Steve Fitch's National Sprint Championship winner Cumbria Jack and his Dapto Megastar victor Eriza Sparkles head an outstanding lineup in Saturday night's Mark Hughes Foundation top grade 520m race at Wentworth Park.
Cumbria Jack has box eight and Eriza Sparkles has drawn one while Black Myth Wave (box three) and Allan Keeping (box seven) could stand in the way of the event developing into a match race between the Nowra kennelmates.
Eriza Sparkles had boxes five and seven when she won her heat and final of the group one Megastar while Cumbria Jack drew eight and six in taking out the Queensland Sprint Championship and the National final.
Asked which of his stars he expected to prevail on Saturday night trainer Steve Fitch said: "It's a flip of the coin.
"I gave them both a box-to-box trial at WP on Monday and Eriza Sparkles went two lengths quicker but Cumbria Jack is stronger at the end of 520m.
"Cumbria Jack has won four of his five starts from box eight but that's because he seems to keep drawing out wide.
"But he can handle any box, draws don't matter much to him.
"Eriza Sparkles is well positioned in box one but she still needs to begin cleanly.
"If a dog misses the kick from box one at Wentworth Park it usually gets 'swallowed up' in the run to the first turn.''
Fawn Rupee and James Alarm were unplaced in the Bulli regional final of the Million Dollar Chase on Tuesday but are ready to perform well in far easier races at WP on Saturday night.
Fawn Rupee box two in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode Pots 520m fifth grade while his litter brother James Alarm has drawn the rails in the identical grade and distance Ladbrokes Sports Bar Stakes.
James Alarm has been placed in five of seven WP appearances but gets his chance from his perfect draw on Saturday, with wide runners Double Two and She's Fearless positioned in boxes two and three.
"They both pulled up well after their Bulli races on Tuesday where Fawn Rupee's run was better than it looks on paper,'' trainer Chris Arletos said.
"He was dragged down from behind while making the pace and for ability there is nothing between him at James Alarm.
"I also have their litter sister Alira in the first race, another 520m fifth grade, but she is not as good as her brothers.
"Alira is well placed out wide in box seven but while she has good early pace she doesn't finish off well over 520m.''
Turbo Harry who is regularly exercised by his 85-year-old owner Keith Cohn, was a $19 chance when he won his heat and is capable of upsetting the favourites again in Saturday's Ladbrokes Blackook 520m final.
Fastest heat winners were Gretzky, who clocked 30.11, and Fancy Bella at 30.12, but Turbo Harry came from box six to win in 30.13 and has drawn more suitably on Saturday.
Turbo Harry's trainer Ron Marsden said: "He secured a somewhat lucky run along the rails to win his heat but he does want an inside box.
"Before last week's race, his first at WP, Turbo Harry had two 520m trials there, clocking 30.42 and then 30.11.
"I was happy with his close third over 400m at Bulli on Tuesday because that distance is a bit short for him and he would have finished a lot closer had he not run into a dead-end near the winning post.
"Turbo Harry's drawback is he lacks early speed.''
When Lady Wilson embarks on her Sydney Cup campaign in Saturday's 720m fifth grade Ladbrokes Bet Ticker she will be sent out a long odds-on favourite after drawing ideally in box one.
The Sam Sultana-trained bitch, who represented NSW in the National Distance Championship at The Q on August 30, has a great record wearing the red rug.
She has won three of her four starts, including sizzling wins in 35.09 over 622m at Richmond and 41.31 over 715m at Ladbrokes Gardens.
