Training 25 per cent of the field, John O'Shea is expected to figure prominently in the $175,000 Group II Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday, but has the market sorted them in the correct order?
Sportsbet has Impending ($4.40) marked the top hope of Godolphin's quartet with Astern ($7) next in line ahead of Telperion ($17) and Tessera ($41).
But Godolphin's retained hoop James McDonald has opted for Astern over Impending and O'Shea seems quietly confident that his number one jockey has made the right call.
"After riding him in his last trial James (McDonald) said he's come back a proper horse, strong, more mature, and he's displayed that in his work," O'Shea said.
"The barrier he's drawn is ideal to help him race the way we want him to, to relax and give himself every chance to finish off.
"This whole preparation, all his work at home and his trials, have been designed around getting him to switch off and to his credit he's been doing what he's been asked to do."
Brenton Avdulla, who has been taking every opportunity offered to him by Godolphin during McDonald's UK absence, has struck another gun mount with Impending.
"We didn't throw him (Impending) in the deep end last prep and I think it's stood him in good stead," O'Shea said.
"His two trials have been very good and he's continued to work well at home. Again, there's improvement to come and we're looking forward to a nice prep with him."
Telperion is the best weighted of O'Shea's four runners, coming into the race with a Group I placing and a Racing NSW benchmark rating of 88. Jason Collet has the mount.
"He's drawn the widest of the four but it shouldn't be a big problem because he likes to lob along in the back half," O'Shea said.
"He goes into the race in good order, he came back from his spell very well and he's another who will take good improvement from the run.
Tessera won his first two starts and was sent for a spell after finishing last in the Group II Todman Stakes (1200m) and resumes with Kathy O'Hara aboard.
"He's still carrying a bit of condition and will probably be the one that takes the most benefit from the run," O'Shea said.
"We've given him one trial and I was happy with that. From a good draw he can use his speed and should run well, although he will be better for the run."
Of the four colts, Astern and Impending have stood out at recent lead-up trials, Astern charging home to win a 1050m trial at Randwick on August 19 whilst Impending gunned down Famous Seamus in a 1000m trial at Warwick Farm on August 12.
McDonald was aboard on each occasion.
So has the market got it right?
Racenet's trial guru Clinton Payne believes it has.
"I really think this colt (Impending) is a star in the making," Payne wrote in Racenet's weekly newsletter.
"They don't trial any better than he has leading into this and gets weight relief off his serious opposition."
But I disagree.
The manner in which Astern attacked the line at his latest trial, the fact McDonald opted for him and selected Astern as his horse to follow through the spring, combined with the fact he's drawn perfectly in gate three, tells me the value rests with him.
Who will be right?
We will know just after 3.50pm on Saturday and bragging rights are on the line.
