With reference to the somewhat controversial issue of race club amalgamation, Queensland, or more particularly Brisbane, has continued to confound the opposition mounted against these racing administration marriages.

The winter carnival in Brisbane so far has been a resounding success, admittedly aided by generally fine weather conditions.

And the newly formed Brisbane Racing Club which supplanted the long-standing Queensland Turf Club (Eagle Farm) and Brisbane Turf Club (Doomben) seems to be rolling along harmoniously. The carnival has been promoted with zeal and, according to authoritative sources, the annual Breakfast with the Stars last Tuesday attracted the biggest ever attendance.

Former adversaries have nestled into wedded bliss and the resultant co-operation and cohesion clearly has been a winning formula.

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NO DOUBT the Queensland stewards will be dusting off the abacus preparatory to the arduous essay of counting the whip strokes applied by jockeys at Eagle Farm this Saturday.

To use a distasteful but nevertheless ironic idiom, I probably am guilty of flogging a dead horse. However, I cannot come to terms with the reason why there are these stringent restrictions on the number of whip strokes that may be applied with a padded whip.

After all, a fact sheet issued by the Australian Racing Board in part states: "The Australian Racing Board considered all the arguments for and against padded whips. The best scientific advice available to us says that padded whips do not inflict pain or injury, and that is the outcome we want.''

Once more, I rest my case.

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REVERTING to the vernacular the Eagle Farm meeting on Saturday is a cracker. Three Group Ones (the Stradbroke, Derby and T.J. Smith), two Group Twos (Brisbane Cup and Queensland Guineas) and the remainder are Listed Races. So it is black type from go to whoa.

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WILL the fillies fire in the Queensland Derby? The Oaks quinella of Miss Keepsake and Marheta is backing up and have sound prospects.

During the past 25 years, though, only six fillies - Riva San (2008), Camarena (1999), Royal Magic (1992), Bravery (1988), Princess Gracious (1987) and Tristina (1985) - have taken out the Queensland classic. And of those only Riva San, Royal Magic and Bravery have taken out the Oaks-Derby double.

But as a wise man declared: there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

Personally, I am giving the Patrick Payne-trained Fieldmaster a good chance. He is coming to hand at the right time.

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THIS YEAR's Stradbroke is living up to a proud tradition of being an absorbing race. Whobegotyou (pictured, above) has the credentials to win and is an appropriate price in pre-post betting ($2.60 with TAB Fixed Odds).

Call me belligerent, but I am not giving up on King Mufhasa. His latest run in the Doomben 10,000 when he was in the fight until the final 100 metres suggested he may have been doing a bit too well in the feed bin and would be improved by the run.

At least, that's my story and I am sticking to it. The double figure odds are just too enticing.

For good measure, I also like Newport in the downgraded (from Group 1 to Group 2 and 3200 metres to 2400 metres) Brisbane Cup. He turned in a good effort at his latest start and deserves a big-race win.

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A $200,000 jackpot on the Eagle Farm-Randwick cross-meeting BIG6 (NSW TAB) is one of many great punting opportunities offered as part of TAB Sportsbet's "long weekend with the lot". The Victorian TAB has a $78,000 jackpot on the Stradbroke Handicap First 4 and there are plenty of other opportunities to sink your teeth into a winner.