The Horsham and Seymour Cups both take place today as Victoria's country cups carnival gets into full swing in conjunction with the Spring Carnival.

We amanged to get both our best bets in Sydney (Riva De Lago $5-50) and in Melbourne (Gliding $9) home yesterday and found Balmost at $36-80 among our tips. But it is a bit hard to get too much confidence about the meetings around the country today.

The Belle Of The Turf (Listed) meeting at Gosford today is ordinary. I really could not have a bet there - it is a very disappointing card. At Seymour, providing it does not rain I think UNDER THE EIFFEL will win the final race on the card. It may be a long wait but and Shenzou Steeds have far better form than their rivals.

The Horsham Cup looks made to order for TEXAN WARNEY. I thought Holly McKechnie rode the horse with very little judgement last time out and he looks hard to beat today.

The Shatin meeting later this afternoon will hold my main interest as I think there is some real value on the program. At really goods odds I am very keen on GREEN GLORY (R1), AFFLUENCE OF RAIN (R5), CHANCELLOR (R6) and LEGEND EXPRESS (R9). The best could be LEGEND EXPRESS, from the Ricky Yiu yard. He was luckless first up and is drawn to get a great run in today's race.

The Caulfield Cup meeting today is a corker and, like most major race days it is a day you can either be horribly wrong or get some great value if you can get it right. I must admit I am willing to take a set against December Draw in the Caulfield Cup - but it is a race that if you do not like the facourite you can have 10 stabs and still be wrong.

Looking for good things at both Caulfield and Randwick is hard - as they are both very tough meetings. I am inclined to think we may see the best of GLIDING today at Caulfield in race three. She had no hope at her first Melbourne start on a hot leaders track at Ballarat and she was getting home well at the end of her race at Caulfield last time out. I like her today.

At Randwick I think RIVA DE LAGO only has to run up to his recent reial to be very hard to beat in race five. Meanwhile on the bog track at Eagle Farm today I am keen on SANTO DE LAGO in race 7.

CAULFIELD:

1...SHADOW WEST

3...GLIDING 1, Roma Giaconda 2, Dowager Queen 3.

4...VATUEVEI

6...HURTLE MYRTLE

7...EXTRA ZERO 1, Almodovar 2, Platinum Passion 3, Lucky Eighty Eight 4.

8...DRUNKEN SAILOR 1, Mighty High 2, Manighar 3, Saptapadi 4.

9...MORE JOYOUS 1, Response 2, Sister Madly 3.

10.SATIN SHOES 1, Psychologist 2, Total Liberty 3, Rue Maple 4.

RANDWICK:

3...LANDLOCKED

5...RIVA DE LAGO 1, Champing 2, Wakanda 3, Lohengrin 4.

6...KING GLADIATOR 1, Bid Spotter 2, Syreon 3, Adroitly 4.

7...SHE MUST BE OBEYED 1, Ofcourseican 2, Balmont 3, Perfect Hostess 4.

8..METALLURGICAL 1, Rarefied 2, Grand Rhumba 3, Ego's Dare 4.

EAGLE FARM:

2...COUNT YOUR FINGERS

4...RED GOD

5...SOUTHERN SHIMMER

6...PRIME COGNAC 1, Hidden Shuffle 2, County Sherriff 3, Ocean Journey 4.

7...SANTO DE LAGO, Eight Peices 2. 

8...SHEEDY 1, Lifebuouy 2, Youthful Jack 3, Bazooka 4.