This year's Doomben Cup field is not an overly strong race so do not be afraid of backing a galloper not proven at weight-for-age level.
Won by topliners such as Might And Power, Durbridge, Rough Habit, Danewin, Juggler and Intergaze in the 1990s, from this decade only the Guy Walter trainer Defier (2004) has any claims to being a genuine Group One galloper.
Grand Zulu and Sarrera are the only two WFA Group One winners in this year's race and both have question marks next to their names.
The former achieved the feat four years ago and has hardly fired a shot since and the latter, a last-start winner of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, needed a wet track to threaten at this level, according to his trainer Mike Moroney.
Western Australian galloper Scenic Shot and the Moroney-trained mare Eskimo Queen enter this race with the best credentials.
Scenic Shot has not disgraced himself in any of his three runs this time in. He ran second to Marasco when resuming at WFA level over 1400m in Perth, then fifth to Weekend Hussler in the George Ryder before winning the Hollindale Stakes (1800m) last start at the Gold Coast. Despite being a Group One maiden, he looks well placed in this race.
The only knock against him is gate 13 in the 16-horse field.
Eskimo Queen ran a respectable seventh in the nation's premier mile last month and prior to that won at Group One level, albeit against mares.
Moroney had considered spelling the mare after she was injured in the Doncaster, but her better than expected recovery forced a change of mind. She'll be hard to beat if still near her peak.
Bart Cummings' Viewed is the fresh horse on the scene and has plenty in his favour. He thrashed Musket, Makybe Diva's younger sibling, last start over 2000m, has one of the country's best hoops aboard in Steven Arnold and gate four is a dream alley. Remarkably, Cummings has never won this race before.
Four-year-old mare Lasoron is the value runner at $15. She defeated Eskimo Queen over this course and distance at the corresponding meeting last year and ran a nice race when fourth in the Hollindale.
New Zealand three-year-old and first emergency Mission Critical, at his best on top of the ground, could prove hard to run down if he sneaks into the field, and Sarrera storms into calculations in rain-affected going.
Best of the rest is Stormhill, who could lead if Mission Critical does not run, and Spinney, which is some doubt at 2000m at this level.
Lucky Wu (Andrew Wu)
Scenic Shot
Eskimo Queen
Viewed
Lasoron
Hands and Heals (Jonathan Healy)
Eskimo Queen
Mission Critical
Like It Is
Viewed