The time-honoured Geelong Cup, as always, will have ramifications for many horses attempting to earn their spot in the 2020 Melbourne Cup field.
A good field of stayers will be lining up in the feature race of the day but the entire card is truly outstanding.
Our full 2020 Geelong Cup Day Tips & Preview can be found below.
Reflect the Stars was doing her best work late when resuming over 1600m at Bendigo in tough conditions.
She finished within 2.6 lengths of the winner and will appreciate the sharp step up in distance for this assignment.
The $7.00 available at time of publish seems overs.
Serengeti has won just two of his 11 career race starts but he is a last start winner at the track distance.
I like the fact that he has been freshened for this assignment and that Ben Melham is retained for the ride after kicking him home last start.
The Astrologist has been a model of consistency having been placed in five of his seven career race starts to date.
He was placed in his last two runs last prep at Flemington and Caulfield and this is a considerable drop in grade.
The four year old gelding is being asked to lump the big eight but he simply has a class edge over most of these.
Bumper Blast has won four of his nine career race starts and is a horse with a fair amount of ability.
He is being asked to carry the big weight in this contest and will need one of Craig William’s best but he is worth a small each way bet.
Street Icon has not been far away in all four of her races so far this prep in a much tougher grade of racing than she contests here.
The lightly raced five year old mare does not win out of turn but she represents good value at her current quote.
Simply Invincible has returned three really nice effort since being transferred to the Moody stable this prep and she looks ready to peak at her fourth run now.
She has had one run at the 1500m for one win and although she has the top weight and tricky gate to contend with, she is going well enough to win a race of this quality.
Alcyone was a fair way off them in the Stutt Stakes at The Valley first up over 1600m before finishing eighth last start over 1800m in the Super Impose at Flemington.
He worked home well the the line in both races and the Teofilo colt will appreciate the step up to a more suitable distance for this assignment.
Skyward is a very progressive type of horse from Europe who has managed four wins from his seven career starts.
He comes to Australia off the back of a fourth placing in the Group 2 Prix Foy at Longchamp behind Anthony Van Dyck and Stradivarius where he was beaten by just 2.8 lengths.
That form is good enough for him to be winning a Geelong Cup and a penalty for winning would see him gain a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Xilong is a quality sprinting mare who has managed five wins and the minor placings from her 11 career race starts.
Her first up effort in the Northwood Plume at Caulfield was only fair but the form out of that race has been very strong.
This is a big drop in grade for her and if she can find a semblance of her best form, she will be tough to beat.
November Dreaming is a mare with a fair amount of ability and this looks a perfect way to kick start her campaign.
While this is short of her ideal distance, the daughter of Tavistock has been runner up from three first up attempts and on exposed form, she has a big class edge on the majority of this field.