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

There may be only six horses in Saturday's Golden Rose at Rosehill but the interest in the race is huge.

Will the hyped up Smart Missile be able to strut his stuff again? What will Helmet do with the blinkers on? Can Manawanui match the big guys?

I know some commentators are asking where all the three-year-olds are but I like to take the positive approach and talk about the class that's there.

Glen Boss rode Smart Missile on the dirt track at Randwick on Tuesday and feels the horse has improved greatly since his incredible win in the Run To The Rose.

Bossy and Smart Missile suit each other on and off the track.  Both are full of confidence and promote racing in positive fashion.

When I chatted with Smart Missile's trainer Anthony Cummings on Tuesday morning, he felt Helmet would lead on Saturday wherever he drew.

First-up Helmet settled back but he's quite capable of leading and maintaining a good speed.

Peter Snowden obviously feels the time is right for the blinkers to go on Helmet and the horse worked impressively with the gear on Tuesday. 

The new kid on the block is Manawanui.

I say that because the horse is yet to take on any of the rivals in the Golden Rose.

Trainer Ron Leemon and jockey Glyn Schofield strongly recommended to the owners to pay the $50,000 late entry particularly after his impressive win in the Up And Coming Stakes.

Manawanui put in a sparkling gallop last week and repeated the dose on Tuesday. Leemon isn't shying away that his horse may be something special. 

The somewhat forgotten runner in the Golden Rose is Aeronautical.

The horse hasn't raced since August 6 when successful by three-and-a-half lengths in the Rosebud.

While we in the media have been questioning Lionel Cohen's strategy in not running for just over a month, the trainer is confident he's got it right.

Having raced just four times for two wins, Aeronautical has been ticking over at the training track with Cohen saying he wouldn't swap his horse for any other in the race.

It is a fairytale for Cohen to have a runner in a million-dollar race so early in his training career.

He owned some of the best in South Africa but now he's chasing a massive payday as a trainer.

***** 

AT Moonee Valley, trainer Darren Smith again is confident Atomic Force can pull out another winning performance.

After easily accounting for his rivals at Caulfield, Atomic Force has thrived and despite wanting to stargaze a little at the Valley on Tuesday he showed he's right on target.

The McEwen Stakes will be a test though with the likes of Kulgrindi, Buffering, Crystal Lily, Shrapnel and Satin Shoes.

Crystal Lily has impressed in two jump outs but her task has been made slightly tough around the 1000 metre course.

***** 

I'VE spoken to Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell a couple times this week and he's rapt with the way Pinker Pinker has come through last weekend's Flemington win going into the Stocks Stakes.

Eurell says the mare is so tough and seemingly copes with anything.

While it's not fully locked in, a Caulfield Cup start is likely particularly if she again performs at Moonee Valley.

Eurell also has Red Colossus in the Dato Tan Chin Nam.

The way the horse hit the line first-up, Eurell says there's no issue about Red Colossus running out a strong mile.