It's a tale of two cities in the weight-for-age ranks this weekend, with middle-distance Group 1s in both Melbourne and Sydney.

The Australian Cup (2000m) is the highlight at Flemington, where import Middle Earth (pictured) comes off a win in the Australian Cup Prelude to take on All-Star Mile winner Tom Kitten. The Roy Higgins, the ATA/Bob Hoysted Handicap, the World Pool Sprint Classic and the Breeders' Stakes are on the undercard.

The main event at Rosehill is over slightly further, with the Tancred Stakes (2400m) taking centre stage. In other highlights the Oaks-bound fillies clash in the Vinery Stud Stakes and the Derby hopefuls meet in the Tulloch Stakes, while the Emancipation, the Neville Sellwood, the Doncaster Prelude, the Star Kingdom and the Baillieu Handicap round out the black type.

Meanwhile the Adelaide autumn warms up with the running of the Clare Lindop and the Matrice at Morphettville.

You'll find Australia's best form guide for Saturday's Flemington, Rosehill, Doomben and Morphettville meetings in this week's Best Bets.

On pages 4 and 5 you'll find four-state selections from some of the nation's leading form analysts as well as our popular Black Bookers, Sectional Stars and Video Stars features.

Best Bets ($7) will be on sale Thursday morning in NSW, Friday in all good newsagents elsewhere.