In embarking on our passionate pursuit of the punt, we look at the form for Randwick and Flemington.

And my two main hopes are Theseo in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick and Monaco Consul in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, where the Victorian TAB has a $500,000 Mega Jackpot on the BIG6.

The seven-year-old Theseo (pictured, above) ran an even race first up from a spell in the Warwick Stakes a fortnight ago and will be a fitter for the essay this weekend. He also has a solid second-up record.

In Melbourne, Monaco Consul, a Cups candidate, also is second-up. With the benefit of a first-up-from-a-spell sixth in the Liston Stakes, Monaco Consul may be ready to show better form over the metric mile. Consider including him in your BIG6, with projections of a mouth-watering $2 million pool.

***

Although Shoot Out was relegated to third place last Saturday in the Memsie Stakes, the Queenslander didn't lose any caste in his quest for spring carnival glory.

He was forced to cover a deal of extra ground and despite that nothing got to the line better. I am sticking like glue to Shoot Out for the rest of his campaign.

Having said that, once more we have to lionize and laud the training skill of Bart Cummings. He presented the Cox Plate winner, So You Think, in superb fettle and the four-year-old entire will be a force to be reckoned with in his bid for back-to-back wfa championships.

***

Current concerns about the condition of the Randwick course proper adds further impetus to the push for a synthetic or all-weather track to ensure future Sydney spring carnivals are on a perfect racing platform.

Racehorse traffic during winter on the course proper tracks of the metropolitan courses is not conducive to providing an ideal racing surface in the early spring. Rain and the lack of grass growth because of low temperatures certainly have a detrimental effect.

Canberra Racing Club has the enormous advantage of the Acton track, a sand and synthetic surface, to race on during the winter. By spring the course proper in the nation's capital is a rich, green sward.

On the other hand, Randwick and Rosehill tend to be battered and bruised. The concern for Randwick was so dire, at one stage, it was proposed that some of the races on Chelmsford Stakes day be moved from the course proper.

Fortunately, all races now will be on the course proper. No doubt punters will be taking careful notice of how the racing surface plays for the early races.

***

But as his son proudly proclaimed: "Dad is tough as old boots - this won't keep him down for long".

***

Latest inductees to the Racing Hall of Fame were announced this week - trainers Harry Plant and Jim Atkins; jockeys Bill Pyers and John Letts, racehorses Sky High and Northerly and associates one-time VRC secretary Henry Byron Moore.

All are worthy recipients of the honour - some posthumously - but I sometimes wonder whether the annual impact would be greater if restricted to only one in each category.