Group 1 racing continues at Randwick, where Sydney turf chiefs hope to put the horrors of last week's Sydney Cup nightmare behind them by getting through the meeting with no controversies or accidents.

Punters will need to have their wits about them, and probably deep pockets, if they are playing at Caulfield, as there is yet another fiendishly difficult 10-race card stacked with big fields.

While those who like their racing with a rustic taste can enjoy the sights and sounds of Oakbank, where the annual Easter jumping carnival takes centre stage in South Australia with the running of the Oakbank Cup and the historic Von Doussa Steeplechase.

Miles signs off

The Caulfield meeting may not feature any stars, but it will surely hold a special place in the heart of veteran racecaller Greg Miles, who is finally hanging up the binoculars after this meeting.

Miles has called 36 Melbourne Cups, including Makybe Diva's historic hat-trick, and appropriately enough the final event at The Heath on Saturday, a 1600-metre handicap, is simply called the Bravo Greg Miles.

Bowman hunts more glory

Sydney champion Hugh Bowman is firmly entrenched in the upper echelon of jockeys world wide, with the New York-based Thoroughbred Racing Commentary this week putting him at the top of the international jockey ratings just ahead of Ryan Moore after his group 1 romp on Winx last Saturday.

He will be looking for more at Randwick when he rides favourite Invader for the Snowdens in the Champagne Stakes for two-year-olds and that tough sprinter miler Le Romain for Kris Lees in the All Aged Stakes. Both will be there when the whips are cracking.

Weir eyes Sydney success

It took Victorian champion trainer Darren Weir an eternity to break his duck in Sydney and he only did so when Big Duke was awarded the group 3 Manion Cup in the stewards' room after being narrowly beaten by Lloyd Williams' Our Century last month.

But he travels north with a strong team for Saturday when his best chance may be Hellbent in the group 3 The Marks Stakes. The galloper was just touched off by Silent Sedition in the group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley last time out and goes into this set-weights and penalties event well in with 56 kilograms and Damian Lane aboard.

Veteran is extra special

The Easter Cup is the highlight of a very competitive afternoon at Caulfield and it features a trio of very handy veterans at the top of the weights, horses who have amassed several group 1 and 2 wins and placings over their distinguished careers.

Last year's winner Leebaz (aged seven) and Pornichet (now a six-year-old and former Doomben Cup winner) have to give weight away all round, but they are comparative novices compared to the third top weight, 10-year-old Extra Zero from the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig stable.

He will be having his 98th race start here in a career that began at Caulfield at this meeting in 2009. He might not win that often (his strike rate is only 6 per cent) but he has run some mighty races, including seconds in the Victoria Derby as a three-year-old and in the Australian Cup (at 100-1) two years ago. He has even won over hurdles and been placed at the Warrnambool jumps festival.

Racing's Mr Versatile

Irish jockey John Allen could chalk up a highly unusual double at Oakbank when he is bidding to win feature races on the flat and over jumps.

Allen partners No Song No Supper, last year's Grand Annual winner, in the Von Doussa Steeplechase, and Tuscan Sling for Darren Weir in the Listed Oakbank Stakes.