The autumn break is here. The track went from a Good 4 to a Soft 5 at 11.50 am, and then to a Soft 6 at 12.15 pm. What the hell is a Soft 6? Slow? Or Dead? All I know is that my umbrella is up and that I can’t write in my race book. It means no betting. But I like having a go at the two-year-olds, and so I risk a bet on the good-looking grey, Petracca, before the track gets chopped up. The horse thankfully manages third. Too wet to wander out the back. When I finally make it John the gateman asks how I’m doing. I report one bet for one collect. His advice? “Go home.” That’s good advice! I implement it straight away. The track is immediately downgraded to Heavy 8.