There are more scoops than an ice cream parlour in the middle of Marble Bar here. The latest one is that apprentice Justin Wood (pictured) is riding at Moonee Valley tomorrow in the Apprentices Cup, then he'll probably ride in Adelaide on 31 July, before returning to Brisbane where he'll have his first rides back here on 8 August. Justin's younger brother Mitch will win the Gold Coast apprentices title by about 17 wins - and he'll clock in second there on the overall jockey's standings behind Mr and Mrs Griffin's son Dan. Mitch resumes riding Sunday from a suspension and he is hoping to ride in town also in the upcoming season, so there'll be some fun at meal times there, sooner rather than later.

After a respite from a spate of “slow” and “heavy” tracks in Sydney and Melbourne in recent weeks, we finally got back to a “dead 5” rating for both venues of Rosehill and Caulfield last Saturday. However rain during this week will affect tomorrow’s meetings at Randwick and Moonee Valley - and both are once again likely to be run on either “slow” or “heavy” surfaces. That’s no problem, provided the rain nicks off for the good racing that is due to start in about a month’s time. Rain affected meetings now are at least far better than having them on Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup day, so hopefully we can get the rain out of the road now, during the off peak season.

Racing Queensland handicapper Andrew Whitehead has sent the scaled weights through for Eagle Farm tomorrow and they are Race 3 + 1 kg, Race 5 + 1 kg and Race 7 + 1 kilogram.

Brad Tamer from Unitab has sent the exotics jackpot information for that entity tomorrow and in descending order of value they read:

The apprentice jockey weights for Eagle Farm tomorrow should be:

*Ben Looker was asked this afternoon at the Ipswich gallops what weight he would be riding tomorrow at Eagle Farm and he told the eagle eyed Justracing resident newshound Dan Costello that he would riding at “51 kilos”. That’s another scoop. Fair dinkum the poor buggers that don’t read Justracing are no hope long term.

Talking about Dan Costello, don’t forget he also has his own recently launched website and it has lots of racing info on it and can be viewed at www.racingwrap.com. So you blokes who have such revered websites as “Is She really a He – let’s take a closer look…Part 16” in your favourites, why don’t you do yourselves a favour – give that type of stuff the flick – and instead add something wholesome like Dan’s racing website to your favourites? Oh and on Sunday you’d better get down to church and confess your sins from not only “Part 16”, but the other 15 parts you backordered, with funds from your “cunning kick”.

Today on www.brisbaneracing.com.au I preview the main race at Eagle Farm, the Tattersall’s Mile. On www.sydneyracing.com.au I look at Eagle Farm Race 8, whilst on www.melbourneracing.com.au Tim Hickman looks at Moonee Valley tomorrow and Brad Bishop looks at the clash of the top pacers at Tabcorp Park Melton tonight.

Galilee has sent through a tip on Adelaide racing tomorrow and that report reads:

Well we have a Slow 6 track again, at this stage, but I am going to have an interest. [Perhaps weekend detention would be better] I have been dodging the wet tracks.  Looking back on my last report I tipped Finniss Storm [w/e 3.7.]– it got beaten – but the next Saturday [10/7] wins and paid $40.  I hope some got the money. To be honest I never stuck (Editors note: “or I’d be in the Bahamas”).

This week I am tipping in Race 2. I don’t make a habit of tipping 3YO’s, I like a bit more form, but in this race I like Soda Pop Girl.

I was going to back Soda Pop Girl, on Wednesday, in a race I thought she would have been capable of winning at Strathalbyn, but she was scratched and obviously, you would like to think, kept for this race. She qualifies as a Sabois runner and that is worth an extra $15,000. Being by Bianconi, there will be those that say ‘they tend to go better later – they can’t handle the wet etc’, but in her only race start she was super impressive when finishing second on a dead track. Most of you would know my feelings about Balzoni, also by Bianconi, a very promising, lightly raced horse, who is two out of two on dead tracks and two from two at this track.

Frustrating will start favourite and we may be second favourite – let’s hope $3 +. One concern that I have is that we may get back a bit on this track and give start to the leaders, one of which is Frustrating and this track usually favours leaders/on pacers. But I feel the positives are: 1) we are going an extra 250, 2) we have a 2kg claim as Claudia Lions remains on and that is a double plus the way she is riding and 3) we have drawn well. I just have a feeling about Soda Pop Girl – I was very impressed with her last run - time will tell.

Selection: 5

Good luck.

Neil Davis, the sectional times guru from New Zealand, via his respected website www.formpro.co.nz has filed this report on a couple of New Zealand horses he likes in his home country tomorrow. In full his article reads:

The biggest race in New Zealand is the Waikato Stud Opunake 125^th Jubilee Cup, which is a Listed race over 1400 metres worth $100,000 in prizemoney.

The track will be heavy and it has attracted a very strong field. There is a very good each way bet in it.

Please check all times and numbers with official lists.

New Plymouth

Race 8 - 2.01pm –5- Mega Belt

Last start he showed that he was right at the peak of his form when sitting handy, 4 wide, in the open, on the heavy track and simply galloped away from the rest of them to win decisively. His best distance is 1400m and from the inside draw he should get a nice trip in behind a good pace and I’m sure he will challenge for the lead before the 200m mark and is very well placed at the weights to get the upper-hand late. A very good each way bet.

Race 1 - 9.20am -8- Miss Kaela

She ran a strong finishing second fresh up at Foxton. Then next up at Otaki she was caught 4 wide when racing midfield, yet kept closing to challenge 200m out, however the winner Guessing had a better run and won well, but it was a top effort to run second with a gap to third. She has drawn better this time and should be able to get a much more economical run. Her half brother, Whitecollar Junkie, won two races at 1600m on bog tracks, so the step up to 1400m should not be a concern. She gets in nicely at the weights against a harder field, but should be a very good each way chance.

It is good to see that sanity has prevailed in the Doomben trainers debacle and Pru Harris from the Brisbane Racing Club has sent through this Media Release that the BRC issued in respect of the situation. In full it reads:

Following the finalisation of applications to train at the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC), the BRC Board has today announced that all Eagle Farm and Doomben trainers who made application can be accommodated at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

The BRC undertook a review process, with the goal of reducing club expenses. A forecast saving of $200,000 was made, by consolidating training to Eagle Farm.

The BRC Board today considered all applications to train, along with additional suggestions, bred from a recent meeting between local trainers and the BRC Chief Executive, Stephen Ferguson.

Kevin Dixon, Chairman of the Brisbane Racing Club, said “We are very happy to be able to accommodate all of the applications to train at Eagle Farm. I congratulate the trainers on proposing some alternatives to current practices, allowing us to continue providing training facilities for all of our local trainers”.

Areas to train and the ability to accommodate ‘A’ Trainers in the current raceday stalls, will allow us to provide training facilities for the additional horses at Eagle Farm. The tracks ability to handle the increased traffic was never a concern. The key issues are Workplace Health and Safety, tie up stalls and horse float movements.

Trainers will be categorised into ‘A’ and ‘B’, defining privileges such as training times and areas to train. The new permits will be in place from 1st August, with a transition period until 1st September, when Doomben will close for training. ‘B’ trainers will be accommodated in a separate area of the course, with full access to the training facilities.

Trainers have more reasons to smile, as they will only be required to pay fees for the number of horses they have in work, however this will be reviewed on a six monthly basis. Trainers not achieving an average of four horse in work over this time, will be reclassified as ‘B’ trainers.

Mr Dixon assured trainers that “The BRC will be working with our local trainers, to meet their requirements, ensuring a seamless transfer to Eagle Farm”.

 “Our main concern in meeting these demands is the BRC’s ability to maintain Workplace Health and Safety standards. Some modifications are required to the current systems, to ensure everyone’s safety and efficient use of our facilities.” said Mr Dixon.

 Mr Dixon stated that the BRC was very happy to achieve a positive solution for all.