Russian Camelot (Image: Racing Photos)
Three of Russian Camelot's four victories have come on Soft ground and the dual Group 1 winner is expected to get conditions to suit again in Saturday's 100th running of the Cox Plate (2040m).
Heavy showers with up to 30mm of rain are forecast to fall across Friday night and Saturday morning, which would favour the four-year-old while not suiting his rival Arcadia Queen, who defeated the son of Camelot last start in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
The star Western Australian mare has claimed all of her seven victories on firmer ground, with her best result on a rain-affected surface coming two starts back when she was third behind Russian Camelot in the G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
The rain-affected surface not only benefits Russian Camelot because he's proven on the surface but also because he's drawn the outside, with trainer Danny O'Brien saying the wide draw might be a blessing in disguise, especially later in the day with the Cox Plate the 17th of 18 races held at The Valley across the Cox Plate Carnival.
"If that arrives, I suspect that the outside draws are going to be more advantageous than the inside draws, particularly towards the end of the program," said O'Brien.
"We couldn't have had a better preparation for him.
"From the moment he got home from Adelaide after winning the Derby there, he's not put a foot wrong.
"He's big and strong and healthy and happy and we're expecting him to run really well for us."