One of the features at Northam this afternoon will be the battle between promising debutants Pago Rock and Cleopatra’s Party in the visitnorthamwa.com.au Maiden (1100m).

Both gallopers have been ultra impressive in two recent barrier trial clashes and similar efforts should see them fighting out the finish in another tight contest.

Pago Rock has current bragging rights with a first-up victory over 400 metres on April 19 and repeated the dose a fortnight later over 1000 metres.

He appears to have a touch a class and looks the horse to beat but you can’t discount the prospects of Cleopatra’s Party who will make him work every inch of the way.

“Pago Rock looks a smart type and has the wood over us at the moment,” said trainer Paul Jordan.

“But we haven’t been too far off the mark and very little has separated the pair.

“I’m more than happy with him going into his first race.”

Jordan is equally buoyant about the prospects of Brave Knell in the Dunnings Caltex Maiden (1100m).

The two-year-old will make her debut on the back of one win and a third placing from two barrier trials and according to Jordan little separates the Medal Of Honour filly from stablemate Cleopatra’s Party.

“There is a cigarette paper between them,” Jordan said.

“I think she will be thereabouts for her debut.

“I thought she was going to win her barrier trial and go past the winner but she hit a brick wall close to home.

“That should have topped her off nicely and have her prepared for a solid effort this afternoon.”

She will have to be at her best up against Love You Like That who blew them away by over four lengths in a trial two weeks ago and from barrier one and with the services of William Pike there is much to like about Love You Like That.

Jordan has taken a cautious approach with Dante’s Fury gelding Durante and it appears to have paid dividends with a creditable third placing to Littlemissbusiness on April 28.

It was his best effort in three starts and he has the capability to go on with it in the Westspeed 3YO-Maiden (1600m).

 “I was taken by his last run when caught deep and I thought it was a fair effort,” Jordan said.