The Valley is currently rated a Good 4 for Cox Plate day, with the rail in the true position.
With light showers forecast for Friday and Saturday in Melbourne, there is a chance that the track could start in the Soft range.
Expect the track to play fair and allow all runners their chance.
Below are three of Mark's top selections for Saturday's meeting at The Valley.
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Plenty of speed here with Sartorial Splendor, Hearty Lass. Three Beans and Viking Warrior all vying for the front.
Condo’s Express has the right form for this race and is two from two at the Valley.
Expect him to sit mid-field in the running, and with the addition of blinkers and the booking of Damien Oliver, he should get the run of the race.
Lucifer’s Reward will also be mid-field and can trail Condo’s Express into the race. He's a winner at The Valley and looks ready to peak.
Three Beans will be up front bowling away. He will give them something to catch and can fill a place.
1st Condo’s Express
2nd Lucifer’s Reward
3rd Three Beans
Gailo Chop, Dreamforce and Cliff’s Edge will set the speed here, with Rox The Castle likely to sit just off them.
Gailo Chop looks to be back to his best. He only finished 2.1 lengths off Cape of Good Hope in the Caulfield Stakes last start, which is good form for this.
He only knows one way and that is to lead and kick on strongly. He's the class runner of this field and should prove too smart.
Dreamforce has been in incredible form this preparation. It'll pay to forgive his last start failure against the top line gallopers in the Group One Epsom Handicap. He can bounce back here.
Sikandarabad is racing without luck. They'll go hard in front and I expect him to be flying into a place late.
1st Gailo Chop
2nd Dreamforce
3rd Sikandarabad
Plenty of speed in this year's Cox Plate, with Harlem and Magic Wand set to take up the running. Homesman and Mystic Journey will sit behind them.
The Japanese runner, Lys Gracieux, looks a class above these. She's amassed over $8 million in prize money and is in superb form, coming off a dominant Group One win.
She's a versatile galloper who can sit on-speed and has enormous acceleration. I expect Damian Lane to hit the go button at the 300m mark and be far too good.
Cape of Good Hope is underrated and looks value at the $15. She looked sensational beating an in form Black Heart Bart last start and is capable of a huge run.
Castelvecchio is a major player from the soft draw in barrier four and only 48.5kg on his back. He possesses a good turn of foot and a bold showing wouldn't surprise.
Black Heart Bart is a must include for first four punters. His owners paid the six-figure late entry fee to be here, which suggests he's going as well as ever.
1st Lys Gracieux
2nd Cape Of Good Hope
3rd Castelvecchio