Rain Affair can expect some worthy Expressway opposition from Chris Waller's trio of Group One winners as he attempts to establish himself in top echelon.
Black Caviar will be the shortest-priced favourite in Australia on Saturday but Rain Affair won't be far behind.
Just as punters will not entertain the thought that the world's best sprinter can be beaten in the Orr Stakes at Caulfield, Rain Affair has a stranglehold on Expressway Stakes betting at Rosehill.
TAB Sportsbet had the champion mare at $1.04 on Friday while Rain Affair was at $1.65 for his assignment.
The winner of eight of his nine starts, Rain Affair is taking on the strongest field of his career so far including a hardy trio from the Chris Waller stable.
Danleigh, Rangirangdoo and Shoot Out are all proven Group One performers but there are a few questions in their trainer's mind.
Waller admits the injury-prone Rangirangdoo is a day-by-day proposition, Danleigh is getting on in years but can still deliver while he is still learning about Shoot Out and is not sure what to expect.
The 2010 AJC Australian Derby winner when in the care of John Wallace at the Gold Coast, Shoot Out is having his first start for Waller.
"We have taken a soft approach with him," Waller said.
"I expect him to improve on whatever he does on Saturday.
"All three should hit their peaks at their third run back."
While Waller is conservative about Shoot Out, jockey Hugh Bowman believes his class will take him a long way.
Bowman has ridden Shoot Out in his two barrier trials and at trackwork.
"He has got a magnificent action and he likes rain-affected ground," he said.
"He gives me a fantastic feel and has got a classy record over 1200 and 2400 metres.
"He could give a very forward showing."
At $7.50 on Friday, Shoot Out was the second elect and shortest of the Waller trio with Rangirangdoo at $14 and Danleigh at $21.
But the trainer thinks punters might be off the mark with Danleigh who is a four-time Group One winner.
"He is the more forward of the three and he is just really tough," Waller said.
One of the big queries with Danleigh is the track rating which was still in his preferred slow range on Friday.
The eight-year-old has won five of his seven starts on slow ground and been placed in the other two but when it gets to heavy his record crumbles to one second from six attempts.
Rangirangdoo won the Expressway on his way to victory in the Doncaster two years ago but his injury history means Waller remains cautious with him.
The quality of the field hasn't dented the confidence of Rain Affair's trainer Joe Pride although he believes he is under the odds against such Group One winners as the Waller three and his stablemate Sacred Choice.
But it seems just a matter of time before Rain Affair has a Group One success and Pride is hoping it is in the Newmarket Handicap next month.
