Old-timers will tell you they could always detect the first scent of spring in the air when the weight-for-agers stepped out for the Liston Stakes at Sandown. These days the Liston is the P.B. Lawrence and it's run at Caulfield, but the same observation applies.

Cosmic Crusader, devastating first-up winner of last month's Bletchingly Stakes, will be back at the track for the Lawrence en route to a tilt at the coming Cox Plate. 

Elsewhere on the Caulfield card, the new-season three-year-olds strut their stuff in the Vain and the Quezette while the sprinters match motors in the Regal Roller.

Meanwhile the Sydney three-year-olds begin their Golden Rose journey in the Rosebud at Rosehill, while it's Mekkafest day at Doomben.

You'll find Australia's best form guide for Saturday's Caulfield, Rosehill, Doomben and Morphettville meetings in this week's Best Bets.

On pages 4 and 5 you'll find four-state selections from some of the nation's leading form analysts as well as our popular Black Bookers, Sectional Stars and Video Stars features.

Best Bets ($7) is on sale Thursday morning in NSW newsagents, Friday elsewhere.