The long, lingering months of winter racing seem an eternity ago as we approach one of the great weekends of racing.

It starts at Moonee Valley tonight where some of the best sprinters in the land do battle in the Group One Manikato Stakes.

We've learnt through time that Gai Waterhouse always expects the very best from her runners but she certainly has a great ring of confidence with More Joyous set to return in the Manikato.

More Joyous was given time to get over a joint injury suffered a few months ago but her recent exhibition gallops in Sydney have been sparkling.

Sky Racing's Ron Dufficy said on Racing Retro a fortnight ago that it's a different looking More Joyous this time around.

The outstanding mare looks trim, taught and terrific going into the 1200-metre test first-up.

More Joyous quietly snuck into Melbourne on Monday and has the big-time race experience that Sepoy, as a three-year-old, may not have.

Now to Randwick's Super Saturday meeting with an outstanding four Group One races.

The Epsom poses another test for multiple Group One winner Sincero, particularly if the track is rain-affected.

Trainer Steve Farley told me this week that he knows Sincero can handle the wet tracks but he hasn't carried 57 kilograms on that sort of ground.

The horse's work last Saturday, according to Farley and his trackwork rider, was the best ever. If, as expected, Sincero runs well in the Epsom, Farley plans to travel the horse to Tarcutta that night and then arrive in Melbourne on Sunday.

One of the main threats to Sincero in the Epsom is the Victorian mare, Pinker Pinker.

This race wasn't in the original plan of trainer Greg Eurell but now he's glad he changed tack.

Pinker Pinker has been freshened up since her last run and after losing Glen Boss to injury, Eurell was able to swoop late and get the talented Craig Williams.

Adding to the positive feel about the chances of Pinker Pinker is her performance to finish third to Absolutely on a Heavy 10 in the AJC Australian Oaks back in the autumn.

Eurell declared that the Sydney direction was not a concern.

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THE Spring Champion Stakes might not be large in number but the quality is certainly there.

For mine, I reckon Darci Be Good doesn't get the praise it should for his efforts.

He was super in winning the Spring Stakes at Newcastle and he has a win already over Saturday's favourite, Strike The Stars.

Kembla Grange trainer, Bede Murray, gave Darci Be Good a few days off after his latest win but his gallop last Saturday over 2000 metres was impressive.

Murray hasn't altered his thought saying this will be the final outing for Darci Be Good this Spring.

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Flemington will wrap up locally a massive weekend of racing on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to seeing Perth galloper, Playing God, line up in the Turnbull Stakes.

Trainer Neville Parnham has been adamant this week the horse will strip a lot fitter after peaking late in his last two runs in Melbourne.

Parnham galloped Playing God on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday and said the horse recovered a lot better than in the past.