The countdown to Sydney's richest race of the spring will begin in earnest at Rosehill on Saturday with three of the top fancies for the $1 million Golden Rose set to clash in a vital lead-up race.Exciting Melbourne colt Denman, a son of champion Lonhro, is scheduled to make his Sydney debut in The Run To The Rose (1300m), setting up a showdown with Rosebud winner Hus Der Lieften.Also likely to use Saturday's race as a springboard is More Than Great with trainer David Payne confirming he is favo

The countdown to Sydney's richest race of the spring will begin in earnest at Rosehill on Saturday with three of the top fancies for the $1 million Golden Rose set to clash in a vital lead-up race.

Exciting Melbourne colt Denman, a son of champion Lonhro, is scheduled to make his Sydney debut in The Run To The Rose (1300m), setting up a showdown with Rosebud winner Hus Der Lieften.

Also likely to use Saturday's race as a springboard is More Than Great with trainer David Payne confirming he is favouring keeping the three-year-old against his own age, rather than taking on the older horses in the Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Payne is unlikely to have a runner in the Premiere with his other nomination, Centennial Park, also favoured to dodge the feature in favour of a Rating 86 handicap on the same program.

"We'll probably accept for both and decide on Thursday but I am leaning towards the three-year-old race at the moment," Payne said of his options for More Than Great.

More Than Great has been touted as a serious Golden Rose contender since posting an impressive victory at Rosehill in July.

He has not raced since with Payne electing to give him a short break in the paddock to freshen him up for a spring campaign.

The colt is not entered for the Golden Rose but his owner will pay the $50,000 late entry fee provided More Than Great runs as well as expected in the lead up.

"I'd say he's pretty forward for Saturday," Payne said.

"He'll be better again on Golden Rose day, this will top him up.

"We'll pay up on the 24th, we've got that option if he goes well."

Nash Rawiller has been booked for The Run To The Rose but can't make the weight for the Premiere in which More Than Great will carry 50.5kg under the weight-for-age conditions.

Apprentice Daniel Ganderton has been put on standby.

The Premiere will be the starting point for fellow three-year-old, Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready who will make an emotional return for trainer Jason McLachlan.

McLachlan trained the Slipper winner in partnership with his father Bruce who died of a suspected heart attack in June.

The colt is one of three Group One winners nominated for the sprint along with Mentality and last year's victor Triple Honour.

There are 17 entries for The Run To The Rose including More Than Great's stablemate Magic Model, VRC Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Bombay Sling and Inglis Classic winner Fear No Other.