A rain-affected track holds fears for connections of Danzylum who is trying win his second Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.The Robbie Griffiths stable was hoping for firmer footing than the heavy rain has produced for Saturday's 1400m event but remains hopeful of improving ground.Danzylum has been one of the better performers for Griffiths in the last year and his racing manager Liam Howley said the Manifold had been his campaign goal."He has been set for this race all along and he'

A rain-affected track holds fears for connections of Danzylum who is trying win his second Listed Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington.

The Robbie Griffiths stable was hoping for firmer footing than the heavy rain has produced for Saturday's 1400m event but remains hopeful of improving ground.

Danzylum has been one of the better performers for Griffiths in the last year and his racing manager Liam Howley said the Manifold had been his campaign goal.

"He has been set for this race all along and he's been working well," Howley said.

"But whether he runs on Saturday is probably weather-dependent."

Flemington was rated a slow (6) on Friday afternoon but with the heavy rain having disappeared there are hopes that the track could be as good as dead on Saturday.

While Danzylum lacks genuine wet-track form he has won five races on dead ground.

An on-pace runner, Danzylum has had five runs this campaign and three starts ago led all the way to win over 1440m at Caulfield on December 4.

"His form might have looked a bit lacklustre since then but he had a big weight (59kg) when he finished sixth at Flemington while last start at Caulfield he was probably the victim of circumstances with a hard run up on the speed," Howley said.

"We would have liked to have seen him a kick a little bit earlier last time and put a break on them but given the work he had to do he did well to run fourth.

Finishing just a length from the winner Orbit Express, Danzylum also lost a plate in the race.

In the last 12 months Danzylum's notable performances have included winning the Manifold and Listed race seconds in the Dillon Stakes at Caulfield and Schweppes Trophy at Flemington.

He also was beaten only three lengths when fourth to Typhoon Tracy in the Group One Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Howley said Danzylum worked strongly over 1400 metres at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning and was untested over the last 400m in 25 seconds.

"He is jumping out of his box at the moment and it would be good to get him out to let off a bit of steam in a race," Howley said.

Luke Currie will ride Danzylum while Peter Mertens is engaged for stablemate Its Prince in the Manifold.

Better known as a miler, Its Prince finished eighth to Ahdashim when returning from injury in the Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) on New Year's Day and will strip much fitter on Saturday.

Danzylum is at $13 and Its Prince $26 in the TAB Sportsbet market but with doubts on a number of runners lining up both horses could start much shorter.

Steve McKinnon said third favourite Orbit Express ($7) was a duffer on wet tracks and has recommended to the owners not to run in the Manifold.

The Mick Price stable reported on Friday that Lady Gaga would be scratched while trainer Peter Moody will decide on race morning about running Pass Me By and Fairy Oak.

Standish Handicap runner-up Chasm remains a firm $4 favourite ahead of Keano at $5.50.