It's been a long year for many, but the Flemington carnival is here at last.

Winning Post is here to guide you through with our usual Saturday editions (out first thing Friday) for Derby day and Stakes day, plus our tradtion Cup special out on the Monday (November 2).

Derby day kicks us off with four Group 1s, headed by the blue riband for staying three-year-olds. It looks an even bunch but the Maher/Eustace Dundeel colt Let's Karaka Deel, coming off a second in the Caulfield Classic, is sure to relish the 2500 metres at Flemington. Elsewhere on the nine-race, all-group card, the milers meet in the Kennedy Cantala, the fillies and mares clash in the Empire Rose and the three-year-old sprinters match motors in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The richest race of the day, though, is at Rosehill, where the four-year-olds do battle in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle.

You'll find Australia's best form guide for Saturday's Flemington, Rosehill, Doomben and Morphettville meetings in this week's Best Bets plus full coverage of Firday night's Valley meeting.

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 in Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA and some rural/regional areas.