I suppose for the purists today's VRC Derby meeting is a ripper, as it would look to be for leviathan punters. For the average small punter both the Sydney and Melbourne meetings look to be very short on value, but the meeting in Melbourne will be one to savour.

I have a real hunch for SISTINE ANGEL in today's Gr 1 Myer Classic at Flemington and at double figure odds I think she can run a very good race. I am also keen on WOORIM in the last on the card. I know he will be a mile back and giving them a big start, but with a bit of give in the track I expect him to be powering home late.

Of course, the meeting is laden with odds on pops like Galah, Atlantic Jewel and Sepoy and Manawanui, Green Moon and More Joyous will probsably be only just into black figures. But, like most carnivals, the Guardian Angel of bookmakers seems to appear!

At Rosehill today I am pretty keen on MERCONMAN each way in race seven. He won a trial in good fashion at Hawkesbury recently and I expect he can can race well fresh up today.

Some of our racing friends are having a ball at the moment. It started a couple of Mondays ago when Cowra owner (and great supporter of our stallion Byblos) Les Whilesmith won the maiden at Wellington with Albertminium, a horse that has always shown a good deal of promise.

Albertminium is by Filante and Les has a half brother to Albertminium by Byblos that is currently at the breakers before going into work at Queanbeyan with trainer Tony Sergi.

Then last Sunday week at Queanbeyan Moruya trainer Colbey Hill landed the money with her old horse Conciliatory at big odds. Colbey, who of course, trains Big Red Cat for Platinum Racing has had a lean run out her stable in recent times with a virus and the win was a welcome change of luck.

Last Saturday a mate from Melbourne, Leo Cullen, had his second city winner in Adelaide, when a horse he has shares in Tykook won again. Tykook was ridden by Simon Price for Ararat training team Terry and Karina O'Sullivan and Leo emailed me on Friday expressing a good deal of confidence in the horse's chances.

Also on Saturday Damotime, trained out of our Orange stable by Sylvia Szabo scored a narrow win in the maiden at the non-TAB meeting at Mudgee.

Damotime is owned by a mate of mine Jeremy Pyers and he leased the horse to our racing manager Mick Plummer and a friend of his. The horse has had three starts since arriving in Orange for a win a second and unplaced performance first up.

He goes around again tomorrow in a ratings race at Bathurst.

Glen Alpine landscaper Rob Connors could be set to join the run of luck tomorrow night at Canterbury when a horse he has shares in My Cherie makes her debut in the 1100 metres maiden. She has won a couple of trials and has drawn the inside gate tomorrow night for trainer Chris Waller and will be ridden by Jason Collett.

It will be huge if she can win in town on debut!

MICK GRABS A COUPLE OF BYBLOS':

Queanbeyan trainer Mick Petrovic made the trip down to Kembla today to inspect some of the Byblos two years olds -  and walked away having leased two geldings, one from Nediym mare Absque de neo Nihl and the other from Polka Time.

Mick has long been a fan of the Byblos progeny - and these horses have been broken in and educated and have deverloped quite well - particularly as they did not spend too much of their formative time at the "dog's breakfast" which was Eagle Park Stud in orange operated (if you call it that) by Peter Ward.

Kembla trainer Shane Kember broke in and educated the horses and MIck was very pleased with their confirmation and development.

Hope they win plenty!