All were champions and as good as Fawkner is, he is not, nor ever will be, thought of in the same league.
In Fawkner's favour is a perfect barrier draw. He will race close to the pace and will run out strongly every bit of the 2040m trip.
But if you go back to the main lead-up race to the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Stakes, Sydney-trained Criterion looked every bit as good as Fawkner in finishing a long head back second.
Criterion, owned by Sir Owen Glenn, hit the line the stronger of the two and with the Cox Plate invariably run very hard, this race is likely to suit him better.
Interestingly, Criterion's former champion South African trainer David Payne believes he has "come on" since the Caulfield race.
"He's going to be hitting the line strongly and I'm not sure about a few of the others in that respect."
Perhaps the strongest push of all is the riding engagement. Mojo counts for plenty in group one carnival races and there is no question the current jockey with the Midas touch is New Zealand's James McDonald.
McDonald landed the Criterion ride when regular partner Hugh Bowman was last week suspended for improper riding.
He has already won four million-dollar-plus races this year and his ride on second-placed Rising Romance in last week's Caulfield Cup was the stuff of legends.
McDonald has not been in Criterion's raceday saddle, but he will have completed mountains of homework when he goes out tomorrow.
Unquestionably, the fascinating runner is Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old Adelaide, prepared by the man many consider the world's greatest horseman, Aidan O'Brien.
He has not been to Australia since the debacle of 2008 when his three horses Septimus, Honolulu and Alexandra Volta finished at the tail of the Melbourne Cup field after O'Brien and his riders got tactics horribly wrong.
It led to the famous stand-off between O'Brien and then new chief steward Terry Bailey, during which Bailey famously got O'Brien back to Flemington when on his way to the airport to fly home. O'Brien won't be in Australia tomorrow, but told journalists that had nothing to do with rumours there was continuing discontent between himself and Bailey.
The Irishman said Adelaide had been identified early as a horse with a possible Cox Plate profile.
"He never disappointed. He quickly showed a high cruising speed, he travelled well with a low action and has a great constitution."
Which is a blessing - Adelaide has had only seven starts and has already been asked to race in England, Ireland, France and the United States. Australia will be the fifth country he has visited.
He won the group one Secretariat Stakes at Arlington two starts back and, taken to France, he was considered unlucky when third in the group two Prix Niel at Longchamp, clearing a pocket too late.
There are suggestions that being a northern 3-year-old Adelaide is badly off in the weights compared to Australian 3-year-olds, but he officially turns four in two months' where Australians of the same age turn four next August - a huge difference in terms of development.
O'Brien says Adelaide performs best on firm footing.
It's difficult to compare form from different hemispheres, but it is entirely possible Adelaide could simply be too good for the opposition.
He is badly drawn at 13, but is expected to go forward early and will get a drag across the front of the field by the certain pacemaker and Moonee Valley course specialist, The Cleaner, the only horse drawn outside him.
Selections: 1: Criterion 2: Adelaide 3: Fawkner.
Punting pointers
Go again: Bonniegirl (R3 Ellerslie). Won too well last start for any
excuses behind her. Looks very good.
Best place: Criterion (R8, Moonee Valley). Can win and looks a good thing to run in the money.
Watch: Ultraviolet (R8 Ellerslie). Looked good in just four starts last preparation. Awkwardly drawn to resume, but not out of contention.
