Ever since 23/4 lengths separated the top five horses in last month's Jockey Club Sprint, the consensus has been that the parity of the sprinting stocks meant barrier draws would make the difference in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint.
And as it turns out, the Group Two lead-up winner, Little Bridge, has drawn a good marble again and can reprise his performance in Sunday's Group One - the middle leg of an International Day Triple Trio at Sha Tin.
Danny Shum Chap-shing's stable star got the best of the ballot in the Jockey Club Sprint, drawing five to main rival Entrapment's seven. The starting positions look remarkably similar this time, where they have drawn three and five respectively.
Last time Little Bridge was a length in front of Entrapment in the run and it made all the difference. Gerald Mosse was able to dictate terms, while Douglas Whyte was probably further back on Entrapment than planned and his relatively inexperienced horse overraced, forcing him to come three wide earlier than he would have hoped.
Mosse claims his mount still had something in store crossing the line a quarter-length in front and luck in running aside, Little Bridge just might be a better horse than Entrapment. After all, he did finish ahead of him two starts ago in the Premier Bowl as well.
Little Bridge is the banker, but Entrapment has to be included on the strength of his amazing consistency and possible upside.
Hong Kong sprinters have won eight of the last nine runnings of this race and none of the overseas raiders seem overwhelming dangers to the strong home team.