The grey has been to Moonee Valley three times for gallops to get experience of the track at which he is yet to race, but trainer Mike Moroney and Oliver both say he will handle it.
He has drawn barrier four and Moroney expects him to settle third or fourth behind the likely leaders Helmet and Descarado, if the latter is passed fit to run by stewards when he undergoes a veterinary inspection tomorrow.
"He doesn't step that cleanly from the gates and then he has a lot of speed from there," Moroney said.
"But you can't afford to not step away and for that reason he's probably going to be third or fourth."
Glass Harmonium is at $13 with TAB Sportsbet and Oliver respects the $3.50 favourite, Helmet.
"Helmet is going to be hard to beat," Oliver said.
"It was not a dominant Caulfield Guineas win, but Helmet and Manawanui are two very good 3-year-olds.
"They ran very good time. It was a pressure race on from a fair way out.
"I suppose there has got to be that little element of doubt about him at the distance [2040m] because he's never been at it before.
"But the fact that he gets such a great weight advantage is going to make him tough to beat."
Glass Harmonium began his career with Sir Michael Stoute in England and was a winner three times from 11 starts, including one at group three level over 2000m before being sold.
The Verglas entire ran 12th to Snow Fairy in the Hong Hong International Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin last December.
"This is the race we bought him for," Moroney said.
"We had to really push him. He got out of quarantine late because he had to go back to England to do it after he ran in Hong Kong and I thought he did a great job in Queensland.
"I think he's improved this time round but this is a big step up.
"He ran second to Tullamore in the Brisbane Cup giving him a bit of weight [4.5kg]."
Moroney has been happy with the 6-year-old's three runs this spring, including his close second to December Draw in the group one Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.
"He just got nabbed but he fought hard," he said.
"We're happy with him."
Moroney said the horse could back up in the A$1 million LKS Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday week.
Jockey Hugh Bowman is hoping the addition of blinkers to Lion Tamer will help the gifted stayer regain his focus in the Cox Plate.
After an impressive win in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield, defeating subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, Lion Tamer ran lengths below his best when second-last in the Turnbull Stakes, causing trainer Murray Baker to rue the 4-year-old's inconsistent form.
Michael Rodd was in the saddle in the Turnbull and commented that Lion Tamer "had a few tricks" - an observation that Bowman, the horse's regular rider, agreed with.
"He is a funny horse and he pulled himself up last time. The blinkers switched him on last year when he ran well in the Vase and then won the Derby, and we've kept them off him until now," he said.
Second emergency, three-time group one winner Yosei, has been scratched because of lameness in the near foreleg and the 4-year-old mare is also doubtful for the remainder of the spring.
Black Caviar will face only four rivals when she goes for her 15th straight win in Saturday's Schweppes Stakes.
The reigning Horse of the Year will meet 2008-09 Horse of the Year Scenic Blast for the first time as she tries to emulate the winning streaks of the legendary Carbine and Bernborough.
Bookmakers say she will do it easily. The world champion sprinter is at $1.04 (1-25) with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Scenic Blast at $14, Balavan at $21, Black Caviar's stablemate Doubtful Jack at $26 and Here De Angels at $51.
The winner of the 2009 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington and King's Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot in England, 7-year-old gelding Scenic Blast hasn't raced for 11 months.
"He's obviously been off the scene for a fair while but is back in good nick," trainer Dan Morton said.
"He hasn't raced for quite a while so realistically he's going to need the run on Saturday.
"But we're looking forward to running him in the Patinack Farm Classic down the straight [at Flemington on November 5].
"If he can come back to anywhere near his best form, hopefully, he'll be competitive. Obviously, Black Caviar is there and she should be too good for anything."AAP
