FIREWORKS are expected in tomorrow's ninth event when two of the quickest horses in the land, local-bred sprint champion SAINT CECELIA and the American, RON RON, clash at 1200 metres.

Both horses have won and lost in their last two races. RON RON was beaten by THE GUV at a mile in the September 25 Bob Mayall Memorial. However, she returned to set the record straight with a near nine-length win in the Imported Mile on Superstakes Day.

SAINT CECELIA was also an impressive Superday winner, stopping the clock at 1:10.1 in the 1200-metre Caribbean Sprint. However, she was ridden into the ground by Winston Griffiths in the December 4 Gold Cup in which she was caught and beaten by HAIL THE GENIUS, who she allowed 26lb.

There's very little between the top two in the scale for what will be their first meeting.

SAINT CECELIA will carry 58.5 kilos due to apprentice Jevvanne Erwin's two-kilo bug claim whereas RON RON will have 60.0 with Shane Ellis in the irons.

They are drawn beside each other in the small six-horse field, RON RON at post-position one and SAINT CECELIA breaking from stall two.

With no matching speed in the event, RON RON has no choice but to try and outrun SAINT CECELIA, a tall order if there was ever one.

Even though SAINT CECELIA has not been extended in her preparations, galloping a modest 1:01.0 on the round course, by her standards, she can run at top speed for a good five and a half furlongs, a blistering pace which probably only Wayne DaCosta's DOUBLE THE HONEY dare follow in a sprint.

worked well

RON RON has it all to do. She will have to chase with a weight she has never carried, 57.5 kilos being the heaviest she has ever run with.

In addition, her sprinting mettle was twice exposed by DOUBLE THE HONEY in back-to-back races at 1100 and 1200 metres, respectively, last year.

RON RON has worked well, though, clocking 1:00.4 the same morning SAINT CECELIA posted 1:01.0. She's no slouch but will have to run the race of her life to catch and beat the lightning-fast SAINT CECELIA, who is already three pounds lighter at the scale.

Erwin is a useful apprentice and does well in driving finishes, which will suit SAINT CECELIA if RON RON gets within striking distance in the final half-furlong.

Elsewhere on the card, the classic-bound three-year-olds flex their muscles in the Hotline and Sir Howard Stakes at 1200 metres.

Whereas the Sir Howard is a sitter for Wayne DaCosta's JET SETTER, SWEET BROWNING is being prepared with precision for the classics by Richard Azan.

Every work he asks of her, she responds with a stronger gallop. She posted 1:09.1 on the round course last Sunday morning, the final five furlongs in 1:01.3, a winning work for the Hotline.