TRAINER Dan McCarthy has his fingers crossed history repeats when Ashlor aims for back-to-back Eldorado victories at Wangaratta on Sunday.
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Ashlor claimed the $100,000 feature last year over Widgee Turf by the barest of margins as the pair staged a stirring duel over the final 400m of the 1300m sprint.
The pair gapped the rest of the field by almost seven lengths.
Similar to last year the Eldorado once again looms as a match race between Ashlor and Yulong January who has also accepted for a race at Flemington on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Yulong January will start favourite if he makes the trek to Wangaratta after notching two wins at Flemington and a minor placing at Caulfield from his past three starts.
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McCarthy conceded the Eldorado appeared to be a two horse race on recent form.
"On exposed form it would be no surprise if Eldorado and Yulong January clear out from the rest of the field to fight out the finish similar to last year," McCarthy said.
"They will probably travel one-two in the run and one of us will lead.
"The other horse will sit second and when the pressure goes on they look to be in too good of form not to clear out and have a two-horse war down the straight like last year."
Ashlor will be aiming to break a 12-month drought after predominantly contesting group and listed races over the past year.
The son of Hard Spun was beaten just over a length at his most recent run at Randwick in group three company.
"He mightn't have been placed in three starts since resuming last month but he has been in some very, very strong races," he said.
"He certainly hasn't been disgraced either and with a little bit of luck could have easily been placed in any of them.
"This is the lowest grade race he has contested for 12 months and best chance to get back in the winner's stall."