Sportsbet.com.au yesterday had the Mark Kavanagh-trained Itstheone at the top of an early market at $3.80.

He is marginally ahead of the Bart Cummings stayer Dandaad, which is rated a $4.50 chance.

From the Melbourne Spring Carnival's two leading stables, the duo go into the Ballarat Cup fresh.

Itstheone put the writing on the wall with a second to highly regarded stablemate Rafaello in the $100,000 Melbourne Cup Community Fund Handicap, 2000m, on the last day of the Flemington carnival.

That was only his fourth run this preparation.

Dandaad's standout run this campaign was his second to Leica Ding in the group three Geelong Cup, 2406m.

New Zealand stayer Gallions Reach will carry the top weight of 57.5 kilograms tomorrow.

Trainer Richard Yuill is hoping the seven-year-old can farewell Australia on a winning note after failing to flatter in the Geelong, Bendigo and Melbourne cups.

Gallions Reach's best effort was his fifth in the Bendigo Cup, 2200m, which he led around the home turn.

Country cups king Bourbonstreetblues, and past Ballarat Cup winners Sentire (2007) and Daka's Gem (2008) also feature in the 18-strong field.

Colac trainer Daryl Cannon has Bourbonstreetblues in brilliant form with consecutive wins in the Murtoa, Horsham, Terang and Kyneton Cups.