ANTHONY NUNES' debutant, TWIST OF FATE, is the ante-post favourite for tomorrow afternoon's trophy race, the 1000-metre straight Mercury Sprint for three-year-olds, but his stablemate CIO MOTO, catches STAR Sports' fancy instead in what could be a real twist of fate for railbirds.

Whereas TWIST OF FATE went quicker at exercise last Wednesday morning, 58.4 for 1000 metres straight, CIO MOTO, who clocked 59.3, appears better trained to make a winning debut.

In addition, CIO MOTO's breeding, Image Maker - Instead of Roses, smacks of class, making him a half-brother to the versatile Cool Water, a Grade I campaigner, who played second fiddle to his legendary stablemate MENUDO and even won the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint in 2001.

TWIST OF FATE might have blazed from the gate last Wednesday, catching the attention of title-chasing Dane Nelson and his agent. However, he has not been seen at exercise since, whereas CIO MOTO returned Sunday morning to stride three furlongs in 40.4 from the gate.

Prior to Wednesday, when both horses galloped out of the straight, CIO MOTO looked more forward, clocking 1:01.2 on the round course, whereas TWIST OF FATE's best was a half-mile in 48.0 flat.

With just eight races scheduled, there isn't much room for Track Price Plus Pick-6 bettors to manoeuvre in avoiding knotty races.

However, the card isn't all that tough, as form runners should be followed from the opening event where Wayne DaCosta's SHE'S MAGIC should beat non-winners-of-two for a second straight win.

The grey filly has been taken to task at exercise since putting away RUNNIN ON EMPTY and JUNGLE QUEEN at 1200 metres a month ago. She clocked 1:07.4 for 1100 metres last Friday and did well enough for third behind MY SPACE and stablemate LITTLE WASP in December, racing against multiple winners, proving she should be better than non-winners-of-two.

Take MAZDA POWER to follow-up in the second at a mile after his battling second to LIGHTNING MCQUEEN at 1500 metres. Only a head separated MAZDA POWER from having his next race among non-winners-of-two and the additional half-furlong should make things even better for the four-year-old gelding.

PURE JUSTICE represents a 'loose horse' in the third at 1100 metres, a lone speed enjoying the form of his life, having won four of his last five races and still on top of his game.

Percy Hussey's RISK REWARDS took a lot of cash with him as a 1-4 favourite at 1200 metres on New Year's Day but has returned to please at exercise, 1:00.0 for 1000 metres straight, and gets the nod at the distance ahead of KIKO, who was touched off at 1100 metres by FIRELINK two Saturdays ago.

GALLAVANTER is up in class off a claim for the fifth, at a mile, but won with such authority when beating DESIGNED FOR LUCK in a decent time, 1:26.4 for seven, that he should be followed.

GIRLOFMYDREAMS looks stretched out at 1820 metres in the eighth but should be able to slip away from the field down the backstretch before THE DIVING KING comes calling in the stretch run.