LONGING TIME (8) is the top pick on the strength of a very solid overall profile, with nine wins from 30 starts and an outstanding record at this track. His two runs this campaign over 1600m have been plain on paper, but he is unbeaten from his only attempt around 1400m and the return to that distance looks a clear positive. HARLEM SHUFFLE (9) has the sharper recent form, winning a C1 by a nose two back before running third behind Pepita D'Oro, and he also beat Perseids in their latest clash. PERSEIDS (3) was below market expectations when fourth last start, yet his prior win over Cosmo Traumer was decisive and his track-and-distance record is strong enough to keep him right in the race. RHEIN FORTE (14) comes through a heavy first-up defeat at Sapporo Dirt, but he drops from ALLOW company and his distance record gives him a genuine platform to improve sharply second-up.