1. EMPEROR (Matthew Dunn): Highly promising galloper which has four wins to his name from 12 starts and comes into this on the back of a last start second at Eagle Farm. He's a city winner over shorter distances and has the advantage of gate one here which should give him every chance to run out the trip. He's one of the leading contenders.

2. Olakau'Atu (Brett Dodson): Talented type which also has four wins from his 15 starts. Did the job well to score at Coffs Harbour before heading for a spell then resumed with a close-up second at that track before failing at Eagle Farm last time out. Has the ability to give this a shake and is drawn well.

3. Imperial Hilton (Brett Bellamy): Former Victorian and has only had the one run since joining the new stable. That resulted in a down the track effort at Coffs Harbour and his form before that was only average. Would need a sharp improvement in order to be a chance of beating these.

4. Rainbow Connection (Matthew Dunn): Another member of the Dunn stable and has a sense of timing about him. Improved on a first-up ninth at Doomben to score a victory at Ipswich when justified an odds-on quote. Since raced on the speed and fought on to be beaten less than a length when finishing third at Eagle Farm. Has a wide alley to contend with but is a versatile type and expect him to be in the thick of things at the business end.

5. Tribeca Star (Matthew Dunn): The third of the strong team of Dunn runners and he is another that has been set to make an impact in this race. Powered home to win at Rosehill back in November and then was just behind the placings in runs at Kembla Grange and Eagle Farm. Since hit the line well again to finish second at Eagle Farm and has been kept up to the mark for this with a Murwillumbah trial win. With any luck at all he should take a power of beating.

6. Fukubana (Matthew Dunn): Lightly raced with just the four starts to his name and Dunn has him primed to run well if he takes his place on the quick back-up from a win at Doomben last weekend. Is untested over this distance but all indications are that he should handle it.

7. Al Ash Lad (Matthew Dunn): Strung together a couple of straight wins last August and September when scoring at Murwillumbah and then in Highway grade at Rosehill when led throughout and held on well. Has disappointed in both runs back from a spell but has the speed to take up a prominent position in this and a forward showing would not surprise.

8. Belvedere Boys (Matthew Dunn): On the quick back-up for Dunn after hitting the line well to finish fourth in a Highway at Randwick last weekend. He was a strong finishing winner at Doomben before that when resuming from a spell. Is a winner of two of just the five starts and has plenty of upside. Needs luck from the wide draw but has the talent to figure prominently.

9. Swift Charm (Brett Dodson): Is only lightly raced for a six-year-old with three wins to his name from 11 starts. Has contested Highways in the city and has been placed in three of them so there's no denying his talent. Has finished second in his latest two starts at Rosehill and Randwick and is far from the worst in this.

10. Nickelback (Stephen Lee): Has only won two of his 19 starts but has had a further 10 placings and has shown plenty of talent throughout his career. Has had two runs back from a spell and improved on the resuming ninth at Eagle Farm when finishing fifth at Grafton last time out. Will need everything to go his way up against some handy opposition in this but he is far from the worst.

11. Tectonic Plate (Daniel Bowen): Highly talented mare with four wins from just the 10 starts. She's hit her straps again of late with victories at Ballina and Grafton at her latest two runs. Is a versatile type and can race on the speed of sit just off them. Looms as one of the hardest to beat.

12. Veandechance (Matthew Dunn): Has shown plenty of ability in her career which started with a Canterbury placing before scoring a win at that track at just her second start. Was a long time between wins when broke through for her second victory when scoring at Doomben last November. Has since finished midfield at Randwick and been just behind the placings in strong company at the Gold Coast. Has a horror barrier draw but is capable on her day and is worth including among the main chances.

13. Fairway Choice (David Mccolm): Talented mare with three wins to her name from just four starts. Won on debut in good style at Murwillumbah then was midfield at Doomben before bouncing back to score at Grafton. Won a trial leading into resuming effort and that resulted in another win when hit the line well at Eagle Farm. Stablemate of Far Too Easy and is on the rise. One of the top chances.

14. Moskeeta (Cathleen Rode): Resumed from a lengthy layoff with a couple of down the track performances at Coffs Harbour before showing sharp improvement to score a win at Grafton when double figure odds. Since started at massive odds and ran accordingly when safely held at Doomben. Would need to improve in order to be a chance of bothering these.

15E. Oceans Of Energy (SCRATCHED).

16E. BOW (Donna Grisedale): Was safely held in a couple runs before being spelled and since resuming he's failed to figure in the placings from three runs back. Latest effort was solid enough when finishing fourth but would need to improve on that even more in order to be a chance of being competitive against these.

17E. Imprinted (Lyn Thomson): Hit the line well to score a win at good odds when resuming from a spell at Coffs Harbour. Followed that up with a solid Grafton placing before scoring again when taken back to Coffs Harbour. Only run since then was a fourth behind Tectonic Plate at Grafton and that form looks good enough for him to be rated a place chance.

18E. Mychyna (Ethan Ensby): Form had been disappointing in four runs either side of a spell before showing vast improvement to score a win at Ballina last time out when she led throughout. Drawn wide here and will need everything to go her way if she's to figure.

19E. Noble Missile  (J L Fletcher): Best run at the end of his last campaign was three starts ago when finishing second to Agirlsbestfriend at Coffs Harbour. Down the track in Highway grade after that and missed a place at Coffs Harbour before being spelled. Resumes here and needs to improve.

20E. Scotland (Noel Mayfield-Smith): Made it three wins in a row at Coffs Harbour when hitting the line well to score there two starts ago. Since went to Newcastle and was far from disgraced when finishing fourth behind General Soho. Is showing ability and could sneak into the placings if he can sneak into the field.

SPEED MAP: Al Ash Lad has the speed to take up a forward position from a good gate, while Tectonic Plate can also be expected to take up a prominent spot from an awkward alley. Emperor can settle handy to the speed from the inside draw and Rainbow Connection will need luck to slot in somewhere just off the pace.

SELECTIONS:
4 RAINBOW CONNECTION
1 Emperor
13 Fairway Choice
5 Tribeca Star