(Matt Welsh is a freelance racing journalist who has worked for several outlets including Sport 927 radio and Best Bets.)

The eighth running of the 1400m Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday might provide the most exciting edition of the race billed as a tantalising battle between Victorian and NSW heavyweights. Melbourne's best three-year-olds - Crystal Lily, Toorak Toff and Panapique - will lock horns with Sydney stars, Masquerader and the unbeaten Squamosa, in the richest race of the NSW Autumn Carnival.

Inaugurated in 2003, the Golden Rose has risen from very humble beginnings to being one of the most important form races on the Australian calendar. In 2009, highly regarded pair, Trusting and Denman, provided the quinella in undoubtedly the strongest Golden Rose and justified the decision of Racing NSW to provide the race Group 1 status.

Victorian Toorak Toff is currently co-favourite at $4.60 after a slashing return in the Vain Stakes, reeling off the second fastest last 200m of the day (behind the super impressive Shoot Out) in a breathtaking win.

Trainer Rick Hore-Lacy has spruiked the horse to anyone who will listen - after the Vain Stakes declaring he was a "very good horse" stating "there's not many better three-year-olds around that didn't turn up today." Rich praise coming from Hore-Lacy who saddled up arguably the best 3YO in the last 20 years - Redoute's Choice.

Toorak Toff's owners have already experienced the highs and lows of racing. To their astonishment the horse was mistakenly listed as a gelding in formguides before its Sandown debut - Hore-Lacy might have received an animated phone call that afternoon.

The horse won with ease that day - and the owners would have been very relieved when a post race inspection of the horse showed its bits to be intact.

Toorak Toff has won four of his seven races to date and was desperately unlucky not to feature in two NSW starts during the 2YO Autumn Season - the Group 1 Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes.

Hore-Lacy yesterday flagged what could be a knockout blow to the opposition - a change in riding tactics that would see jockey Damien Oliver being more positive with the Show a Heart colt.

"He hasn't drawn a good barrier in his last three starts, so we've been forced to ride him back," Hore-Lacy said.

"If he does draw a good gate we'll ride him closer so he doesn't have to do so much to win."

Bad gates were detrimental in the horses NSW Autumn failures - being forced to race wide on both occasions.

The Victorian representation is not limited to Toorak Toff.

Peter Moody puts the polish on Panapique - a Testa Rossa filly who surprised punters with a devastating turn of foot leaving Chapmion 2YO Crystal Lily in her wake in the Quezette Stakes.

Both fillies will tackle the Golden Rose this Saturday - Crystal Lily will strip fitter for the first up run whilst Panapique is improving with each race start. A win by either wouldn't be a shock.

NSW's best chance of a hometown Golden Rose victory might be the lightly raced Masquerader from the David Payne yard.

Currently sharing top billing with Toorak Toff, Masquerader's only defeat came in the Run to the Rose when narrowly failing to run down the Gai Waterhouse trained Squamosa.

Masquerader conceded a whopping 5kg to Squamosa that day - a burden that will be erased by the set weight conditions of Saturday's Grand Final. To date Masquerader has shown an adaptable racing style and Thursday's barrier draw will be crucial in determining how jockey Glyn Shofield rides the horse come Saturday.

Unbeaten colt Squamosa is a bullet proof running machine. Nash Rawiller is one jockey who won't be thinking on his feet when the stalls open on Saturday - this son of Not a Single Doubt will drive himself straight to the front, straight to the paint.

Waterhouse (pictured, above, with Craig Williams) is chasing her first Golden Rose win - on of few Sydney features that has eluded her - but has her best chance yet this weekend.

Thursday's barrier draw is all important to the main chances and will paint a clearer picture of how the field will settle come Saturday.

The 2010 Golden Rose will ignite state passion as the best 3YOs from Victoria venture north to tackle Sydney's stars for the richest prize on the NSW Autumn calendar. The eventual winner will pocket $650,000 for its owners and undoubtedly rocket into favouritism for the blue riband Caulfield Guineas.