Littermates Thrilling Brat and Thrilling Quest will engage in what promises to be an epic battle with the proven Australian staying litter brothers Zipping Lad and Zipping Malfoy in tonight's A$34,800 Summer Cup at group three level over 720m on Sydney's Wentworth Park.
And after winning both heats last Saturday it's the Zipping brothers who hold a points lead going into the final, while the Thrilling pair provided the race quinella in those heats.
So can the Karen Walsh-trained, Gary Harding-bred and owned Thrilling pair upset their Zipping counterparts? You bet-ya they can. And here's why. Thrilling Brat was brilliant in winning his 720m debut assignment on Wentworth Park two weeks ago. His 42.15sec winning time was just 3 lengths outside of the track record.
He appeared to be "flat" in his heat, giving pacemaking Zipping Lad around a 10-length start when racing down the back straight the last time. Then it was almost like he flicked on a turbo-charger switch, because he fairly rocketed home over the concluding stages, getting to within a length of Zipping Lad.
"Brat has freshened nicely during this week and has been bouncing around like the Brat of old back home. I feel that his debut run here may have taken a bit out of him. I'm confident that he's going into the race in peak of condition," said Walsh from Sydney.
Known quick trapper Thrilling Quest has surprisingly missed the jump in both Sydney races. She quickly recovered to set the pace in her debut race, before being run down late. Last Saturday she was again tardy at trap rise, which led to her striking traffic problems. She settled in midfield, but it was her solid finishing effort, when closing to 1.5 lengths of pacemaking winner Zipping Malfoy, that really impressed.
"She has trained on really great during this week. She worked up strongly, as did Brat, the other day and I believe she has peaked nicely for Saturday. I'm just hoping she can begin better on Saturday and by doing so she is likely to get a nice tow into the race," said Walsh on Thursday.
Leading Australian trainer Jason MacKay prepared potent stayer Zipping Lad for his 42.27sec heat victory.
He has the best winning 720m time in this field and his record from the one-trap is unblemished, having won all five starts.
And his 720m staying record here is very tidy, winning five and placing twice from seven starts over the Sydney headquarters' ultimate race distance.
Zipping Malfoy is currently in career best form.
Two races ago, he upset most of Australia's leading stayers when winning the group one staying feature over 715m on Melbourne Cup night. In his Summer Cup heat, Zipping Malfoy led throughout for his 42.37sec heat victory.
Just like his brother, he has the ability to hop out smartly and on to the pace.
The race will be broadcast live on TAB TV and Radio Trackside at 11:50pm.