In two of her past three Wentworth Park wins She's A Pearl has come from behind to score and she is likely to have to run down opponents in Friday night's Evans & Son Appreciation Stakes at headquarters.
She's A Pearl has won 22 of her 29 Wentworth Park appearances but in most of those victories she simply ran her rivals off their legs from moment the boxes opened.
But on Friday night the Andy Lord-trained champion has box four and will have to get around brilliant front-runners Fascinate Mel (box one) and Oro Rojo (two).
Fascinate Mel and Oro Rojo are each capable of reeling off dazzling first splits of 5.40 or better, so She's A Pearl is no certainty to adopt her customary role of pacemaker.
In the champion's favour though is that while she has drawn box four, Reflections in three is a good railer while Wyndra All Class, in box five, stays wide.
The "bolter" of the field with a chance is Ibrox Wildfire, who was beaten less than a length when second to She's A Pearl at her most recent Wentworth Park outing on March 18.
Ibrox Wildfire is resuming from a spell and trainer Billy Dance conceded that the cancellation of last Saturday night's Ladies Bracelet heats could have been a "blessing in disguise" for his bitch.
"She is definitely fitter now than she would have been last Saturday because I have been able to give her another trial at Wenty,'' Dance said.
"Ibrox Wildfire had a box-to-box trial on Tuesday night and went extra well, although because she has box eight on Saturday she is going to have to come out fast to have any hope of getting across the field.''
Andy Lord could land Friday's other feature event, the 520m Sires On Ice Appreciation Stakes with his fast starting but wide running Tommy Kade.
Although he veers right when he charges to the first turn, Tommy Kade, who has box two on Friday, has won five of his seven outings from boxes one to three.
Shanghai Suzie, who ran the race of her life when second to Tarawi Rocky in the group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic on April 22, stands out in Friday's opening event, the fifth grade GBOTA Welcome Stakes, 520m.
The lightly raced Shanghai Suzie has won four of just 10 starts and has box two, with trainer Greg Remfry delighted with that draw.
Remfry said: "She has not drawn closer to the fence than box four in her past six races.
"Shanghai Suzie clocked 30sec flat from box six at Wentworth Park in February but she is going better now.
"At Nowra she clocked 29.73 getting beaten and while she has always had terrific early pace, she is getting stronger at the finish.''
Central Coast trainer Joe McFadyen is enjoying a stellar year and has Hurricane's Fury boxed to win Friday's Ladies Night June 17 Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Hurricane's Fury has drawn perfectly in box one and trialled well at Maitland on Monday night after missing a run due to last Saturday's Wentworth Park abandonent.
McFadyen said: "Hurricane's Fury needs a lot of work, if he races on Saturday night he is ready to go around again the next day.
"So on Monday he and his kennelmate Sandstorm Rico trialled over 450m at Maitland.
"The fastest time during the race meeting had been 25.23 but Sandstorm Rico beat Hurricane's Fury by a length in 25.15.
"That was a top trial from Hurricane's Fury because Sandstorm Rico has had eight wins and 14 placings from 37 starts.''
Sandstorm Rico has box four in Friday's tougher fourth race, a 520m fifth grade, but is up against Nowra Puppy Classic winner Tarawi Rocky (box three) and the well drawn Esme Watson (eight).
