Dermot Weld blames the heavy track for the disappointing run of Profound Beauty in the Irish St Leger 2800m at The Curragh...but the mare is still coming over for the Melbourne Cup. DW's son Kris says: 'We are still going to put her in quarantine...She has come out of the Leger well and the plan remains Melbourne...The ground was all against her on Saturday. She didn't like it at all.' Profound Beauty is now around $15 or $16 with most Australian bookmakers.

Back in business...Chris Munce has been granted a licence to ride in Victoria following the end of his controversial suspension by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The popular jockey will be free to take rides for leading trainer Gai Waterhouse and powerful owner Nathan Tinkler over the spring carnival in Melbourne. Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey says Munce had applied in late August to ride in Victoria from September. 'He says: 'His period of suspension ended on the first of September and the RVL board has permitted Munce to ride again in Victoria.'

Let's face it, both sides weakened in the dramatic showdown over the whip rule debacle..But the Australian Racing Board, led by its chairman Bob Bentley, weakened the most. In the space of a few days, Bentley had to back down from his high-handed stand of last Friday when he dismissed critics of the ARB's stringent whip rules as 'so-called experts'. The end result was a humiliating backdown for the Board and particularly Bentley. But the jockeys, too, gave in. They didn't get what they really should have continued to push for, but if there's to be a winner declared in the whole unsavoury business then it was the jockeys and their impressive spokesmen.

Enzedex Eagle & Lodge The Deeds are battling for outright favoritism for Thursday's Newcastle Gold Cup. In the latest market from TAB Sportsbet they are equal favs at $3.40. The market:

R8 NEWCASTLE GOLD CUP

ENZEDEX EAGLE $3.40
LODGE THE DEEDS $3.40
MR CLANGTASTIC $3.60
STRIKE ONE $9.00
INDIKATOR $9.50
STREETFIGHTER $12.00
SYNONYM $13.00
LE BARON $23.00
TWO TOWERS $31.00
SCARLET $31.00

There's been a breakthrough in the great whip crisis...Talks today between the jockeys and the ARB has resulted in key changes to the controversial whip rule. The changes will allow jockeys to use the whip in alternate strides inside the final 200m of a race and to increase the frequency to a maximum of seven times consecutively in the last 100m using a forehand motion or slapping down the shoulder. Under the rules introduced on Aug 1 jockeys were restricted to three consecutive strikes on one occasion inside the final 200m. They could then only use the whip every second stride. The new provisions will be subject to a review in February but champion jockey Damien Oliver is confident they will be greeted favorably.

Michael Rodd, returning from an injury enforced break, will be back on superstar Whobegotyou in Sat's $350,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m). He replaces Damien Oliver, who rode 'Whobe' to victory at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

Boom 3YO Rothesay is out of the $1m Caulfield Guineas. Trainer Gerald Ryan has decided to restrict him to shorter distances. Main targets will be feature 1200m races at the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals. His next start will be in the $150,000 Roman Consul Stakes at Randwick on Oct 3.

Veteran turf scribbler Ken Callander has had another go at the Australian Racing Board over the simmering whip debacle. In his Daily Telegraph column, KC says: 'The whip rule has to be changed. No regulatory body such as the Australian Racing Board can treat everybody within its industry with such disdain...The views of the participants, including punters, have to be taken into consideration...'

Beaten in Sweden but still a chance to tackle the Melbourne Cup...That's the latest situation with UK stayer Munsef, currently a 40/1 chance for the Cup. He ran 2nd in the Grp 3 Stockholm Cup at the weekend. Trainer Ian Williams says Munsef was unlucky in losing by a half length. Munsef has 53.5kgs in the Melbourne Cup and connections are seriously considering a start.

David Hayes has bought the UK stayer Changingoftheguard. If he passes a vet test, Changingoftheguard, who has been trained by Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, will arrive in Melbourne on Oct 10 and enter quarantine at Sandown. No decision has yet been made on a start in the Melbourne Cup for the Montjeu 4YO entire. DH says: 'He's still in the Melbourne Cup but I'm not sure whether he'll run in the race this year...'He could have a run around during the carnival but it's doubtful whether he'll go to the Cup.''

Latest betting on the Epsom Hdcp 1600m at Randwick sees O' Lonhro and Rangirangdoo sharing the top line at $6.00 (5/1). The market from www.canbet.com.au:

OLONHRO 6.00 2.25
RANGIRANGDOO 6.00 2.25
BLACK PIRANHA 9.00 3.00
ROCK KINGDOM 10.00 3.25
TYPHOON TRACY 10.00 3.25
HEART OF DREAMS 11.00 3.50
NICCONI 13.00 4.00
NEROLI 14.00 4.25
MANHATTAN RAIN 15.00 4.50
TRIPLE HONOUR 15.00 4.50
VISION AND POWER 15.00 4.50

That destructive whip issue lingers on like a bad smell...Talks on Monday failed to produce a positive outcome though both sides -- the ARB and the jockeys -- are making optimistic statements about a possible settlement. Many people are not holding their breath. ARB chairman Bob Bentley, who has come under stinging attack in online race forums, has a reputaion for wanting his own way.

Black Piranha is the early fav for Wed's Cameron Hdcp at Newcastle. TAB Sportsbet has the Stradbroke wiiner at $3.20 (9/4). Ahdashim, scratched from Rosehill last Saturday, is on the second line at $4.80. Absolutely Fabulous and Royal Discretion are third favs at $6.50.

7-04.45 PATINACK FARM CAMERON HANDICAP 1300 M
Of $150000 and $1900 trophies. 1st $97500 and trophies of $1300 to owner $300 to trainer $300 to jockey, 2nd $30000, 3rd $13500, 4th $6000, 5th $3000.Starter Subsidy: $200 for non-prize earning runners.(GROUP 3).No Allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 17 + 4 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 BLACK PIRANHA Con Karakatsanis Tye Angland 3 60
2 ROYAL DISCRETION Gai Waterhouse Nash Rawiller 7 56
3 ROCKWOOD Gai Waterhouse Blake Shinn 10 54
4 ABSOLUTELYFABULOUS Kris Lees Robert Thompson 4 53
5 INNINGS Ron Leemon Nathan Berry (a) 9 53
6 PINS ON PARADE (NZ) Kris Lees Chris Munce 11 53
7 MCCLINTOCK Mark de Montfort Jim Cassidy 12 53
8 GEIGERON Steve Hodge Blake Spriggs (a) 1 53
9 AHDASHIM (NZ) Gerald Ryan Stathi Katsidis 5 53
10 GLOWLAMP Clarry Conners Peter Robl 2 53
11 ANTIDOTES Bart Cummings Grant Buckley 8 53
12 ROLLINS Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jay Ford 6 53

The Whobegotyou tsunami has arrived for the Cox Plate...The Dato winner is now a hot fav at 5/2. Centrebet's Neil Evans says: 'The punters have come from everywhere to back him in the Cox Plate...I think they were waiting to see what he did with the blinkers on before they launched into him...They got their answer on Saturday in no uncertain terms...He has lost nothing and the sheer weight of money has forced us to trim his price into a clear $3.50 favorite.' Runner-up Mic Mac will not contest the Cox Plate, says trainer Greg Eurell. He's going to targe the $500,000 Sportingbet Manikato Stakes (1200m) at the Moonee Valley night meeting on Sep 25.

CAULFIELD CUP

VIGOR 6.00
SPEED GIFTED 9.00
WHOBEGOTYOU 11.00
CEST LA GUERRE 14.00
ZARITA 17.00
MASTER OREILLY 17.00
PREDATORY PRICER 17.00

COX PLATE

WHOBEGOTYOU 3.50
EL SEGUNDO 8.00
JOLIES SHINJU 9.00
BLACK PIRANHA 13.00
PREDATORY PRICER 13.00
VIGOR 16.00
MALDIVIAN 16.00

No joy...Gai Waterhouse's top stayer Tuesday Joy has been retired after turning in a lacklustre track gallop on Monday. Gai says the mare never recovered from an arduous trip to Dubai. She says: 'Those overseas trips can take a lot out of a horse.''

Fresh serving...Injury hit Black Caviar will miss the $500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Oct 14 and will be after the $500,000 Coolmore Stakes 1200m at Flemington on Oct 29.

Two barrier trial hitouts and he's ready to go...Yes, Black Piranha is set to return to racing. The brilliant and gutsy Stradbroke winner will kick off his spring campaign carrying top weight of 60kgs in Wed's Cameron Handicap at Newcastle.

The Kris Lees stable is in high and low mood...Lees will have a strong two-pronged attack on the Grp 3 Cameron with Absolutelyfabulous (Robert Thompson) and Pins On Parade (Chris Munce) but the bad news is that the racing future of Grp 1-placed mare Fritz's Princess is in jeopardy. She was sore after a poor run into last place behind Hot Danish in the Research Stakes at Rosehill on Sat. Connections must decide whether to keep her racing or send her to stud.

Thursday's Newcastle Cup looks like being a thriller...Chris Waller will start Enzedex Eagle and Strike One. Jeff Penza will ride Strike One while either Nash Rawiller or Hugh Bowman will steer Enzedex Eagle. Glyn Schofield has been booked to ride the Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained Mountain Road, and other key runners are likely to be Mr Clangtastic and Lodge The Deeds.

ARB chief Bob Bentley has dismissed the participation of owners, trainers and breeders in 'peace talks' to settle the whip crisis. In what will be seen as a contemptuous slap in the face for some of the biggest names in horse-racing, Bentley told Sky TV: 'I'm happy to sit down with jockeys, but I'm not going to sit down with 1,000 other people...The door has always been open. It was never closed. But we don't need these other people or mediators." Owners, trainers and breeders have thrown their support behind the jockeys' bid to have the rules regarding restricted use of the whip amended. Bentley has also taken a swipe at NSW Chief Steward Ray Murrihy's bid to become a mediator in the row. He has more or less told him to stick to his own job. Bentley's attack on the industry closely follows his swipe at 'so-called' experts who opposed the new whip rules.

Latest news is that the ARB will meet with jockeys' reps on Monday in a final bid to work out a solution to the crisis before it becomes a dangerous threat to the spring carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne.

Irish mare Profound Beauty has slipped down to 16/1 ($17.00) for the Melbourne Cup after her disappointing 4th in the Irish St Leger 2800m at The Curragh on Sunday. TAB Sportsbet has C'est La Guerre and Vigor sharing favoritismn at 8/1 ($9.00). The market at midday on Sunday:

CEST LA GUERRE 9.00 3.00
VIGOR 9.00 3.00
SPEED GIFTED 13.00 4.00
MASTER OREILLY 15.00 4.50
EFFICIENT 15.00 4.50
VIEWED 17.00 5.00
ROMAN EMPEROR 17.00 5.00
PROFOUND BEAUTY 17.00 5.00
CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD 26.00 7.25
PRECEDENCE 26.00 7.25
WHOBEGOTYOU 26.00 7.25
MUNSEF 31.00 8.50
DAFFODIL 31.00 8.50
ZIPPING 31.00

Connections of Singapore star Jolie's Shinju were more than happy with her 3rd in the Dato 1600m at Moonee Valley. Owner Dr Tan Kai Chah says: 'This was a prep race for her main target - the Cox Plate...Naturally it would have been nice to win the race, but to run third against the best horses in Australia was a fantastic effort...She was blowing quite a bit after the race and is obviously going to get a lot of benefit from the race...We feel that 2000m is now her best distance and she will improve at least three lengths with that race under her...She has shown us that she can be competitive with the best horses in Australia, but I will leave the decision on whether she needs another run to the trainer Hideyuki Takaoka.'

Disappointment...Melbourne Cup hopeful Profound Beauty has been btn 23.5 lens into 4th place in the Irish St Leger 2800m at The Curragh in Ireland overnight. The Dermot Weld traine3d mare was never in contention. The AT The Races website says: Towards rear, closed from over 5f out, soon tracked leaders, dropped to moderate 3rd over 3f out, soon 4th and no extra under pressure. The race went to Alandi, ridden by Mick Kinane. Profound Beauty was sent out third fav at 7/2.

Another UK Melbourne Cup prospect Changingoftheguard proved a failure in the English St Leger at Doncaster. He ran 6th at 3/1 fav, btn about 6 lens. Hed was unable to quicken in the final 300m. The race went to Godolphin's Mastery at 14/1.

Latest market on the Caulfield Cup (Betstar):

Vigor 6.00
Speed Gifted 9.00
Whobegotyou 11.00
Predatory Pricer 15.00
Red Ruler (NZ) 17.00
Shocking 17.00
C'est La Guerre 21.00
Daffodil (NZ) 21.00
Roman Emperor 21.00
Zarita 21.00
Hissing Sid 26.00
Kirklees (UAE) 26.00
Master O'Reilly 26.00
Precedence 26.00
Viewed 26.00

Ready To Lift is off and running for the Melbourne Cup...Her powerful win over 2000m at Rosehill was a clear sign she's right back to her best after 3 runs from a spell. She'll have her next start in the Grp 2 Colin Stephen Quality at Randwick in a fortnight before backing up the following week in the AJC Metropolitan. (Ready To Lift was a Video View tip and top-rated as a 7/2 chance by ImpactPro).

Racing NSW Chief Steward Ray Murrihy has attempted to become moderator in the standoff between disgruntled jockeys and the Australian Racing Board (ARB) over the controversial whip rules. Murrihy called the jockeys riding at Rosehill into the stewards' room before the first race and proposed a compromise deal to them in the hope of averting industrial action next week.It is believed Murrihy has proposed that jockeys ride under the new whip laws for three months before reverting to the changes proposed by the Australian Jockeys Association (AJA.The AJA wants the laws changed to allow jockeys unlimited use of the whip over the final 100 metres for those in contention. The jockeys proposal would be trialled for three months before a decision made on the best way forward in February 2010. Murrihy and jockeys refused to comment on what was discussed behind closed doors. (www.racenet.com.au).

The whip crisis...Seems like some big-name trainers are in 'full support' of the jockeys against the new whip rule...providing it doesn't inconvenience them or cost them a few dollars. The jockeys have a big carrot to dangle in front of the ARB and the Victorian State Government...and that's the spring carnival. The State Govt needs to intervene quickly to get the immoveable heads of the ARB to start giving some ground. At least one person on the ARB is well known for his obstinacy and eyeball approach. It's now NOT a matter of ego but commonsense.

Shane Dye has weighed into the whip rules fiasco with a stinging blast at the people who run racing in Australia. He says: '...the people in charge DO NOT listen to the people in the industry who know...Is it any wonder why people are turning to sport to bet on? Racing needs the punting dollar to survive. It will [racing] be here in a hundred years time but it will not grow like other sports. Can you imagine a Grand Final of Rugby League and you can't tackle the opponent inside your 25m. I wished I was there riding in Australia to support the jockeys by not riding. They are being stood over with fines and suspensions and it is not right (www.racenet.com.au).

Amazing stuff from the Australian Racing Board chairman Bob Bentley...In the face of massive opposition from jockeys, trainers and owners to his new whip rules, Bentley dismisses them as 'so-called experts' in his official statement about the crisis. He says: 'Many so-called experts have criticised the changes made by the Australian Racing Board but the fact is that the industry has come light years ahead on this issue.'

Don't believe for one moment that jockeys are giving up their industrial campaign against the whip rules...The Daily Telegraph reports that the jockeys plan a campaign of indefinite strikes from next Monday.

Gai Waterhouse has dismissed the new whip rule as a joke. She told the SMH: '...the silliest rule ever made...It is like telling John McEnroe he can hit the ball every second time, or telling a chess player you can't use a pawn...Every punter, owner, breeder, trainer must be against the new rule.'' Gai says both punters and owners are being put off the sport. ''They want to see horses win...What's the point of having padded whips if you can't ride a horse out? It is ridiculous. We have to let these athletes [jockeys] be athletes - give them padded whips and let them use them.''

Bookies are wary of a nationwide plunge on Whobegotyou in Sat's Grp 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes. Trainer Mark Kavanagh has decided to put blinkers on the horse for the first time as he tries to win his first race since last October's AAMI Vase success. The Dato is run at Moonee Valley where Whobegotyou is unbeaten in 3 starts.

Don't miss the next issue of PRACTICAL PUNTING MONTHLY magazine...It's our big October Caulfield Cup issue...Get our top 6 picks for the big race...And check out Mark Oberhardt's big Melbourne Cup article...

Despite the intransigence of the Australian Racing Board in refusing to listen to calls to change the new whip rules, jockeys will probably not take strike action this weekend. But they are not ruling out future industrial action. Jockeys walked off the job at race meetings in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia on Thursday after learning their submission for changes to the rules had been rejected by the ARB. A telephone conference between state representatives of the Australian Jockeys' Association on Thursday night determined that jockeys will ride over the weekend and meet again on Monday. The AJA says: 'Although bitterly disappointed and frustrated at the ARB's decision today, in a show of good faith to our fellow stakeholders the AJA has determined that racing will continue up to and including Monday.'

FIRST SHOCK! Jockeys at Ballarat refused to ride after learning the Australian Racing Board had refused to make any changes to those crazy new whip rules. Industrial action is likely to spread like wildfire in the wake of the ARB's 'we're not budging' stance. The Ballarat meeting had to be called off after race 3. Spokesman Glen Boss said jockeys needed to show some strength after all their suggestions about the whip rules were rejected. 'They never listened to one thing we said,' Boss pointed out.

Jockeys at Hawkesbury went into a stop work meeting after the running of the 4th race and the meeting was abandoned when they decided to follow their Victorian colleagues and refuse to ride. Ipswich jockeys then decided not not to ride.

Jockeys are now predicting nationwide strike action at the weekend. This could result in major meetings being called off in Sydney and Melbourne. Friday's meetings are in serious doubt.

Members of the Australian Racing Board, headed by Bob Bentley, are coming in for harsh criticism for their 'head in the sand' attitude to the whip rules crisis. Jockeys chief Paul Innes says the ARB's decision has put a cloud over the upcoming spring racing carnival. He says: "Unfortunately the Australia Racing Board has let jockeys and everyone else involved in the industry down today...All we were after was a common sense approach to the whip issue....Jockeys are very happy with the introduction of the padded whips, we're happy to limit the use of the whip prior to the last 100m, but the rules governing whip use in the last 100 metres have to change...We will now go back to jockeys around the country and discuss where we go to from here. We can't rule anything out at this stage....We can't have jockeys worrying about counting the number of times they've moved their whips when they should be concentrating on getting to the line safely....It's just ridiculous.'

Some jockeys are asking the quite legitimate question: How many members of the ARB Board have actually ridden a horse?

The NSW State Government will allow fixed odds betting on all races and is giving in-principle support for the NSWTAB to pool with other Australian totalisators. The initiatives are the Govt's response to the independent review of wagering policy and regulation, known as the Cameron Report.

'Gunna' galloper Whobegotyou is the early fav at $2.90 for Sat's Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley, according to the market released by TAB Sportsbet on Thursday.

R7 DATO TAN CHIN NAM STAKES (Grp 2)

WHOBEGOTYOU 2.90
EL SEGUNDO 3.40
MIC MAC 3.90
JOLIES SHINJU 7.50
SEA BATTLE 15.00
EFFICIENT 21.00
MAGICAL PEARL 23.00
ZIPPING 31.00
MAJESTICAL 51.00
BAUGHURST 61.00
TEARS I CRY 61.00
DANDAAD 101.00
PRECEDENCE 126.0

Mark Zahra is the new jockey for superstar sprinter Scenic Blast when he tackles next month's Grp 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan on Oct 4. SB's regular jockey Steven Arnold can't take the ride because of commitments in Melbourne and he recommended Zahra as his replacement because of the similarity in their 'patient' riding styles.

It's on today (Thursday), that Australian Racing Board meeting to thrash out the whip rules farce...The Age newspaper comments: 'Whatever the result of this meeting, there must be an immediate change to the rule that is not yet six weeks old...The street-corner tip yesterday was that a few of the 17 board members were getting cold feet over the new rules and they might bow to the jockeys' wishes of allowing riders discretion as to how many times they hit their mounts over the final 100 metres...There are two ways this issue can possibly go. The ARB could give the jockeys what they want, but if not, the board must move today to halt a potential mass revolt from punters and owners solely on the matter of fairness...Owners and punters are the ones that put on the racing show with their investments, but it is they who are most disadvantaged when a jockey transgresses the whip rule.'

Eight successive defeats...Can hype galloper Whobegotyou break back into the winner's circle at Moonee Valley on Sat? He takes on a likely classy field in the Grp 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes so it won't be an easy task, but he has won his only three starts at the Valley, including the Grp 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) last Sept and the Grp 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day last Oct. He's had five 2nds and a 3rd since then! Damien Oliver will ride Whobegotyou and Steven King is booked for stablemate Sea Battle in the same race

Very heavy conditions may mean Profound Beauty misses a run in the Irish St Leger this weekend. Trainer Dermot Weld may instead bring the mare straight to Australia to prepare for the Melbourne Cup. He says: 'We've been washed out of it on the Curragh this morning and I intend making a decision later in the week on whether Profound Beauty runs on Saturday...If she doesn't run, the plan would be to go straight to Melbourne.' Profound Beauty is unbeaten in 3 runs this campaign. In latest Melbourne Cup betting, she's quoted on the second line at 12/1 (Betstar).

Tim Martin has engaged Kiwi jockey Michael Walker to ride Typhoon Zed in Sat's Grp 3 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. TZ is seeking to notch another win in the Grp 1 Manikato Stakes, which he won won last year.

Many punters are so enraged by the crazy new whip rules that they are trying to arrange a NO BET day. They reckon if enough punters join them the authorities will be forced into a backdown on the despised rules.

Will controversial jockey Keiron Fallon ride in the Melbourne Cup? It might happen. Reports say trainer Luca Cumani may turn to Fallon in a bid to turn around his previous bad luck in Melbourne...successive 2nds in the big race! Cumani has confirmed his intention to launch another spring Cups raid. He's paid up for two horses - the well-credentialled Cima De Triomphe and the unqualified Basaltico - to contest the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. LC has informed local officials that both horses are going into quarantine. In latest betting, both stayers are quoted at 50/1.