Reiby The Red is another who likes to race forward so there could be some early pressure for the lead. Nothin’ Like Harry, Willi Willi, Sin To Win, Dyrham Park and Mr Fergus should be jostling for early positions as they all like to settle close in the run. Genuine pace will suit Wheal Leisure’s run on style.

CUP TIP: The Lindsay Park team have a great record in this race and have another excellent chance with the former New Zealander Sin To Win who has never finished worse than fourth in eight Australian starts over distances from 1400m to 2800m. Recorded strong wins in good company in the spring and is ready to peak again after his two lead-up runs over 1400m and 1800m at Flemington since resuming. 

The 8-kilogram weight advantage over the classy topweight Supply And Demand could make all the difference in the last 200m. Wheal Leisure has quality form in Group races and is another ready to hit form third up. Survived, Willi Willi and Pittsburgh should be included in extended exotic bets.

CUP TRIFECTA ($50 Flexi for %52.08): 1/3/4; 12/3/4/7; 1/2/3/4/5/7/9/10/13/14.

Here are my thoughts on the field. 

SUPPLY AND DEMAND (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott): Classy gelding is deserving of his big weight in this field as his record of seven wins includes four successive victories last winter that ended in July with wins in the Caloundra Cup (2400m) and Grafton Cup (2350m). Hasn’t won in eight starts since resuming in October but has been placed five times including a second in the Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 24 before his last start when outclassed under WFA conditions in the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. Favoured when he can dictate the speed and goes even better when the tracks are soft. As the weights indicate he rates above this field on his best form.

SURVIVED (Archie Alexander): The 8YO veteran of the field will have plenty of admirers who recall his excellent fourth against a much stronger field in this race last year on a heavy track. He went on to win the Mt Gambier Cup (2400m) in South Australia for a second time in May and remarkably claimed that race for a third time when it was run on a new date in December. Should be all the better for his last start when fourth under 60kg in the Edenhope Cup (2000m) on March 10. Loves it wet and is well treated on the limit as he has not carried less than 57.5kg in his last 10 starts.

WHEAL LEISURE (Archie Alexander): Talented 4YO mare and stablemate of Survived looks ready to hit form after two sound efforts since resuming in good Melbourne fields over 1400m at Caulfield and 1800m at Flemington. Rates highly on her light spring campaign of just four starts when she won successive races over 1600m and at Bendigo and Caulfield in the $250,000 Inglis Cup (2000m) before fifth in G3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and third in G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington behind quality stayers Vengeur Masque and Grey Lion. Demands high respect on those efforts.

SIN TO WIN (David Hayes/Ben Hayes/Tom Dabernig): The Lindsay Park team have a great record in this race and have selected another ideal contender in this former New Zealander who has never finished worse than fourth in eight Australian starts over distances from 1400m to 2800m. Beat strong fields with back-to-back wins over 2025m and 2400m at Mornington and Caulfield in the spring and looks ready to strike that form again after strong efforts over 1400m and 1800m at Flemington since resuming last month. Another who can exploit the big weight advantage over the topweight.

WILLI WILLI (Craig Widdison): Wodonga-trained 4YO has had all but one of his 11 career starts in Melbourne over the last 12 months and has done well to win four times over distances from 1300m to 1800m at Sandown, Bendigo and Flemington twice. Has not had the best of luck in his two recent starts over 2000m at Caulfield and 1900m at Flemington since he won a BM84 over 1800m at Flemington in January and will be no surprise to see him improve sharply on those efforts as he holds more scope for improvement than many rivals.

BRAZEN (Brett Cavanough): Albury’s former leading trainer returns home with a bold attempt to win his second Albury Cup as he is starting this 5YO gelding over the testing 2000m second up from a spell on a quick back-up from running sixth, beaten almost three lengths, in last Sunday’s Albury Mile (1600m) won by Pittsburgh. Should not be taken lightly as his spring form included a win in the Dubbo Cup (1600m) and third in the Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) and had two trials before resuming last Sunday. Yet to win beyond 1800m but his 3YO form included close-up finishes in the G3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m), G3 Grand Prix (2200m) and G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) – excellent credentials for this company.

PITTSBURGH (Dan McCarthy): Wangaratta-trained 4YO taking connections on a great ride, rising from a maiden to open company in one prep since purchased out of a Sydney stable last year. Won his fourth race for McCarthy stable when he sliced through the field from last at the 400m to win last Sunday’s Albury Mile (1600m), beating Nagging to reverse the placings from their previous clash in the Corowa Cup (1600m) on March 10. Will be his first test beyond 1600m but is very fit and the Albury Mile form stood up well in this race last year. 

NAGGING (Mark Gee); Had 12 months off before resuming in January and was doing nothing exceptional until he recorded a shock win at 100/1 in the Corowa Cup (1600m) on March 10 when he rocketed to the line from the tail of the field to beat Pittsburgh. Proved it was no fluke when he again finished strongly for second to Pittsburgh in last Sunday’s Albury Mile (1600m) in a reversal of the Corowa Cup finish. This will be the first time in 26 starts that he has been tested beyond 1600m and Pittsburgh meets him on better weight terms for beating him last Sunday but is going well enough to be rated a place chance.

REIBY THE RED (Jason Attard): Hawkesbury-trained gelding has won only three races in 35 starts but a very consistent Sydney performer with 13 minor placings in good company with the majority in the 1600m range. However he has won over 2000m at Hawkesbury and seems to be going as well as ever with two placings over 1500m at Canterbury and 1600m at Warwick Farm in four starts since resuming in January. Usually goes forward in his races, capable of claiming a share of the minor prizemoney.

SHAQ (Brent Stanley): Consistent 4YO continues to improve with three wins from his last five starts in Victoria. Rebounded from a luckless run at over 2030m at Moonee Valley to find the line strongly under 58kg to score over 1800m at Sandown on March 14 in BM64 company. Faces sterner test here with the rise to open company but hard to knock winning form. Value place chance.

DYRHAM PARK (Dave Heywood):  Has raced twice from a spell, finishing well back first-up over 1200m at Canberra before he was blocked for a run when running on for seventh over 1600m in the Corowa Cup (1600m) won by Nagging on March 10. Was going well in the spring when he won the Berrigan Cup (1600m) and has been placed once from three starts over 2000m. Has won third-up in the past but likely to find this a tough assignment.

OH SO UNFAIR (Mark Gee): Recorded first win in 15 months when running on strongly to beat last year’s Albury Cup placegetter Overdue in the Tom Patton Cup (1800m) at Wagga on March 4. His previous win was over 2000m at Wagga and there could be more improvement to come off his latest effort but ratings indicate he faces a tough task in this stronger company.

MR FERGUS (Craig Widdison): Promising 4YO has had just eight starts for three wins since December and holds considerable scope for improvement. Followed a Class-1 win over 1600m at this course with an easy win under 60kg at Sandown on February 7 when stepping up to 2100m. Had excuses last time out when running on from well back for fourth over 2000m at Flemington when reported to suffer heat stress. Can test his better-performed rivals.

NOTHIN’ LIKE HARRY (Gary Worsnop): Impressive 3YO showing immense potential but faces a huge challenge to take on this field at just fourth career start. Cruised home by almost four lengths for his maiden win over 1600m at Wagga before a dominant 2.5-lengths win over this course and distance last Sunday when carrying 57.5kg in C1 company. Exciting prospect but taking on this grade might have come a bit soon.

BRAY (Brett Cavanough): Has won three of his last start six starts including two at Scone and earned his chance in this race when he scored easily over 1600m at this course last Sunday in a much easier BM64 event, beating Willy White Socks. Yet to be tested beyond 1600m but he is a genuine improver ready to take another step. Has a big local following as he is raced by a group of prominent Albury identities.

WILLY WHITE SOCKS (Trevor Sutherland): Honest performer in easier races who showed nice return to form by running home late for strong second to Bray over 1600m at Albury last Sunday when having just his third run back from a break. Meets Bray 2kg better and has been placed in three of his six starts over 2000m. Fitter again but doubt he has the class to threaten this field.

BUTLER BUTLER (Norm Loy): Dual acceptor and would be better placed in the Adrian Ledger Memorial. Last outing could finish only sixth in the Corowa Cup (1600m) behind Nagging carrying 51kg. He has won up to 1800m and did score over 1400m in easier grade at this course last month but this looks too rich.

BEST BETS: Race 3: (5) VIGORISH: Very progressive Canberra-trained 3YO has two wins and three seconds from last five starts and can build on that record here. Stormed home to win over 1400m at Canberra two runs back then failed by a whisker in replicating the run last time over the same course and ease back from the wide gate and charge home off the hot tempo.

Race 5: (3) BRING A SECRET: Excellent last start at Canberra on Black Opal day when he shared the lead and just failed to hold on for a close fourth in the Listed National Sprint (1400m) when second up from a spell. Certain to be fitter and much better placed in this company with the drop back to a more suitable distance.

VALUE BET: Race 2. ROCKETS RED GLARE: Rated highly last start when he finished close up over 1000m at Bendigo after racing wide. Nicely placed in weights with handy advantage over main rivals.