Everest winner Think About It is the odds on favourite, and well he might be given he has now won 11 of his 12 career starts, including the last nine of them in a row. He was only second-up into The Everest, so should still have plenty in the tank, and it’s arguable that 1300m suits him even more than 1200m does.

Think About It had ever favour in The Everest, and was good enough to take advantage of it, while Private Eye endured a tougher run but will still there swinging at the end to be beaten three-quarters of a length.

Private Eye was also second-up there, having won The Shorts in dynamic fashion first-up. He won this race last year, and is going as well as ever. He will jump from barrier five, while Think About It has three, and with a kinder run against his stablemate could very well turn the tables.

Bella Nipotina wouldn’t have been out of place in The Everest, and her Sydney Stakes run on the same day was superb after getting so far back from a horror draw. She’s probably half a level below the absolute top shelf, but if the rain comes in waves she’ll relish it more than most.

Mazu finished 11^th in The Everest, but was the only horse in the race that was genuinely unlucky. He got completely chopped out at a key stage, so never came into the race. That said, it’s hard to see him beating the two favourites, but he might be a value place bet.

Selections: 1.Private Eye 2.Think About It 3.Bella Nipotina 4.Mazu