The market for the Gold Crown Final sees a battle for favouritism between Chart Topper from the ace and Timmy Rictor drawn on his back.
The latter hails from the powerhouse Emma Stewart yard and looks a real talent after an impressive winning debut in the heats where he started a hot favourite and raced wide early before cruising home by nearly 21m.
He should only be improved by the experience and can access the sprint lane from this draw.
Chart Topper progressed off a debut second in Victoria to win his heat by 8m.
He led there so has the speed to take full advantage of the ace draw and could prove hard to catch.
Soho Spectre may have to do it the hard way from the back row but he is impossible to knock after winning all three starts by big margins.
If things go his way he could add to that sequence.
Ravishing Sloy won on debut at Menangle then chased Chart Topper when runner up in his heat from a wider barrier. He is drawn to play a role.
The unbeaten Lux Aeterna faces her biggest test in the Gold Tiara Final thanks to the second row draw but she looks a real talent.
She was an easy winner of the G3 Pink Bonnet two back at Menangle before spanking her rivals by 23m in her heat to make it three from three.
She'll be banking on a touch of luck from the barrier but if it comes her way she can extend the winning streak.
Perpetuity sat parked from a wider draw when making her debut as a hot favourite in the heats before toughing out a narrow but brave win. She is open to improvement and the low draws gives her strong claims.
Aromet Girl improved plenty to win her heat at her second start. She gets an ideal draw and that can help her take another step forward.
Tough Shaz was a beaten favourite when runner-up on debut in the heats but she will be improved by the experience and is drawn to get a nice trail.
NSW Derby hero Better Be The Best is drawn win the Gold Chalice Final while last season's star filly Major Delight can brush off the fresh defeat to land the Gold Bracelet Final.
The trotting mares are in the spotlight at Melton on Saturday night where two pin-up girls are set to battle out the Group 1 Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters Free For All.
Queen Elida relished coming back to her own sex when winning the G3 La Coocaracha here a fortnight ago.
That was her first outing since a fourth in the Great Southern Star and she owns an impressive strike rate at this circuit so has strong claims again.
Im Ready Jet has been strong when placed in G1 races against the boys at her last two, drawing wide when third in the Trotters Mile in Sydney after a 2m second in the Grand Prix.
She won her only try at this distance and is a big threat from the low draw.
Sleepee has ground to make up on Queen Elida through the last-start third but is well drawn and was a strong winner of a G2 here two back.
BEST BETS:
Menangle Friday Race 2 #1 Emmas Boy @ $5.00 – won well at his Australian debut then was brave after racing deep last week. He'll get better favours from the ace draw.
Bathurst Saturday Race 4 #9 Sicario @ $2.60 – In form having won three of his last four. Drawn to get a trail and with the sprint lane at his disposal looks hard to hold out.
