FrankHancock-trained youngsters have dominated major maiden events on the NSW Northern Rivers circuit for many years and Tuesday's heats of the Ladbrokes Up For The Challenge Maiden at Lismore were no different, with his pair Pike and COLBY clocking clearly the fastest times.
Pike, a 21 month old son of Ando's Mac and Benne Fortuna, came from second on the back straight to lead for home before winning in 23.96, outstanding 420m for a maiden.
Kennelmate COLBY, a two-year-old by Barcia Bale from Hancock's former good race btch Laverne, raced wide from box one but led throughout in 24.01.
"They have always shown plenty of ability and I have been saving Pike and COLBY for this series,'' Hancock said.
"Pike is the quicker of the pair overall and is stronger at the finish, while COLBY possesses more early speed.
''COLBY has drawn box five in Tuesday night's final while Pike came up with box seven.''
Hancock's duo are "home-grown" as COLBY's dam Laverne won 14 from 37 races for the Spring Grove (Casino) trainer and is a daughter of Pretty Malaika, who he trained to win 45 races.
Benne Fortuna, the dam of Pike, is a daughter of Hancock's remarkable producer Dulcinea, whose earlier offspring included Mahailia (28 wins), Mr Babicci (17 wins from 33 races) and Battistuzzi, who won at 14 out of 33 appearances.
Hancock's exciting pair won't have it easy in their quest for Tuesday's $20,000 first prize as fellow Northern Rivers trainer-breeders Kim Gooding and her partner John Clarson have three finalists.
John's dog Kulu Zac chased COLBY all the way but recorded a slick 24.12 in finishing second, while he won with that dog's litter sister Kulu Edge in 24.30.
Kulu Edge led throughout while partner Kim Gooding's dog Kulu Miracle came from fifth early and shrugged off a home turn collision to win in 24.49.
Kulu Miracle ran down John's bitch Kulu Honey, who had made the pace to the home corner.
"Kulu Zac has drawn box two in Tuesday's final, with Kulu Edge in four and Kulu Miracle in eight,'' Kim Gooding said.
"Kulu Zac is the fastest of our youngsters, he broke in exceptionally well.
"Kulu Miracle has been something of a surprise as shortly after being educated he had an accident in the yard.
"We are not sure how it happened but we heard him yelp and saw him fly up in the air before landing on his back.
"For a moment or two we thought he might have broken his back but he wound up with neck and shoulder problems.
"He was on cortisone for around eight weeks before gradually coming good.
"I took Kulu Miracle to Albion Park on December 6 and 13 and all he did was run into the back of his opponents, finishing fifth and then fourth.
"But he went a lot better when third in a Maiden heat there on December 20 before winning at Lismore so he is learning all the time.''
Like Hancock's finalists, the Clarson-Gooding qualifiers were bred by their owner-trainers.
Kulu Roo, the dam of Kulu Zac and Kulu Edge, won 10 of 30 races for Clarson and Gooding and is a daughter of another of their successful race bitches Kulu Flame, who scored 13 wins.
Kulu Flame is also the mother of Kulu Cha Ching, a winner of a dozen races and the dam of Kulu Miracle.
