All eyes turn to Flemington on Saturday, as Derby Day marks the start of the Melbourne Cup carnival and the home stretch of this year's Spring carnival.
The track is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail in the true position.
With 5-8mm of rain forecast to fall in Melbourne on Saturday, there is a chance of a minor downgrade to a Soft track.
Despite the chance of showers, punters should expect the track to play fair and give all runners their chance.
Mark tipped 4 winners and 3 place-getters on the Cox Plate card last Saturday. Below are three of his top selections for Flemington.
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Savatiano and Miss Siska will lead here, with Spanish Reef and Baccarat Baby to settle behind them.
Melody Belle is a multiple group one winner in New Zealand and she looks the testing material.
She has drawn wide in barrier 13, but that won’t worry her. Expect her to take a sit just off the fence and when the whips start cracking, she can make a sustained run from the 400m mark and prove too strong.
Spanish Reef (6) is an under-rated mare and has had four wins from six starts at the track. She will get the run of the race up front and is a clear second pick.
Princess Jenni (10) is a quality mare and should be forgiven for her Toorak Handicap run and assessed on her second-up performance. If she can sit mid-field in the run here, there is no reason she can't run a place.
1st Melody Belle
2nd Spanish Reef
3rd Princess Jenni
Plenty of speed engaged here with Bivouac, Cosmic Force, Cardiff and Sartorial Splendor all front runners.
Microphone (2) was a little plain first-up but loves the Flemington straight and from barrier two, he can lead or take a sit.
He'll be flying late and with even luck along the inside, he can get back in the winner’s circle.
Bivouac (3) was the unlucky runner in the Manikato Stakes. He has built a terrific record after beating the likes of Yes Yes Yes and Exceedance in previous runs.
He has an incredible turn of foot and will definitely be in the mix.
Exceedance (11) has been set for this race and is capable of running some incredible sectionals. The blinkers go on for the first-time, which could spark significant improvement.
1st Microphone
2nd Bivouac
3rd Exceedance
Thought Of That looks set to jump to the front and you can expect him to string them out.
Shadow Hero from barrier ten should be able to sit mid-field with cover.
Shadow Hero could not have been more impressive last start, beating Castelvecchio in the Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m at Randwick.
He is a big striding horse and the Flemington track should suit him. Look for him to take off after the leader 400m from home and charge over the top to win convincingly.
Warning (11) was impressive over the 1800m at Flemington, before he was forced to do all the hard work at Caulfield last start.
He will grow a leg stepping out to the 2500m here and is well suited back at headquarters.
The blinkers worked a treat for Soul Patch (2) last start. He proved far too good over the 2040m at the Valley.
The inside barrier doesn't suit his racing pattern, so he'll need some luck. He is a very strong place chance.
1st Shadow Hero (Best Bet)
2nd Warning
3rd Soul Patch
For more selections at Melbourne's Head Quarters of racing this Saturday go to the Flemington Tips market where hundreds of punters and media form experts post their tips and best bets.