Harry Ovens has over four seconds to make up on fellow heat winner Forever Yin in the Griffith Pacers Cup on Saturday, but reinsman Jackson Painting is confident he can do so.
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The Euroley pair both tasted success on Tuesday night and have drawn well for the $12,240 final.
While Forever Yin has drawn two, Painting is hoping superior gate speed from four can be the bigger advantage.
"Obviously he (Forever Yin) is the one to beat but we are going to be in front so he will have to run us down," Painting said.
"It should be a good race between the two but whether I can hold him out is another thing."
After a win at Riverina Paceway, Harry Ovens was able to dictate terms from the front in his heat.
He clocked a mile rate of 2:03.7 while Forever Yin went 1:59.4 for the 2150 metres.
Painting was pleased with his efforts and is confident he can go significantly faster if required to.
"I was happy with him and he did all he had to do," he said. "He won easy really.
"We weren't out to break any records with the final in mind on Saturday but we qualified and didn't have to knock him around so he should be spot on to go."
However Blake Jones is also pleased with how Forever Yin has come through his first-up run.
"He went really good and seems to have pulled up alright," Jones said.
"His heart rate was a little bit high after the race but we were expecting that knowing he was going into it pretty under done but I didn't pull the plugs on him or drive him out."
Painting and his uncle David Kennedy are also looking for Orotesoro to back up her impressive debut win.
The full-sister to Whereyabinboppin won by 23 metres and Painting expects she will be better for the race experience.
"She hasn't gone backwards since her first run and she was pretty green so I think the run at Albury would have done her the world of good," Painting said.
"She will be thereabouts in the finish as her work has been pretty good."
The pair also line up London Lady who had won three straight before a sixth last time out.
Painting hopes she can work up onto the speed despite a second row draw.
The first race of the Carnival Of Cups meeting is at 6.10pm but due to COVID restrictions there is no public entry to Dalton Park.
Courtney Rees
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
