Explosive Drums has had two wins and five placings at Wentworth Park while kennelmate Katoby's record there is just one placing from five appearances but trainer Daniel Flanagan believes Katoby will prevail when the pair clash at headquarters on Saturday night.
Katoby has box one while Explosive Drums has drawn two in Saturday's opening event, a 520m fifth grade, and while Flanagan is disappointed to see his pair in the same race he is hoping for a quinella result.
"Katoby is six lengths quicker than Explosive Drums,'' Flanagan said.
"The draw is perfect for Katoby because Explosive Drums will drift up the track between the start and the first turn and should give Katoby an ideal rails run.
"I expect Katoby to rail underneath Explosive Drums on the first corner and reckon he is capable of clocking 29.90s on Saturday night.''
At his most recent Wentworth Park outing Katoby made the pace when second to noted strong finisher Really Unreal in a top grade 520m race on September 25.
Katoby carved out smart first and second sectional figures of 5.48 and 13.92 before going under by a mere half-length in a fast 29.89s.
Since then Katoby has taken on crack former Victorian speedster Flynn, finishing second to that dog in a blistering 25.97s over 472m at Bulli on October 14.
Top trainer Jason Mackay is bringing two of his new kennel stars, Turbo Thomas and Flynn, to Wentworth Park for the first time on Saturday.
Turbo Thomas, who has won eight of nine provincial starts, will exit box one in race six, a 520m fifth grade, while Flynn has drawn six in race eight, a 520m Free-For-All.
Turbo Thomas was tested beyond 450m in a 515m race at LADBROKES GARDENS on October 12, winning easily in 29.57s, fastest time of the meeting.
After beginning fairly well from box four, Turbo Thomas was bumped but recovered quickly to make a fast run out wide and lead clearly at the first turn.
Turbo Thomas is expected to lead all the way on Saturday while Flynn should handle box six at his Wentworth Park debut.
Double Back, his main danger, has drawn box five but goes fast early and rails well while Sunburnt Highway, who has box six, stays wide.
A minor injury ruled Flynn out of the Million Dollar Chase but the dog bounced back to win in near record time over 472m at Bulli on October 14.
Earlier this year Flynn was considered among the fastest dogs in Victoria and clocked 29.08 winning over 515m at Melbourne's Sandown Park in May, time that was just .13sec outside the track record.
Saturday's most fascinating runner is China O'Brien, who has not won beyond 520m but who will tackle the 720m fifth grade Joe Aquilina Memorial Stakes.
China O'Brien finished fourth to Shima Shine in a semi-final of the 520m Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park on October 11 after scoring two wins and two placings from her four previous starts over that course.
"I have always wanted to try her over 720m but delayed stepping her up in distance until her Million Dollar Chase commitments were complete,'' trainer Glen McKinley said.
"China O'Brien has clocked 29.65s over 520m at Wentworth Park but I'm a realist and she has does not have enough early pace to consistently produce those sort of figures in sprint races.
"She has always given the impression she would stay and her dam Esparza was a long distance winner at group level while China O'Brien's litter sister Blazing Cartier was runner-up in a heat of the group one 720m Sydney Cup last week.
"I can't be certain China O'Brien will stay but I trialled her after the last race at Gosford on Tuesday night and while her time for the 515m was good, her run home figures were absolutely sensational.''
Saturday's Wentworth Park card also marks the first city appearance of Mark Gatt's boom puppy Ritza Coen, who has box three in race nine, a 520m fifth grade.
Ritza Coen was sent out a long odds-on favourite at his debut in a 520m Dapto Maiden on October 10 and despite being checked at the start and being pushed into the running rail at the first turn, he won by nine lengths in a sizzling 30.04s.
Best Bet Ritza Coen (race 9)
Best Value Katoby (race 1)
Quaddie race 5 - 4, 7, 2
Race 6 - 1, 7, 3
Race 7 - 6, 5
Race 8 - 5, 4, 1
$20 for 37.03%
