also be aboard Miss Darcey for Cummings in the Listed Bart Cummings (2500m). Another plum ride going his way is on Prima Nova in the Grp 2 Blazer Stakes (1400m).

Latest Cox Plate market from Betstar:

Whobegotyou 3.60
Maldivian 9.00
Heart Of Dreams 10.00
Predatory Pricer 11.00
El Segundo 13.00
Black Piranha 15.00
So You Think 15.00
Trusting 15.00
Vigor 21.00

Two racing TV channels for NZ...The New Zealand Racing Board is to launch a new TV channel in time for the summer racing season. It has the working title TAB TV, says Chief Executive Officer Andrew Brown. He adds: 'Our decision to launch TAB TV is a direct response to customer demand and will help grow revenues for the three racing codes - greyhounds, harness racing and thoroughbreds.' TAB TV will be screened alongside the current Trackside channel.

Dom Tourneur and Steven King are appealing suspensions incurred over the weekend. Both have lodged appeals against the decisions and penalty severity. In other jockey news, Luke Nolen has copped a suspension for 20 meetings up to Oct 16 for careless riding.

Kiwi trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker are looking forward to a big effort from Nom Du Jeu in Saturday's Craven Plate (2000m). They hope to convince Nash Rawiller to ride the five-year-old in the $3 million W.S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct 24.

Latest Melbourne Cup betting market from Betstar:

Vigor 9.00
Efficient 11.00
C'est La Guerre 15.00
Master O'Reilly 15.00
Profound Beauty (IRE) 15.00
Viewed 15.00
Daffodil (NZ) 17.00
Roman Emperor 17.00
Shocking 17.00
Cima De Triomphe (GB) 21.00
Precedence 21.00
Speed Gifted 21.00

AJC Metropolitan news....Bookmakers have Speed Gifted the $4.20 fav for the Grp 1 2400m Metrop, ahead of Gerald Ryan's in-form mare Ready To Lift ($5.50). Trainer Lee Freedman is said to have sounded out lightweight rider Zac Purton, now riding in Hong Kong, for the ride in the Metrop, in which SG has just 52kgs but it's very unlikely Purton can make the trip. Speed Gifted, who has won two of his three Australian starts, has yet to pass the elimination clause for the Caulfield Cup, but will do so if he wins the Craven Plate or runs first or second in the Metropolitan. The UK import can draw a Caulfield Cup penalty with a Metropolitan win. He has a Caulfield Cup weight of 51kgs. A Craven Plate win would result in Speed Gifted passing the elimination clause but, with 8kgs under weight-for-age in the Caulfield Cup, he would still be equal 36th in the order of entry.

The spring hots up...Naturalism Stakes-winner Red Lord will have his next start in the Grp 1 Turnbull Stakes and trainer Anthony Cummings is quietly confident. He says: ''Red Lord is ticking over very well...He's come on since he won last time out, and Glen Boss will ride him in the Turnbull as he pushes on towards the Caulfield Cup.''

In other news...Last year's Cox Plate winner Maldivian will run in the Turnbull with Craig Williams replacing the suspended Michael Rodd. Stablemate Whobegotyou, current Cox Plate favorite, will next run in the Yalumba Stakes on Saturday week, while Shocking, a late-closing 3rd in the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Friday night, will either run in the Bart Cummings on Saturday or the Winning Edge Presentations Stakes at Caulfield the following week.

Fastnet Rock filly Jolie Brise has rocketed into big-race calculations with her defeat of previously unbeaten stakes-winner My Emotion at Caulfield on Sunday, She overcame a wide gate and a three-wide trip to notch a powerful two lengths win over the 1440m. Trainer Pat Hyland says: 'She'll run in the Thousand Guineas now and I think she'll make up into an Oaks filly."

Danny O'Brien's 5YO Vigor remains a clearcut fav at $5.50 (9/2) for the Caulfield Cup, according to the latest market from Betstar. It has the Kiwi mare Daffodil and the Kembla Grange trained Predatory Pricer on the second line at $11.00 (10/1). The market on Sunday:

Vigor 5.50
Daffodil (NZ) 11.00
Predatory Pricer 11.00
Cima De Triomphe (GB) 13.00
Red Ruler (NZ) 13.00
Kirklees (UAE) 15.00
Maldivian 17.00
Master O'Reilly 17.00
Shocking 17.00
Speed Gifted 17.00
Whobegotyou 21.00
Hissing Sid 26.00
Precedence 26.00
Roman Emperor 26.00
C'est La Guerre 34.00
Harris Tweed (NZ) 34.00
Light Vision 34.00
Viewed 34.00
Rangirangdoo 41.00
Red Lord 41.00
Road To Rock 41.00
Zagreb 41.00
Zarita 41.00

Latest betting on the Caulfield Guineas:

Denman 3.50
Trusting 4.00
So You Think 6.00
Manhattan Rain 8.00
Demerit 13.00
Onemorenomore 13.00
Carrara 17.00
Phelan Ready 17.00
Starspangledbanner 17.00

Maybe not the AJC Metrop but probably the Caulfield Cup...This is how Marc Conners is thinking after Mr Clangtastric's all the way 2400m win at Randwick. He says Mr C is only a 50/50 chance of backing up in the Metrop. MC says: 'The rain earlier in the week made sure today's track had just enough give in it...If it rains this week I'll be here on Thursday with the horse but I'll see how he comes through today because I'd love to run him in the Caulfield Cup.'

Too much pressure...Trainer Mark de Montfort is against running McClintock in the Epsom despite his win in the Grp 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Randwick. He says: 'There would be a lot more pressure in the Epsom and he races best when he's left alone.'

Knockout Horses e-book followers were lapping up the $$$$ on Saturday when ROAD TO ROCK $43.60 romped home at Randwick. It was a standout Trigger Factors qualifier. Check out the Knockout Horses e-book offer!

Latest betting market on Sat's Epsom Hdcp 1600m (Grp 1) at Randwick (Betstar.com.au):

Rangirangdoo 4.00
Drumbeats 6.00
O'lonhro 8.00
Black Piranha 9.00
Road To Rock 11.00
Rock Kingdom 13.00
Typhoon Tracy 13.00
Heart Of Dreams 15.00
Neroli 15.00
Strat's Flyer 15.00
Moti 17.00
Triple Honour 17.00
Vision And Power 17.00

Will Singapore's sweetheart Jolie's Shinju still have a crack at the Cox Plate? She flopped in the wet at Moonee Valley on Friday night but connections say they'll continue with her campaign. Former Victorian now Singapore trainer Len Treloar, an advisor to JS's trainer Hideyuki Takaoka, blames the slow conditions for the mare's 12th placing in the JRA Cup 2040m. He says: 'We just don't get slow tracks like this in Singapore...It's always warm in Singapore so the ground is warm and any rain we get drains away really quickly....She was all at sea on the slow ground and wouldn't stretch out to accelerate in the second half of the race...We're just going to put it down to the wet track.'

There may be more news to come from the Jolie Shinju area...MV stewards ordered a vet's exam of the mare and were advised she had a case of the thumps as well as a cardiac irregularity.There was also some concern about Jolie's Shinju's near foreleg though Treloar says the 5YO mare was not lame.

Not on our patch...Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur's win in Fri night's JRA Cup came at a price...Stewards suspended him for 10 meetings on a careless riding charge.Tourneur was making ground on the inside on Alcopop when he shifted out to get around the tiring Marchelle Belle at the 300m and severely hampered Miss Darcey.

Chris Waller is not rushing Danleigh's spring campaign...It'll be 4 weeks before the brilliant Manikato Stakes winner has his next race in the Grp 2 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day. And once again he'll be clashing with the likes of Apache Cat and Mic Mac, who ran 5th and 6th behind him at the Valley on Friday night.

It was fantastic to have tipped Danleigh $21.60 to members of the PPD Club. The Sydney superstar was also a longshot selection from my Knockout Horses e-book and it also landed the quinella and exacta at $135.20 and $280.70.

What a blow...Sat's Mornington meeting has been abandoned due to the state of the track after heavy rain on Friday.