Fear The Dragon is the only dog in Saturday night's Follow Redden Photo Video Stakes to have broken 30sec at Wentworth Park and after drawing box one the exciting prospect looks the bet of the night.
Trained by the in-form Michelle Sultana, Fear The Dragon exited box one for the first time in a 450m event at Maitland on October 23 and won in a slick 25.22.
At his next outing Fear The Dragon took his tally to an impressive four wins from six starts with an easy victory over Bolt Wave in a 520m race at Richmond.
That effort enhances Fear The Dragon's prospects for Saturday night as Bolt Wave won by 10 lengths in a sizzling 29.57 at Wentworth Park on September 20.
Fear The Dragon missed the jump at Richmond and gave Bolt Wave a start on the back straight before surging away to score by over three lengths.
Saturday's Ladbrokes Mates Mode Final is a fifth grade event but the clash between Zipping Megatron and Battle Tears promises to be the highlight of the night's racing.
Zipping Megatron has been undefeated in four Wentworth Park races since bungling the start completely at his debut when runner-up there on October 4.
His four wins have been in top grade times of 29.42, 29.44 and 29.65 along with a nippy 29.85 and he will be favourite after coming up with box three, the draw he had in two of his Wenty wins.
But Battle Tears, who has the luxury of box one, will test the boom youngster if he repeats his brilliant all-the-way win from box six at Wentworth Park on November 3.
In that race Battle Tears led throughout and won by 13 lengths in 29.58, easily fastest time of the night.
But it was his blistering early splits of 5.38 and 13.70 which suggest he only has to step away cleanly to give Zipping Megatron a tough contest.
Michael Ivers, trainer of Battle Tears, said: "If Zipping Megatron happened to jump quickly he will probably win.
"After all, he is nearly two years old while Battle Tears is just 20 months of age.
"So Zipping Megatron has the age and experience advantage on Battle Tears but my dog is improving all the time, he is only just learning how to race.
"I don't normally launch my dogs' careers until they are 20 months old but with Battle Tears and his siblings I started them off early because there was a big maiden series beginning at Wentworth Park on October 4.''
Our Mechanic, who gave David Lewis his first Wentworth Park winner in 25 years as a trainer when he ran away with a Masters event last Saturday night, will tackle Saturday's Congratulations Vivian Jones Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.
Trainer David Lewis admits he was overcome with excitement at his dog's win, saying: "The other trainers in the race reckoned I started dancing when Our Mechanic hit the front on the back straight.
"I was hoping to have him back in a Masters race this Saturday but was told he is now grade one in that category so he has to take on all aged dogs instead.
"But while he had box eight when he won last Saturday, I think box one, his draw on Saturday, will come in handy this week.
"The field is obviously stronger so I'm happy he will have the inside running from the boxes to the first turn.''
Our Mechanic has had box one on four occasions for a win and two placings, with his success being in a fast 25.04 over 450m at Maitland exactly two years ago.
