The eight heats of the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder (520m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night are littered with class, but none moreso than the sixth qualifier, race eight on the program.
Multiple Group 1 winner Xylia Allen (box four) will clash with National Sprint runner-up Tomac Bale (box three), Group 1 Sportingbet Vic Peters hero Belfast Johnny (box five), Wentworth Park track record holder Punch One Out (box six), and well performed Victorians Iona Seven (box seven), Gold Town (box eight), Dyna Kayla (box one) and Hawk Alone (box two).
Only the winners from Saturday's heats progress to the final on January 18.
"(Trainer) Sam Sultana rang me after the draw came out and said 'you've made the final'," Troy Vella, trainer of Belfast Johnny, said.
"It is a very tough heat and the box draw makes it a difficult task for my dog."
However, Vella is far from conceding defeat and is looking at the positives going into the race.
Belfast Johnny has won his past three starts in impressive fashion, the latest at Bulli on January 1 in a time 26.38 for the 472m trip.
"At Bulli he'd had a break since his last Wentworth Park win so he needed the run," Vella said.
"Then I put him up the straight on Tuesday so he is 110%, but he has to come out of the boxes as good as he has at his past couple of starts at Wentworth Park."
Tomac Bale has not raced at Wentworth Park but trialled solo at the track on December 27 and recorded a smart 29.78, with a first section of 5.40, and he led the National Sprint Final at The Meadows when run down by Xylia Allen, who has recorded a flying 29.47 at the Glebe track.
Punch One Out has rejoined the Jason Mackay kennel after a successful stint with owner Grant Fennelly and is first-up since finishing fourth behind Xylia Allen at Sandown on November 11.
"When I had a good look at the race I thought if Belfast Johnny comes out at his best and can be second or third up the back then I know how strong he is," Vella said.
"He has started from box five three times for two wins and a second. He had the same box in his heat and semi-final of the Vic Peters and made it through to the final.
"To be honest I was hoping to draw inside four but box five doesn't change things too much. It is a top field but he is going to be in the Group races for the next six months at least so he has to get used to it."
Black Magic Opal will start from box six in heat four of the Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder and a clean start should see the Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner progress to the final.
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