The vagaries of the Flemington straight proved too much for Liesele but trainer Liam Birchley expects a much-improved performance from the mare at Doomben on Saturday.

Liesele finished seventh to the Chris Waller-trained Dystopia in the G H Mumm Stakes (1100m) on November 7 and Birchley is prepared to put a line through that performance.

"It was a bit of a non-event and she never seemed to get into rhythm at any stage at Flemington," Birchley said.

"It's a funny sort of situation with horses in straight races. They either handle it or they don't and unfortunately she fell into the category that doesn't."

Birchley decided to start the mare at Flemington following her impressive win in the Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 19, her first success in black-type company.

On that occasion, jockey Damian Browne eased Liesele to the rear of the field from barrier 14 and was able to save valuable ground along the fence before bursting through a gap in the straight to win by three-quarters of a length.

With Browne suspended from his ride on Buffering in last Saturday's Group One Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot, Birchley has booked Glen Colless to ride Liesele.

The mare has drawn barrier five in Saturday's Travel Associates Classic (1200m) at Doomben.

"The alley is perfect for her because she likes to get a suck run in behind them and she's got a good sprint at the end of her races," he said.

"If she can be saved for one run at them in the straight she's pretty hard to stop."

Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick would like to see some rain for Ascot Handicap winner Doubtfilly who will have blinkers back on in the Classic.

Doubtfilly ran fifth to Better Than Ready at Eagle Farm on November 9 at her first start since winning the Ascot Handicap at the same track in July.

The four-year-old will carry topweight of 58.5kg and has an unblemished record from three starts on tracks rated in the dead range.