Visiting Melbourne stayer The Fuzz remained clear favourite for the Perth Cup following the barrier draw in which he came up with four in the New Year's Day feature.Trained by David Hayes, The Fuzz hasn't won since the Geelong Cup in the spring of 2007 but put in a strong performance when third to Gilded Venom in the C B Cox Stakes (2100m).He is stepping up to 2400 metres on Thursday and will be reunited with Brad Rawiller who won the Group One Kingston Town (1800m) on stablemate Niconero earlie

Visiting Melbourne stayer The Fuzz remained clear favourite for the Perth Cup following the barrier draw in which he came up with four in the New Year's Day feature.

Trained by David Hayes, The Fuzz hasn't won since the Geelong Cup in the spring of 2007 but put in a strong performance when third to Gilded Venom in the C B Cox Stakes (2100m).

He is stepping up to 2400 metres on Thursday and will be reunited with Brad Rawiller who won the Group One Kingston Town (1800m) on stablemate Niconero earlier this month.

Rawiller continued his winning form in the west with victory in the La Trice Classic at Ascot on Saturday.

TAB Sportsbet now has The Fuzz at $3.40 ahead of fellow Melbourne visitors Annenkov and Ballack at $6.50.

Emerging local star Lovre is at $7.50 with WA Derby winner Guyno at $9 and Mission Critical at $9.50.

The Peter Moody-trained Annenkov has barrier 11 and will be ridden by Luke Nolen while Ballack, who is prepared by Danny O'Brien, will have the services of local ace William Pike and jump from gate two.

Ballack arrived in Perth a few days ago and goes into the Cup off a close second to Ulysses over 2000 metres at Flemington on December 13.

He was to be accompanied by former Cup favourite Ready To Lift but uncertainty over travel arrangements prompted trainer Gerald Ryan to keep her home in Sydney.

The move paid off with Ready To Lift adding the Summer Cup (2400m) on Boxing Day to her Christmas Cup triumph a couple of weeks earlier.