John Thompson is content to rely on stable star Dreamforce to attempt to topple a four-pronged Apollo Stakes assault by champion trainer Chris Waller.
Waller has won four of the past five renewals of the Group Two sprint, three of them with Winx, and will unleash a quartet of his big guns in an attempt to continue his dominance.
Caulfield Cup winner Verry Elleegant will be joined in Saturday’s race by training partners Funstar, Kolding and Toffee Tongue.
With the exception of stayer Toffee Tongue, Waller’s contingent head early betting while Dreamforce is regarded as their main threat.
A Group One winner of the George Ryder Stakes last autumn, Dreamforce finished a narrow second to Alizee in the corresponding race 12 months ago and is a track and distance specialist.
The eight-year-old shaped well in two recent barrier trials and Thompson said the feedback from regular rider Nash Rawiller had been glowing.
“He (Rawiller) was very happy after the trial and he galloped him here on Tuesday on the Kensington track and said he’s going super,” Thompson said.
“We’ve had no problems with him this time, he’s happy and his trials have been very good.
“He is going well and he should run well.”
A field of 10 accepted for the Apollo Stakes (1400m) on Wednesday, although late nomination Mo’unga has also been paid up for the C S Hayes Stakes at Flemington.
Into The Abyss will line up for Thompson in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) after she was made fourth emergency for a benchmark race on Saturday’s program.
The mare has been kept fresh since finishing midfield in the Magic Millions fillies and mares race at the Gold Coast last month and was ridden out to win a recent trial in a deliberate ploy.
“She’s lazy. She goes well for strong riders but you’ve got to make her do it,” Thompson said.
“If you just sit on her, she will just go through the motions but if you make her go, she goes and that was evident in the trial.
“She’s got one of these races in her, whether it’s Saturday or not I don’t know.”
Thompson will be chasing back-to-back wins in the Triscay after claiming the race last year with Sweet Deal.
