Bringelly trainer Mark Wilcox will head to the NSW Riverina full of confidence that his kennel star Knocka's Return can take out the Sportingbet/GBOTA Temora Cup (457m) on Sunday evening.
Knocka's Return qualified for the Cup final in the best possible way by breaking the 457m track record. Knocka's Return ran 25.94, bettering the old mark set by Buster Shiraz in October 2013.
For Wilcox, the performance was a sense of déjà vu as he also trains Buster Shiraz.
"I just had a feeling Knocka's Return might go close to the record. I thought if he could get a clean start and was out in front by himself, he'd give it a shake," Wilcox said.
"His brother Buster Shiraz held the existing track record, and when I put them together Knocka's Return has at least five lengths on him.
"Buster Shiraz was in the same heat as My Kinda Music and when she broke the record, I jokingly thought 'I'll have to get the record back in the next race' and that's exactly what happened.
Wilcox believes there is even more improvement in Knocka's Return.
"I was extremely happy with his run, especially since he'd never had a start at Temora before. I tend to find he improves by about three tenths after he's seen a track."
Knocka's Return will jump from box seven for the Temora Cup, a draw Wilcox thinks will suit him well.
"He's perfectly boxed and if he can just get a clean run he should win," Wilcox said.
"I just hope that the eight (Perfect Chance) doesn't knock him at the start. That's the worry for this race especially because (Perfect Chance) is quick out of the boxes and Knocka's Return can be a little tardy.
"My Kinda Music is the other front runner and that dog is going to be very hard to beat. I'm pretty sure it's also going to improve on its last run as well.
"The way I see it, it's probably as quick as my dog and from box two it will probably lead.
"But if Knocka's Return can get in behind it, he's a really strong finisher and should be able to get over the top it."
For Wilcox, the four to five hour journey from his home to Temora does not bother him.
"I like travelling out to Temora. They have a bit of money out there now and my dogs like the bigger one turn tracks," he said.
"And you don't get much bigger tracks than Temora. They have two big straights and it gives your dogs time to settle down and get in position before the turn and if they're strong on the way home, it gives them a chance to run over the top."
The Temora Cup is the highlight of a fantastic 12-race card on Sunday evening, which will have TAB coverage and be shown live on Sky Racing 1.
The first race is at 5.57pm (AEDST) with the Temora Cup to jump at 8.07pm.
Fields and expert form for the Temora Cup meeting can be found by clicking here.
