Preferment might not be the genuine stayer Hugh Bowman thought he would turn out to be.
But that's not to say the high-flying jockey doesn't think the Chris Waller stable star isn't a deserved favourite to win one of the best long-distance races of the Sydney autumn carnival - the $1.5 million BMW at Rosehill.
Preferment holds a marginal call over Our Ivanhowe for Saturday's staying test as the winner of this season's Turnbull Stakes and Australian Cup at Group One level.
Go deeper into the four-year-old's form and there is a Victoria Derby win of the highest calibre after sitting wide throughout.
"Even though we thought he was a genuine Melbourne Cup horse, I think we've all come to the conclusion his premium distance might be two thousand metres," Bowman told Melbourne radio RSN.
"Although he did win the (Victoria) Derby, we think he might be just best over two thousand (metres)."
Preferment had to win the Australian Cup in the stewards' room after Bowman claimed first-past-the-post Awesome Rock took his rightful running from the 400m.
Bowman said because the BMW was held on Preferment's home track, it made sense to run the entire in what is the weight-for-age lead-up race to the Sydney Cup on April 9.
Preferment is on the second line of Sydney Cup betting to stablemate Libran.
"Look, the 2400 (metres) at Rosehill, it's hard to ignore and he looks really well placed there," Bowman said.
"Even though his best form is at Flemington, the race, from the nominations looks to set up very well for him.
"I don't think he has to improve off his Australian Cup win to win the BMW. The only query will be is he going to be as strong at that distance."
The Australian Turf Club extended the deadline for BMW entries until Tuesday morning but there was no addition to the 12 nominations received on Monday.