The day has finally arrived. The day when the current classic crop of marathon turfers put their credentials on the line in the quest to find the rightful heir to the crown of past winners and champions, Horseshoe Bay and Sunnybank Memorial. Can a horse in this field emerge from the shadow cast by those two greats of recent years, and go on and create their own legend. Fourteen runners have congregated from the four corners of the globe to lay claim to the being the best of their generation over the classic distance. Let\u2019s study the pretenders to the throne in race-card order. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Current owner morrighan<\/EM> picked this one up at auction after his owner-breeder decided to wash his hands of the colt after a disappointing debut. A change of surface was all that was needed for the colt to show his true colors and he has subsequently gone on to win two stakes races. He was soundly beaten by Skills In Magic<\/STRONG> on his first run this year and would need to improve for the extra distance to turn that form around. I wouldn\u2019t say that was an\u00a0impossibility as he has a relaxed racing style but the odds are against him. As a footnote he would be his sire\u2019s first graded winner in the sim if he were successful. \u00a0 \u00a0 By Sadler\u2019s Wells out of a Blushing Groom mare, this guy will see out the trip and then some. The big question is at what pace? He looked well held in his Derby prep by El Fredo and he seemed to lack a change of gear when it mattered that day. Definitely on the upgrade but this race may have come a little too soon in his development. \u00a0 \u00a0 The first foal of dam Deputy Flanders who connections picked up in a claim for $75k. That is now looking like fantastic business; especially with an unbeaten younger sister by freshman sire North Light. He comes into the race with an almost perfect race-record, 5 wins from 6 runs including 3 Grade 1 wins in his last 3 races. If prizes were awarded at the beginning of the race he would be most peoples pick to finish top of the heap, however his last race showed him to be far from invincible. A neck victory over fellow rival Good To Be King<\/STRONG> was far from impressive and the sceptics are wondering if this son of miler Rock Of Gibraltar has the necessary stamina to see out the 12 furlongs. I have my doubts. He comes into the race with a similar profile to last years runner-up Jupiter\u2019s Moons who found one too good on the day and I feel that something in this field will outstay him on the run to the line. Place claims. \u00a0 \u00a0 By Rahy out of a Nijinsky mare, the omens are good although with Mr. Prospector on the back-end of his pedigree it throws up some doubts. The pedigree says 9-10 furlongs will be his optimum trip and his race-record seems to back up that prognosis. In his last race over 11 furlongs he was in front of rival Dragnipur<\/STRONG> until losing out to that horse for 2nd<\/SUP> in the final furlong. He certainly has talent but I doubt if that talent will be realized over Saturday\u2019s distance. \u00a0 \u00a0 The 2nd<\/SUP> foal of a mare that only had the one run, in a Grade 2 race no less, where she finished last and was subsequently retired?! Her son is compiling an impressive resume with 6 wins from 11 starts including a Grade 1 success over 9.5 furlongs. He races like a horse that will appreciate the distance and his breeding also backs up that assumption. For my money, the one to beat. \u00a0 \u00a0 A son of Elusive Quality who looks as comfortable on dirt as he does on the grass. His chance depends on how you view his two most recent runs. A staying-on 3rd<\/SUP> behind Skills of Magic<\/STRONG> in his penultimate run gave encouragement that he might stay 12 furlongs, however in his most recent run he surrendered tamely when principals Creepshow<\/STRONG> and Good To Be King<\/STRONG> settled down to fight out the finish. Elusive Quality is generally not known for siring horses that get 12 furlongs so my feeling is that 9 furlongs will turn out to be his optimum trip. \u00a0 \u00a0 Top-notch miler who prevailed by a half-length at the Equinics and has subsequently gone on to secure a G3 race over 9 furlongs. History teaches us that a horse with so much speed is unlikely to be able to last out against much stouter-bred animals and although he is by High Chaparral, it seems the Mr. Prospector influence through Conquistador Cielo is the over-riding factor in his pedigree. More than likely will hit the wall at 10 furlongs. \u00a0 \u00a0 From the same connections as favorite Creepshow<\/STRONG>, this guy is out of a mare that was bred by Kingab<\/EM>. How he must be ruing his decision to sell off the mare when she was a juvenile. Still it happens to the best of us, in real-life the Queen sold off Height of Fashion to the Dubai Sheikhs only to see her go on and produce champions, Unfuwain, Nashwan and Nayef! But I digress. Run And Hide has a similar race-record to his more illustrious stable-mate Creepshow<\/STRONG> in that he has only once tasted defeat. I was personally amazed that a son of Silver Ghost was able to add a graded race over 11 furlongs to his resume but I do have my doubts over the quality of opposition he faced that day. He still has to put up some eye-popping numbers for me to become a fan and with only 4 runs under his belt, it\u2019s possible the occasion may get to him. His career to date smacks more of excellent race-placement. \u00a0 \u00a0 As a quirk of fate this guy is the first foal of stakes-winning mare Aasifah who was bred by owner Galileo<\/EM>. That owner has two runners in the race with Dragnipur<\/STRONG> and Lex Luthor<\/STRONG>. You can bet your bottom dollar he won\u2019t be too happy if this one wins! Aasifah\u2019s son was a perfect 3\/3 before contesting the Sydney Trial<\/EM> but he was unable to keep tabs on the two that finished in front of him that day. I would be a little surprised if he was able to turn the form around and he will probably be contesting the minor places on the run to the line. \u00a01<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 102570<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> CANDLEPOWER(IRE) <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> morrighan <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> S Smelt <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 15\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/SPAN><\/P> 2<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 79198<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> DRAGNIPUR <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> dormello <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> R Owen <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 14\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/SPAN><\/P> 3<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 61893<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> CREEPSHOW(IRE) <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> lenny28 <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> P Bangs <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 7\/2<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/SPAN><\/P> 4<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 106437<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> SKY HERO <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> lostcode <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> T Kirkland <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 8\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P> 5<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 99438<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> SKILLS IN MAGIC <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> peeps9 <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> L Fontain <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 7\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P> 6<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 98287<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> COMISKEY <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> eomer <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> C Walker <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 12\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/SPAN><\/P> 7<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 19538<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> CORTEZ(IRE) <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> slipknot22 <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> O U Nog <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 6\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P> 8<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 110677<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> RUN AND HIDE <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> lenny3 <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> L Fain <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 20\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P> 9<\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> 78929<\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> THE UNDERSTUDY(IRE) <\/FONT><\/B><\/TD> sykesy <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> A Berg <\/FONT><\/U><\/A><\/TD> 9\/1<\/FONT><\/TD><\/TR><\/TBODY><\/TABLE><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P>