The valuable inside gate in the crown went the way of Raymond Walker's Mister Rea, who was the fastest heat winner at Friday night's meeting, while close runner-up in that event, Masquerading, has drawn alongside him for the $100,000 final.

The most dominant Gold Tiara heat winner, Just Hope, is almost certain to be the one dictating terms early in the Group 1 final after she landed gate two.

Mister Rea's sweeping run down the outside to win his heat caught the attention of Bathurst Harness Racing CEO Danny Dwyer, who hasn't been surprised to see Walker's Pet Rock colt open as favourite.

"The way the Gold Crown draw came out you'd think the one and the two hold the key to the race. They were very impressive in their heat, and the big question is whether Master Rea can hold the lead," he said.

"He came from around the outside to win his heat and he did the exact same thing to win the Sapling Stakes. He looks like a pretty special horse. There was a bit of [2020 Gold Crown winner] Tasty Delight in the toughness of that victory.

"The other thing in his favour is that if they go hard early and he finds himself behind the leader then he showed in the Sapling Stakes that he can still follow speed and hold on, because the first half of that race was run quicker than it was in the Miracle Mile.

"Amanda Turnbull has chosen to drive Masquerading and that's probably helped to lend a bit of support to it as well."

With Tony Higgs' local hope Silk Cloud and Martini Stride drawn wide, along with fast heat winner Eye Can Fly stuck on the back row, the question is whether anyone can stop Just Hope.

"Just Hope has come into $1.70 now with that good draw and had one of the most impressive heat wins. The other main chances have drawn barriers six, seven and 12 so that plays into her hands," Dwyer said.

"She should be able to control the race well from there."

GOLD CROWN: 1 Mister Rea, 2 Masquerading, 3 Nineteenth Man, 4 Ideal Mondo (Em1), 5 Baxter Red (Em2), 6 The Rainbow Beach, 7 Lightning Dan, 8 Escape Artist, 9 Take Out, 10 Im In Trouble, 11 Better Than Lexy, 12 Master Stride

GOLD TIARA: 1 Nelly Bigtime, 2 Just Hope, 3 Oppenheimer Blue, 4 Captains Queen, 5 Pas De Cheval (Em1), 6 Silk Cloud, 7 Martini Stride, 8 Lucky Zara (Em2), 9 Betta Shine, 10 Rock N Roll Sass, 11 Shez Bettors Babe, 12 Eye Can Fly

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