Zardozi is the favourite, and the most likely to run out a strong 2500m based on her breeding and performances to date. After a couple of moderate runs in Sydney where she didn’t have the best luck, she’s turned a corner since coming to Melbourne, exploding out of the pack to win the Edward Manifold in early October, and following it up with a fine performance in the Wakeful on Saturday, where she just failed to run down the leader.

Aethelflaed was the eye-catcher out wide in the Wakeful, running into fourth from near-last, looking like she can’t wait to get to 2500m. Barrier 12 is very tough from the 2500m start at Flemington, so she’ll have to be back in the field again, and that could be the difference between winning and losing.

Tropical Squall is the second favourite, and may challenge Zardozi for market-elect come race time. She’s had a terrific campaign, winning against the older horses in benchmark grade first-up, before running third in the Tea Rose and then winning the Group 1 Flight Stakes. She was then brave in defeat under 59kg’s in the Ethereal, just getting nabbed in the shadows of the post after setting too strong a speed.

Basilinna was a fast-finishing third in the Ethereal, and has finally drawn a gate after jumping from wide barriers at her last two starts. She savaged the line last start, and should get a cosy run here, so she is certainly a value danger.

Selections: 1.Basilinna 2.Tropical Squall 3.Zardozi 4.Aethelflaed