Saturday's Golden Eagle will only be the third time we've seen 20 runners line up over the Rosehill 1500m in close to 40 years.
Of the four runnings it also shaping as one of the strongest with a median Timeform rating of 114.
Three horses are rated >=120 with five Group 1 winners engaged, last year had six.
The Maher and Eustace trained Light Infantry is rated 122 by Timeform and is the obvious favourite, not seen since finishing second in the Jacques Marois.
He split Inspiral and Erevann, two legitimate stars and sets a lofty bar for his rivals on Saturday.
Nothing in the field can boast form anywhere near that level and the middle draw gives Jamie Spencer plenty of options – he should take some beating.
The final event sees the Chris Waller trained Democracy Manifest line up, much to the delight of racecaller Darren Flindell.
An impressive winner first up, Democracy Manifest was heavily supported at Warwick Farm last start but was unable to get into the finish.
Beaten only a length, that day favoured horses fence in run and feel his run held a lot more merit than first meets the eye.
From a Timeform perspective he returned a new career peak and suspect he can raise the bar again third up.
Bowman links back aboard and should enjoy a good run in transit from the middle draw.
This isn't a strong race and he rates top (weight adjusted).
Around 3-1 is being bet about his chances which appears a more than worthy gamble, I have him marked inside 2-1 – bet up!
At bigger odds happy to have a throw at Stray in the Four Pillars.
A big run first up, she has struggled to reproduce that form in two subsequent starts, however she plummets back in grade on Saturday.
On her fresh run she actually rates top and on her best form she has a bit more room to move.
Feel this is the stable you want to find off a last placing and if she gets it right she should be in the finish.
Simon Dinopoulos' Tips:
Race 9 #19 Stray @ $17.00
Race 10 #5 Democracy Manifest @ $4.40
