Mackenna can lay claim to being Australia's best sprinter after clocking the second-fastest time in the history of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg with her all-the-way 29.33 performance at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Mackenna wins the 2024 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg
Since Ultra Sense won the inaugural Golden Easter Egg in 1990, only WA champion Tommy Shelby, who won in 29.27 in 2021, has gone quicker.
On Saturday Mackenna jumped in front and carved out scorching early splits of 5.35 and 13.62 to hold off a gallant Zipping Megatron, with the Jason Magri-trained dog taking ground off the winner in the straight but going under by one and a quarter lengths.
Ferness, trained by battler Ron Evans, ran the race of his life to finish third, two and three quarter lengths away.
Mackenna's win prompted owner Giorgio Alvaro to declare her the best greyhound he has raced.
After Mackenna won at Wentworth Park on March 30 in 29.20, second fastest time ever posted at the Glebe track, Alvaro said: "I owned a dog called Ben's Fury who won the group one Silver Chief in Melbourne in 2005 so until she wins a group one he holds that honour.''
After Saturday night's final Alvaro said: "Yep, she is better than Ben's Fury.''
Alvaro paid tribute to caretaker trainer, Sydney's Michelle Sultana, and to Melbourne trainer Paul Abela, who prepared Mackenna for her first start for her new owner when she resumed from a seasonal spell to win at Shepparton on February 26.
Alvaro said: "After I closed the deal but before I had deposited the purchase money, Mackenna came in season.
"Her owner called me and offered to let me change my mind but I said the money would be there that day and I definitely still wanted her.''
Mackenna's $350,000 collect on Saturday night means Alvaro, partner in Alvaro Brothers fruit and vegetable business at Sydney's Flemington markets, means her new owner has well and truly recouped his hefty six figure outlay.
It was a big night for the Sultana clan as Michelle's father Sam trained Au Contraire, who led most of the way to take out the $25,000 to the winner Ausure Ultra Sense final.
Following his barnstorming win in Saturday night's group one Farrell's Association Cup at Wentworth Park the Jack Smith-trained Palawa King is off to The Gardens next Friday night for the heats of the Ladbrokes 715, with the $500,000 to the winner final slated for May 3.
"Palawa King finished third in the 715 last year but is racing better now,'' Smith said on Saturday night.
"Where last year he would charge into his rivals, he now waits and bides his time, threading his way through the field.
"He is always going to be a slow beginner, although tonight he actually beat one rival out of the traps.''
Palawa King took out Saturday night's $75,000 to the winner event by two lengths from the strong finishing CANYA AMY, trained by David Smith, with Valpolicella one and a half lengths away third.
The winner covered the 720m in 42.06, well outside the race record of 41.53 posted in 2023 by that year's Ladbrokes 715 winner Zipping Orlando.
Palawa King's win on Saturday was his first group one success in NSW, with Smith having owned the 2004 Association Cup winner Irinka Barbie.
A bold training gamble paid off for Ray Webster when Father Rick won Saturday night's GRNSW Masters Final by five lengths in 29.63, the dog's fastest of 10 Wentworth Park victories.
Father Rick surprised punters when he was second around the first turn, hitting the front leaving the back straight to win easily from early leader Coco Model.
After the race trainer Ray Webster said: "I took a punt and had kept Father Rick on the lead for the past eight days.
"I wanted him to be as fresh as possible because I knew he had to be up reasonably close to the pace early and it worked out well.''
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