By Dane Squance

The form horse of the $2m G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup with five wins from his last six starts, including black type victories at his last three, the relatively lightly raced Big Duke (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) looks the one if the 3200m poses no issues. Trained by Darren Weir, Big Duke’s two length win in the 2600m G2 Chairman H. last week has the 5-year-old ready to take up his biggest challenge and earn his first Group 1 victory.

With a trio of runners in the field, Chris Waller’s Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) is a Group 1 winner over the trip in the Auckland Cup as well as third and fifth in the G1 Melbourne Cup and second and fourth in the Sydney Cup, which gives jockey Blake Shinn an outstanding chance of capturing the staying contest. Of Waller’s other pair, Libran (Ire) {Lawman {Fr}) was second in the race 12 month prior, but was in a lot better form than this season, while Kinema (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is unlikely to get a track surface to suit. Group 1 performer Tally (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), the lone locally bred runner in the 14-horse field was successful last time out in the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) and while he may be slightly suspect at the trip, he looks capable of running a very good race here, as does Vengeur Masque (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) who finished second behind him at Mornington.

Charlie Appleby’s two international raiders for Godolphin create the most intrigue here. Penglai Pavilion (Monsun {Ger}), fifth in the 2013 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind Treve (Fr) {Motivator {GB}), was a winner two starts back over 3600m at Newmarket, and although his form of late suggests he is not up to this, it will be interesting to see his run. The other of the pair is bottom the weight Polarisation (GB) (Echo Of Light {GB}} whose form is slightly better, but the now 5-year-old has not really recaptured the form from his 3-year-old season, but with a good weight against the majority of the field, he does lend himself to an outside chance.