The international meeting at Hong Kong today, despite Jimmy Choux being the only Australasian representative, is a corker. It could also turn out to be a very good value meeting.  The short spell away from the formguide did us some good yesterday and we bounced back with some good value winners including our best in Sydney King Gladiator at double figures and Tomboy winning the last in Brisbane at 8/1.

I am very keen on VADEMAR in the first of the international races, the Vase (2400m). Trained by Alain Royer-Dupre for the Aga Khan (the combination that won this race two years ago with Daryakana, this is a very serious racehorse and I think he is the best bet on the program. On our tote you are likely to get overs as Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden (Craig Williams) and Red Cadeaux, first and second in the Melbourne Cup will attract plenty of support.

The sprint this year is so even. Any one of 6 can win with the right run, so luck will be vital. LUCKY NINE had no luck behind Japanese superstar Curren Chan in Japan recently and back on his home turf he looks good value in the race. Last year's runner up Rocket Man has drawn the cheap seat in barrier 13 which will not help his cause and two time winner of this race Sacred Kingdom is in the extreme outside gate of 14.

I think the Japanese can take home the mile with ARAPANE. Jimmy Choux will be competitive and Sahpresa and Xtension have claims as well.

In the international Cup (2000m) I think CALIFORNIA MEMORY is a good thing. He has, for him, drawn badly in one as he will be back in the second half of the field, if not at the tail, and Matt Chadwick will need a lot of luck on him. This horse has an electrifying sprint and if the luck goes his way I think he will be winning. Of course Derby winner Ambitious Dragon and champion French horse Cirrus De Aigles look the other two in a great race.

It just looks like one of those tricky days today, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne with smallish fields and a fair few shorties. Either the bookies will get hammered or their guardian angel will step up to the plate and lend them a hand with some silly outcomes.

At Rosehill, there does not appear to be a lot of value on offer - if the form stands up. However I am keen to gamble on KING GLADIATOR in race four on the card at reasonable odds. This is not a strong race, and the sting out of the ground may help this horse find his best form. After all, he was competitive in the good three year old races last season, can stay, has Hugh Bowman on board and is trained by Chris Waller. He has a lot going for him today.

At Flemington the weather as much as anything holds the key as they are predicting rain this afternoon. I am pretty keen on Huxssen in race five on the card. He has drawn to come down the crown of the track and on his best form he would be very competitive in a race like this.

The Doomben program is going to be run on a very heavy track and this could prove tricky. But i really want to have something on STARTSMEUP in the George Moore Quality. He is a serious horse, and today he is having his first start for Gillian Heinrich, having been transferred from Bruce Hill.