(Andrew Bensley is a leading commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

Trainer Lee Freedman is quietly preparing a nice team of two-year-olds and on Saturday in Adelaide he'll produce another youngster, Rescue Mission. Purchased for $240,000 at the New Zealand Premier Sale, Rescue Mission only has raced once but the effort was very good behind the speedy Anevay at Flemington.

Freedman told me the colt really has picked up during the past three weeks and is ready to break through in the Marsh Classic at Morphettville.

Freedman said he would wait until after Saturday to decide on his Sires Produce runners for Flemington but Masthead is a definite at this stage with Craig Williams to ride. The Freedman stable have Smokin Joey in the Group One Australian Guineas and the leading trainer is confident we'll see a much better run with the blinkers on.

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In Saturday's Australian Guineas, the wildcards certainly are We Can Say It Now and Playing God with most trainers feeling there's not a lot between the two prime three-year-olds.

Terry O'Sullivan has reported Hollowlea has worked well with blinkers and tongue tie at training this week, and should be a good show in the Guineas. The other big plus in the feature race is a far better barrier draw for jockey Nick Hall to put Hollowlea right on the pace.

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Brisbane's Bruce Hill has brought a few handy types to Sydney and Melbourne in recent weeks but there's no doubt victory in the Australian Guineas would end a great road trip down south.

Startsmeup finished hard for second to Bullbars a fortnight ago and has trained on really well. Hill said the horse's gallop at Mornington on Tuesday was great and he believes the fortnight gap between his races in Melbourne has been perfect.

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Sydney's in-form jockey, Brenton Avdulla, and his manager, Mark Van Triet, couldn't believe their luck on Wednesday morning when they snapped up the ride on Defiant Dame in the opening race at Warwick Farm.

Defiant Dame won a trial on Tuesday with Michael Rodd aboard but he couldn't take the ride on Saturday due to commitments at Flemington. Outside Defiant Dame, Avdulla's book is very strong at the Farm. He's back aboard Melito in the Chipping Norton and Informality in the Liverpool City Cup.

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With the AAMI Golden Slipper now only a month away, trainer John O'Shea is hoping Foxwedge can return with a strong performance in the first race at Warwick Farm.

Foxwedge has raced only once for a win at Rosehill in late November but his trial win recently and the booking of Nash Rawiller should have punters looking seriously at this Fastnet Rock colt.

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The gutsy Guyno takes another step towards the Adelaide Cup in the Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Trainer Lou Luciani has no concerns about the horse extending to 2600 metres saying he's won several times over 2400 metres, including his last start Mornington Cup win. Luciani admitted barrier one was really no advantage for Guyno but revealed the horse had settled into Adelaide very well.