Grahame Begg is far more worried about the prospect of heavy rain on Saturday than the fact Palacio De Cristal hasn't raced for a month going into Saturday's Myer Classic at Flemington.The Encosta de Lago five-year-old resumed with a victory over Myer Classic rival No Evidence Needed in the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 3.To keep her up to the mark for the Group One 1600m assignment, Begg gave her a solid hit-out on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday morning."S

Grahame Begg is far more worried about the prospect of heavy rain on Saturday than the fact Palacio De Cristal hasn't raced for a month going into Saturday's Myer Classic at Flemington.

The Encosta de Lago five-year-old resumed with a victory over Myer Classic rival No Evidence Needed in the Group Two Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on October 3.

To keep her up to the mark for the Group One 1600m assignment, Begg gave her a solid hit-out on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

"She strode up well and ran a fast sectional. It's a month between runs but she had a good gallop and wouldn't have blown a candle out," Begg said.

"It's really good to have her nice and well to race against the quality opposition she will meet on Saturday.

"Her form from her win has been franked with Culminate coming out and winning (on Caulfield Cup day) and Lady Lynette's won (at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day).

"It was a pretty quality race but she has to go up a notch against the likes of Typhoon Tracy and Hot Danish."

Palacio De Cristal is unbeaten in two starts at Flemington, her other win being over 1700 metres on Oaks Day in 2008 when she beat Purple.

But rain on the day would dampen Begg's enthusiasm as the mare hasn't been placed in three slow track runs and one heavy track outing.

She wasn't far away when fourth to Danleigh in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on a slow track and before that when third to Alverta in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) on a dead track, both at Rosehill last autumn.

Begg said another issue for the mare was getting a clean getaway.

"She has this terrible habit of falling out of the gates. Because she's so long and sits back on the gates we put barrier extensions on last preparation in Sydney and she was a lot better," he said.

"But she surprised me the other day when she came out of the gates very ordinary.

"You can't afford to be giving away starts to horses like Typhoon Tracy and Hot Danish.

"It's hard enough on an equal break."

Reigning Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy is $2.40 favourite to make it back-to-back Myer Classic wins, a race she won by 4-3/4 lengths last year.

Thousand Guineas winner Yosei is at $6, Hot Danish at $7, Palacio De Cristal at $9 and Culminate at $12.