Alligator Blood is the starting point, backing up from last week’s second in the Makybe Diva Stakes. He won this race last year, and has been chasing Mr Brightside at his first two starts this campaign – that horse is arguably the best horse in Australia right now, so getting within a length or so of him is just about the best form going around.

Without A Fight is the main danger, assuming he can replicate his feats from up in Queensland over winter. He was a very strong winner of the Lord Mayors Cup first-up over 1800m there, just as he is here, and then went on with it in the Q22 when he never looked like losing. If he is in the right condition, can get some cover from an awkward draw, and handles Caulfield in his first look at it, then he might just be the one to beat.

Tuvalu stood up as a Group 1 horse last spring, winning the Toorak Handicap and placing in the Rupert Clarke and Cantala – that latter performance saw him split Alligator Blood and Mr Brightside, which is super form. He has built his fitness in two very good runs and is ready to win now, but still has to prove himself beyond 1600m – stats say he has won at 1800m, but it was a three horse midweek winter race early in his career.

Attrition has been turning heads as an early four-year-old after placing in the Australian Guineas at three. He caught the eye first-up behind Mr Brightside in the Lawrence, and then was excellent again in the Feehan when splitting the winner Pinstriped and Tuvalu. Barrier 15 is going to make it very tough though.

Lindermann should be the leader here, with Alligator Blood camped right up there with him, and Tuvalu is rarely far away. They should set an even enough tempo for most horses to get their chance, but seldom does it pay to be too far away in the run at Caulfield, something which Mark Zahra on Without A Fight will know all too well.

Selections: 1.Without A Fight 2.Alligator Blood 3.Tuvalu 4.Attrition