Race favourite No Wine No Song will have to overcome proven two mile performers if he is going to claim the $700,000, Group I, Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick this weekend.

The Kevin Moses-trained gelding has been impressive this preparation, particularly since he has gotten over a bit of ground. At his most recent three performances, the Song Of Tara gelding has notched two wins and a short head second.

The six-year-old took similar form into last year’s edition of the Sydney Cup and finished third, less than half a length from the winner, Gallic. Punters expect a similar, if not more forward effort in 2008 with No Wine No Song currently a $4.60 favourite with TAB Sportsbet.

As a winner of the 2006 Sydney Cup, Country Tyrone will be out to regain his throne after finishing eighth in last year’s race.

The Kris Lees-trained gelding started in his first Sydney Cup in 2003 when a solid half length second behind Honor Babe. Since then he has started in every edition, finishing second behind Mahtoum in 2005 before finally hitting the line in front two years ago.

The older he gets the harder it becomes, but the nine-year-old still has plenty of fire left and at $11 with TAB Sportsbet he has to be a genuine each-way chance in his favourite race.

The John Wheeler-trained Pentathon also snagged his one and only 3200m victory in 2006, though the six-year-old was victorious on the other side of the Tasman in the New Zealand Cup.

Pentathon’s key run this time in was a fast finishing fifth in the N.E. Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill three weeks ago against similar opposition to which he faces on Saturday. If the gelding reproduces that performance, with his ability to stay the two mile, the $5.50 TAB Sportsbet is offering will do just nicely.

If punters are looking for more recent, well performed stayers they need look no further than Lacey Underall and Young Centaur.

Lacey Underall has had three starts over 3200m for a win and a second placing. The runner-up performance came in an unlucky effort in the 2007 Adelaide Cup, while the victory was a come from behind performance when the mare charged home for a commanding one and three quarter length win in the 2008 Adelaide Cup in March.

At her first try the Sydney way of going, Lacey Underall came from 13th on the turn before finishing within a length of the winner in the N.E Manion Cup. She is a $13 chance with TAB Sportsbet.

 Kiwi raider Young Centaur landed the Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham in January this year before struggling in the going during the Auckland Cup over the same distance at Ellerslie in March.

The five-year-old Jeune gelding also debuted in Sydney this autumn with a top effort when third in the N.E. Manion Cup at Rosehill.  Young Centaur is at $12 with TAB Sportsbet.

Of those without two-mile credentials, last year’s Geelong Cup (2400m) winner The Fuzz will be tough to beat if he is back to his best. The David Hayes-trained gelding was beaten almost 30 lengths in The BMW last start, a performance that was so disappointing he needed to trial before going into the Sydney Cup.

Prior to The BMW failure The Fuzz had finished close up Tuesday Joy in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill a month ago. That effort came on the back of brilliant win in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington in mid-March.

If The Fuzz can get back to that form, or more so, the form that took him to his Geelong Cup and can handle the two-mile journey, he will go close to collecting the winner’s cheque this Saturday. The Fuzz is currently $9 with TAB Sportsbet.