Two things may stand between Pacific Vampire and a second helping on April 27.

Forget garlic and crosses. The widest gate in 13 and step-up in grade to the $70,000 Class 3 race (1,200m) may well be worse foes.

But, from the hiding he gave his Class 4 rivals in a Polytrack 1,000m on debut, he may have what it takes to beat such speed bumps.

The combined beaten margin aggregate of 13½ lengths and sub-59sec timing at his two barrier trials add to the buzz the former three-time Sydney winner (all over 1,000m) has created since his first Kranji appearance.

Formerly under now-Hong Kong-based trainer Mark Newnham, Pacific Vampire (then known as Shadow Vampire) cut his teeth in short sharp sprints in Australia.

More pointedly, he was successful when ridden quietly there.

Well aware of the dichotomy, and given the double-figure draw at his second Kranji outing, trainer Jason Ong may be tempted to bring out his Australian alter ego this time.

At two of his wins in November 2022, at Kembla Grange and Warwick Farm, he came from near last.

He could be ridden a little more conservatively for a first test – in centrefield with cover, before getting on his bike from the 400m.