A massive European challenge this year is headed at the weights by Big Orange, who ran a superb race a year ago when rated 116 and is only 1lb higher despite his two Group 2 victories in the summer. He was a long way behind Exospheric in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in April but had just returned from a spell in Dubai. The winner is now with the Freedman's, who know about winning this race, and made an eye-catching debut in the 1m4f Caulfield Cup behind Jameeka. The winner gets a 4lb penalty and is yet to prove herself at anywhere near this trip and was well beaten by today's likely favourite, Godolphin's Hartnell, in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 1m2f here a month ago. The winner landed the Queen's Vase for Mark Johnston in 2014 so will have no problems stepping up in trip. Godolphin haven't had much luck in the race but are mob-handed this time and Charlie Appleby's runners have been carrying all before them in Australia. Qewy has just 2lb extra for his victory at Geelong where he had stable companion OCEANOGRAPHER a length behind but the latter came here on Saturday and landed the Group 3 Lexus Handicap and with just 3lb extra to contend with must have a fine chance of taking this for his owners. Kerrin McEvoy, who rode the latter on Saturday, takes the ride on Almandin, a lightly-raced six-year-old and on the upgrade judging by his victory in the Group 3 Bart Cummings here last time. Irish raiders Heartbreak City and Wicklow Brave are both perfectly capable of getting into the action though have been handed terrible draws but compatriot Bondi Beach should have no problems from his inside berth and has been trained with the race in mind after last year's fine run when an immature three-year-old. Japanese raider Curren Mirotic hasn't won for a very long time but this is his trip as he showed when beaten a nose in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at Kyoto in May.
Big Orange 11-4fav (9-8) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on gamely, driven out, won at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul beating Pallasator (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Our Ivanhowe (EG) (8-12) 6th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Jameka (8-3) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Curren Mirotic (JPN) (8-11) 9th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Gold Actor (8-12) at Nakayama 1m 3f (1) fm in Sep.
Bondi Beach (IRE) 7-1 (9-12) Held up in rear, 5th halfway, pushed along and not clear run on inner in 4th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Zhukova (9-9) at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Exospheric (8-10) 3rd of 16, 3 3/4l behind Jameka (8-3) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Hartnell 4-1 (9-4) 2nd of 10, 8l behind Winx (8-13) at Moonee Valley 1m 2f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) 17-5 (9-0) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Grand Marshal (9-2) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f gs in Oct.
Wicklow Brave 11-1 (9-11) Soon led, driven 2f out, ridden to try and assert over 1f out, kept on best final furlong, reduced advantage closing stages, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) Yielding in Sep beating Order Of St George (9-11) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Almoonqith (USA) (8-7) 4th of 16, 4 1/4l behind Jameka (8-3) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Gallante (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Grand Marshal (9-2) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f gs in Oct.
Grand Marshal (AUS) 18-1 (9-2) won at Moonee Valley 1m 4f gs in Oct beating Who Shot Thebarman (9-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Jameka (AUS) (8-3) won at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Scottish (8-9) by 3l, 16 ran.
Heartbreak City (FR) 15-2 (9-6) Held up in touch, led over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gd in Aug beating Shrewd (9-3) by 4l, 20 ran.
Sir John Hawkwood (IRE) (8-5) 10th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Jameka (8-3) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Excess Knowledge (8-11) 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Grand Marshal (9-2) at Moonee Valley 1m 4f gs in Oct.
Beautiful Romance 13-2 (9-10) Tracked winner, pushed along 3f out,ridden 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Journey (9-8) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gf in Sep.
Almandin (GER) (8-9) won at Flemington 1m 5f Grp 3 hcp gd in Oct beating Zanteca (8-7) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Assign (AUS) (8-5) won at Caulfield 1m 4f stks (1) gd in Oct beating Big Memory (8-5) by shd, 6 ran.
Grey Lion (IRE) (8-9) 2nd of 8, nk behind Qewy (8-7) at Geelong 1m 4f (1) gd in Oct.
Oceanographer (8-7) won at Flemington 1m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Tom Melbourne (8-8) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Secret Number 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, led over 2f out, kept on well, won at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Sep beating Motdaw (8-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Pentathlon (NZ) (8-9) 7th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Oceanographer (8-7) at Flemington 1m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Qewy (IRE) 3-1 (8-7) won at Geelong 1m 4f (1) gd in Oct beating Grey Lion (8-9) by nk, 8 ran.
Rose Of Virginia (AUS) (8-7) 11th of 12, 15 1/4l behind Oceanographer (8-7) at Flemington 1m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
