LATE SCRATCHING: DAMION FLOWER

RUNNING SCORE: 55 Runners: 24 winners, 13 seconds, 8 thirds

CRAZY CRAIG: 11 runners: 6 wins, 1 place win, 3 lays

Well ladies and gentlemen, the big news lately is that Everest slot holder Damion Flower has been charged for ‘allegedly’ importing 27kg of the nose candy into Australia, resulting in him being stood down and warned off racetracks by Racing NSW and Racing Victoria, and being stripped of his slot in this year’s Everest.

Ironically, he picked Clearly Innocent for his slot back in 2017.

Ripping joke Damion.

So what’s on this weekend- Group One racing is back at Eagle Farm with the Kingsford Smith, there’s the revamped Andrew Ramsden at Flemington, which has been dropped down to 2800m and carries ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup, all part of a ploy to get another D-Grade Aussie stayer into the race, and the winter season kicks off in Perth, as we return to Belmont.

Riveting. Really, really riveting.

Reloaded (No.5) in Race 1 at Randwick, 11:25pm AEST

1400m 2YO Handicap

Trainer: Chris Waller, Hoop: Jason Collett

The all-Kiwi combination team up for this one, and if the Talking Heads are to be believed, then Reloaded is Waller’s successor to The Autumn Sun, and based on his only start back on Anzac Day at Randwick, he probably is- Racing wide (With cover) and still flying over the top to win.

Then again, if the Talking Heads are to be believed, you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack, or behind the wheel of a large automobile.

Apparently the plan is to send him up to Brisbane to race in the JJ Atkins, the very same race The Autumn Sun won last year, and if he has the same turn of foot up to the 1400m, then the likes of Waterhouse will resort to praying to Satan to have a hope of beating him.

Money Maher (No.4) in Race 2 at Belmont, 1:17pm AWST (3:17)

1600m 76+ Rating Handicap

Trainer: Dan & Ben Pearce, Hoop: Jarrad Noske

I’d make up some bullcrap reason for throwing Money Maher in, but I just need to fill four runners in for my own personal satisfaction.

So, having said that, here’s my bullcrap reason.

I like banging on about second-favourites beating favourites, and this time I’m going to completely ignore that yet again and back Money Maher to beat the in-form grey Touch of Silver, who comes to Belmont sitting on a hat-trick of wins, in a big turnaround from Adam Durrant.

Money Maher came back on the 4th of May after just under a year out, and the force was certainly with him first-up, as he smacked a sorry lot at Ascot by 2 lengths, with enough in the tank.

He did also beat Mrs Brown’s boy in that win, and Mrs Brown’s Boy came out and won last week, and comes back for the rematch tomorrow.

In a small field (8 horses at the moment), I’m dumb enough to butter up.

Haunted (No.5) in Race 7 at Flemington, 3:25pm AEST

1200m Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six

Trainer: James Cummings, Hoop: Craig Williams

A blast up the Flemington straight, and the last time I threw Haunted in this guide, he was in Adelaide racing in a Group 3 against Despatch, and ended up running 3rd and getting bagged by me as he lost to the supposedly inferior Despatch- Who sat me on my arse and won The Goodwood last weekend.

It’s also worth noting that Haunted was first-up at the Easter Saturday meeting at Caulfield and won, beating Dollar for Dollar, who went up to Brisbane and ran 3rd in the Doomben 10,000.

On Saturday, he’ll come up against Order of Command off a good win, and also the Flemington straight specialist Milwaukee (3/3 wins), who could be the only Milwaukee to get a win this weekend, with the way the Bucks are playing against the Raptors.

Dwayne Dunn has mysteriously gone missing since the trip to Adelaide, so the one we call ‘Pretty Boy’ at the Waterford TAB Craig Williams legs up, he’s drawn Barrier 11, and looks the ideal candidate for The Chalk Eaters!

The Velvet King (No.6) in Race 8 at Belmont, 4:55pm AWST (6:55)

1400m 70+ Rating Handicap

Trainer: Darren Mcauliffe, Hoop: Lee Newman

Just a few days ago, the Flying Scotsman Lee Newman came back to riding after some 16 months out with neck and back fractures following a fall at Pinjarra in January 2018, and it took him just two rides to boot home a winner at York!

Darren Mcauliffe has thrown him a bone to give him his first metro winner in a long time, and it comes in the form of the ruler of the velvet people, The Velvet King, who came back from a spell a fortnight ago at Ascot, and led for most of the 1200m at a decent clip, but in the end the race fitness of Special Reward got the job done and beat him home.

Now he comes up against another Listed winner in Bob Peters’ Mystery Miss , who won the Belgravia Stakes last October, then very nearly nearly died a few days later due to a twisted small intestine, which does lead me to think the ball is in Velvet King’s court on this one.

Pike has been dropped to the twos on this site, so just watch him pull off that usual ‘Pike in the Last’ stuff and piss me off.

Here’s a true fact: Lee was once the Champion British Apprentice… there’s something he has in common with Frankie Dettori.

🤪🤪CRAAAZY CRAIG’S CRAZY LAY OF THE DAY🤪🤪

CRADLE MOUNTAIN (No.4) in Race 8 at Randwick

Trainer: Clare Cunningham Jockey: Jason Collett

G’day folks, Crazy Craig, the boy from Bairnsdale here, and I’m back for another week, craaaaazier than ever!

Sure, Tom Melbourne might be going around Eagle Farm at the hilarious odds of $2.40, but I’m turning my eyes to Royal Randwick, and taking on the gelding who is arguably the best runner in Clare Cunningham’s stable!

On talent, Cradle Mountain has this bunch covered, and it shows with a career record of 10:6-2-0- BUT– He’s carrying 59.5 kilos first up, giving 6 kilos to his main rival in Deprive, and he’s racing over the 1100m where he’s never won before.

That all equates to the Collett-Cunningham relationship being a prime target for me to go ba-na-nas, and have it staring down the barrel as my LAY OF THE DAY!

Thanks for reading folks, I’m Crazy Craig, and that’s why they call me Craaaaaazy Craig!