The judge couldn't separate Cosmic Boom and O'Halo for third last start at Sha Tin and the pair stands out as Triple Trio double bankers in their return bout at the same track on Sunday.
The middle pin marks the first time the two three-year-olds have stepped beyond 1,000m and around a bend, but both seem ready for their assignment - a weak Class Four (1,200m).
Cosmic Boom is typical of his sire Command's progeny - a tidy and no-nonsense racehorse who looks readily adaptable to a range of conditions - so he should take the step up in distance in his stride.
John Moore has sent the gelding to the races on three occasions up the Sha Tin straight for three placings. This time Jeff Lloyd takes over from the suspended Darren Beadman and gets a suitable barrier in five.
While Cosmic Boom has the experience edge, the John Size-trained O'Halo may have an upper hand in terms of upside.
Size sent the New Zealand-bred gelding to the trials six times, and critically, around a right-hand bend once, before producing him for his solid debut. O'Halo's was perhaps the better effort of the pair, given it was his first time out and he made more of the running, while Cosmic Boom sat on his back.
This time Cosmic Boom gets a better draw than his rival, with Douglas Whyte jumping from gate eight on O'Halo, but no matter who is favoured, both rank ahead of a mediocre field, with the hardest part finding extra horses to include.