It's AFL grand final day this Saturday, but the main sporitng action in Melbourne will be at Sandown, where the locals will get their first look (though not in person, of course) at Cox Plate favourite Zaaki in the Underwood Stakes, the first Group 1 run at the southeast suburban track in many a long year.

Meanwhile in Sydney the best three-year-old sprinter/milers duke it out in the $1 million Golden Rose, with support races including the Golden Pendant, Shannon Stakes, Gloaming Stakes.

Toowoomba takes centre stage in Queensland for the running of the Toowoomba Cup and Weetwood Handicap. And it's Black Heart Bart Stakes day at Belmont.

Earlier, a massive sporting weekend kicks off with the first Valley Friday night meeting of the season, featuring the Group 1 Moir Stakes.

You'll find Australia's best form guide for Saturday's Sandown, Rosehill, Toowoomba and Morphettville meetings in this week's Best Bets, plus coverage of The Valley Friday night.

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 ($6) is on sale Thursday morning in NSW newsagents, Friday elsewhere.