Romantic Warrior has done all of his racing in Hong Kong to this point of his career, winning three Group 1s among his 10 career wins. The best line on his form for racing in this country is the Queen Elizabeth Cup back in April, which he won as $1.60 favourite while leaving Dubai Honour two and a half lengths in arrears – that horse was coming off two Group 1 WFA wins by a combined seven lengths in Sydney, over the likes of Anamoe and company.

The other international runner, West Wind Blows, must be taken seriously as well. His credentials aren’t as pronounced as Romantic Warrior, but he does have very good 2000m-2400m form in Europe and the UK, and while he’s never one at Group 1 level, he’s been not far behind some serious horses over there.

Osipenko has been within a length or two of Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood and Fangirl at WFA in all three starts this campaign, and they are arguably our three best mile or mile and a quarter horses right now. He drops to 56kg’s here thanks to the set weights penalties format of the race, and can’t do anything but run well from a perfect draw.

His stablemate Soulcombe also has only 56kg’s, and his two runs this prep have been a sizzling win in the Heatherlie first-up, followed by another eye-catching effort when a fast-finishing fourth in the Underwood Stakes. He could go to another level out another 200m and at Flemington, which was the scene of his career-best win.

Selections: 1.Romantic Warrior 2.West Wind Blows 3.Osipenko 4.Soulcombe