You really know it's spring when the weights are issued for the Melbourne Cup.

Last year's winner, Americain has been penalised three-and-a-half kilograms to become the top weight at 58 kilograms for this year's Cup.

Considering some of the substantial weights he carries in Europe he doesn't appear harshly handicapped. In fact, maybe he got in a tad light last year.

But, based on the weights, here's an early tip: Bart Cummings may land his baker's dozen of Cups with Precedence which has 53.5 kilograms, the same handicap he had last year when an unlucky eighth.

The Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday will be Precedence's second run back from a spell and you would hope that he starts to show a form improvement soon.

Yes, we still have a fair way to go before the Cup, but don't say we didn't warn you. If Precedence gets to Cup day unscathed and in reasonable form, he should give the great race a big shake.

*****

Rosehill's George Main Stakes on Saturday looks a very good field with the highly promising Sincero likely to start favourite and should become an even more popular pick for the Epsom Handicap.

He really is a cut above the average but won't have a soft "kill" on Saturday because he will be meeting Ilovethiscity, Sacred Choice and Do Ra Mi.

*****

The Tea Rose Stakes is an interesting clash of the three-year-old fillies.

The David Payne-trained Florentina, coming off two consecutive second placings, deserves a change of luck. Top jockey Corey Brown is sticking with the daughter of Redoute's Choice.

*****

The Underwood Stakes at Caulfield is a minefield of uncertainty with so many either resuming or having their second run back from a spell.

Performances by some of the beaten division may be enlightening.

West Australian representative, Playing God, may be the one because he has the backing of two runs since a spell for a second in Perth over 1300 metres and then a solid fourth in the Makybe Diva at Flemington a fortnight ago.

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Rationalisation and synergies are two of the current buzzwords in business and it is becoming more common in racing as well.

The latest suggested use of these descriptions centres on various panels of stewards controlling the three racing codes.

It has been mooted this week that the gallops, harness and greyhound stewards should be brought under the one umbrella of Racing NSW.

And, I suppose, when you consider that the stewards are the police force of racing there is a sound basis for moulding these law enforcers into one body.

After all, in the gallops arena Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth now have become one-club cities.

When will Melbourne join the club, so to speak?

And on this issue when, if ever, will there be a central body programming major races throughout the country to obviate some of the glaring and annoying major race clashes?

Don't hold your breath.

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Human nature being what it is, punters may tend to look on the TAB as the opposition because we punters always are trying to beat the off-course betting organisation.

But Tabcorp, Australia's largest wagering, gaming and Keno operator, in its own right emerged victorious from a strong field of 18 to be rated the overall global gambling industry leader in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes Annual Review.

Tabcorp also received a 100 per cent rating in the promoting responsible gambling category for the fifth consecutive year.