Gai Waterhouse believes the battle between Overreach and Villa Verde on Saturday will be as good as the match-up between her stable stars More Joyous and Pierro.
And Tommy Berry, who'll ride the reigning Golden Slipper favourite Overreach in Saturday's Reisling Stakes (1200m), is confident his mount will come out on top.
The contest between the top two in Slipper betting in the Group Two Reisling promises to be one of the highlights on the Rosehill program which features three Group One races.
Among the Group Ones is the Canterbury Stakes featuring the first meeting between More Joyous and Pierro.
Waterhouse said Overreach looked well going into Saturday's race but noted she had seen the Shaun Dwyer-trained Villa Verde as well and was impressed.
"That will be as good a tussle as More Joyous and Pierro," she said.
Villa Verde arrived in Sydney last weekend to prepare for her return, having won her only two starts in the spring in Melbourne in impressive fashion.
She defeated Overreach on debut in the Debutants Stakes but the Waterhouse-trained Overreach resumed with a commanding Widden Stakes win to assume Slipper favouritism.
"She stamped herself as a Slipper favourite and I think she's the winner on Saturday," Berry said.
"I think it will be very hard for Villa Verde (to beat Overreach) over 1200 metres first-up."
Overreach won the Widden Stakes by 5-3/4 lengths and Berry said the "explosive" turn of foot she showed that day was the best any horse had produced for him in a race.
"Except for More Joyous in a barrier trial. She's another level," he said.
Overreach is the $3.80 Slipper favourite ahead of Villa Verde at $7.