5:40am - Quayclean Zipping Classic | 2400m | Group 2 | i

There is plenty of depth in this field despite it's small size. Not much tempo though, THE TAJ MAHAL rolling forward with DAL HARRAILD and VENTURA STORM not too far away. Expect them to set a STEADY tempo before rolling for a LONG SPRINT home, which seems to suit the favourite THE TAJ MAHAL. He employed those tactics winning this race convincingly last year and will be very hard to beat again. VENTURA STORM beat a few of these (including an unlucky THE TAJ MAHAL) in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup two starts ago and simply didn't stay the two miles of the Melbourne Cup after travelling well into the race 400m out. LIBRAN (deep in prep now) and DAL HARRAILD (wasn't reliable in UK) have some form that put them in the mix if they can hold their mark. Perhaps the best knock-out is OUR LIBRETTO up to 2400m for the first time, a promising stayer that takes on some quality types here. WHO SHOT THEBARMAN capable, but he was poor in the Cup. [updated 8:05am]