The time honoured Sydney Cup first run in 1866 has arguably assembled one of, if not the strongest two mile field for the race in the last 50 years.

A unique first for the Sydney Cup was the acceptance of the first three placegetters home in the 2014 Melbourne Cup, Protectionist, Red Cadeaux and Who Shot The Barman, however the prospect of a wet track has caused connections of Red Cadeaux to tackle the Queen Elizabeth Stakes instead.

Despite his absence the race still boasts a quality line up headed in the betting by the former UK galloper Hartnell now trained by John O’Shea for Godolphin.

Since coming to Australia, Hartnell has gone to another level Timeform ratings wise, which is not entirely unexpected considering some of the collateral form lines around his three-year-old season last year.

Previously prepared by Mark Johnston, Hartnell had excellent form in the UK winning the Queen’s Vase (3218m) at Royal Ascot defeating the promising Century then taking out the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket defeating Windshear.

It is worth noting that the Queens Vase had been previously won by Leading Light and Estimate both gallopers going on to take the Ascot Gold Cup the following season.

Hartnell has started three times since joining O’Shea winning twice.

Fresh up Hartnell was runner up to stable mate Contributer in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) many believing with a clear passage he may have even troubled the winner.

Then O’Shea stepped him up to 2000m in the Sky High Stakes, this time Hartnell making no mistake winning easily from Metropolitan winner Opinion, however the best was yet to come.

Last time out he took on the group one BMW (2400m) at weight for age and proved too good for last season’s champion Japanese three-year-old To The World.

Today Hartnell tumbles five and a half kilos under the handicap conditions of the Sydney Cup and to say he has beaten the Handicapper is an understatement.

On Timeform weight adjusted ratings, the race is Hartnell’s to lose – he has six pounds in hand on his nearest rival.

In fact it is hard to find any negative for Hartnell who has already proven he can run a strong 3200 and is already a three time winner on rain affected ground.

With Godolphin retained rider James McDonald unable to make Hartnell’s 52kg handicap weight, Tommy Berry who will be chasing back to back Sydney Cup wins (successful last year atop another former UK galloper The Offer) will deputise.

2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist now with Kris Lees finally gets to a distance that should allow him to regain his Cup winning 128 Timeform rating – a figure he must reach to have any chance at the weights with Hartnell.

Protectionist has been taken along quietly this campaign resuming in the Peter Young Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield finishing sixth then tackling the Australian Cup (2000m) where he finished eighth but not far from the winner Spillway.

Both those races were over unsuitable distances and Protectionist ran similar Timeform ratings over the same distances in Germany.

Last start he improved his Timeform rating considerably in the G1 BMW getting out to 2400m for the first time this campaign finishing fifth just under three lengths from Hartnell.

This afternoon Protectionist gets to his preferred distance and the signs are looking positive that he will return to his best form.

If successful Protectionist will become just the third horse in the last 50 years to win the Melbourne – Sydney Cup double in the same season joining two great stayers in Makybe Diva (2003/4) and Galilee (1966/7).

A win by Protectionist would also give youthful trainer Kris Less a second Sydney Cup win, County Tyrone in 2006 being his first.

Another galloper looking for the 3200m is 2014 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Who Shot Thebarman.

Transferred to Chris Waller at the start of his spring campaign that saw him eventually run a gallant third in the Melbourne Cup behind Protectionist after winning the Bart Cummings Stakes (2500m) at Flemington, Who Shot Thebarman has again been given a perfect preparation for today’s assignment.

After three very good runs all at weight for age, Who Shot Thebarman drops back to more favourable handicap conditions and drops four and a half kilos in handicap weight.

On Timeform weight adjusted ratings there is nothing between him and Protectionist on their Melbourne Cup match up and with Blake Shinn taking the reins for the first time he looks set to race very well. However like Protectionist he has around six pounds to find if Hartnell reproduces his BMW Timeform rating.

Trainer Chris Waller will be shooting for a rare double with Who Shot Thebarman. After winning Monday’s Doncaster Handicap with Kermadec, Waller will join a select group of trainers to have trained the double in the same season.

In the last 50 years only two trainers have achieved the feat - Tommy Smith in 1980 took the double with Iko and Kingston Town and daughter Gai Waterhouse in 1997 with Secret Savings and Linesman.

The unknown in the field is the John Moore trained former Hong Kong based Dominant who has been sent over to contest some of the longer staying races in Australia.

Originally trained in the UK, Dominant has enjoyed success in Hong Kong under Moore’s care, especially over staying distances winning races like the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) in 2012 and 2013 as well as the International G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

Dominant has raced once since coming to Australia for a handy fifth behind Contributer in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) finding the distance too short, but making ground steadily in the closing stages.

Today will be his first attempt at 3200m but like the others in the race he will also need to improve on what he has shown to date to trouble Hartnell.

Enjoy an intriguing Sydney Cup.