While fastest heat winner Zipping Gilbert looks ideally placed in box one for this evening's Sportingbet Bathurst Gold Cup Final (520m), trainer Marty Hallinan said if kennelmate Zipping Tess (box four) finds the lead she will be hard to run down.
Zipping Gilbert started from box seven in his heat of the series and ran down Clair Vision to win by a length in 29.79.
Zipping Tess had box eight last week and was just grabbed by King Cobber on the line.
Hallinan said both his charges had done extra well since the heats and the scratching of heat winner Zambora Magic (box two) will help.
"That will help Zipping Gilbert for sure because Aurora Girl, who replaces Zambora Magic, does not have a lot of early speed," Hallinan said.
"Plus I thought it was a very good run by Zambora Magic last week and from box two he was a definite chance."
Zipping Gilbert has always been strong but last week showed plenty of early speed to cross from the wide draw and trail Clair Vision.
"If he can hold his ground around the first corner again this week then he is right in the race," Hallinan said.
"Clair Vision has good box speed but so does Zipping Tess, and her chances will certainly be enhanced if she can cross to the lead.
"About three months ago whenever I trialled her over 307m or 450m at Bathurst she'd equal the first section record but I couldn't get a run with her so I sent her to Peter (Dapiran) in Victoria.
"I'd only had her back for six days before the heats so I expect there will be some improvement today.
"If she gets on the bunny I reckon she can run around 29.90 and will be hard to run down. But if Zipping Gilbert has luck and gets through the first turn untouched then I think he can running anything down.
"I'm actually on my way to Melbourne now so if Zipping Gilbert had been knocked out last week I was going to trial him at Sandown because I think he's crying out for a bit of distance.
"I'll know in the next six weeks because I will step him up to 700m if he looks like he's going to stay.
"I trialled him at Wentworth Park three weeks ago and he ran 30 dead, and his run home time was 11.71. I thought this dog is about to take off.
"Both of my dogs are fit and well going into the race and while I wouldn't say I'm confident I think they are both in with a chance."
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