Aussie champ LEAP TO FAME (6) shrugged off a couple of rare defeats to find winning form at Melton before crossing the Tasman. Has travelled successfully to New Zealand before, winning The Race at Cambridge in April and is proven at the standing start. Draws to push forward, pour on the pressure and make this a test of toughness. That should see him hard to beat. REPUBLICAN PARTY (5) has been the dominant force in the local lead ups, making it three straight with his last start Ashburton Flying Stakes win. Faces a couple of top Aussie raiders this time but placed in this last year and got very close to LEAP TO FAME when they clashed in the Hunter Cup in February. KINGMAN (12) showed how far he's come by beating LEAP TO FAME in the Victoria Cup, his fifth win in seven starts for McCarthy. A trip across the Tasman, a standing start and a rise in distance are all new challenges but he is the one on the up. MERLIN (3) has found winning form at the right time and draws to get his chance.