La Grand Logie won his eighth Wentworth Park race on Saturday night but what made owner-trainer Jeff Eaton especially proud was that the dog had taken out a Free For All for the first time.
La Grand Logie, who had led all the way to win his two previous Wentworth Park starts in fifth grade company, coped comfortably with the rise in class to hold out noted strong finishers Are Jip and Fantastic Spiral for a half length win.
While La Grand Logie's time of 30.01 was wide of his personal best Wentworth Park figures of 29.73, it set the standard for the 11 race card on a rain-affected track.
"This dog is gradually getting stronger at the end of 520 metres, which is where he was found lacking early in his career," Eaton said after Saturday night's race.
"A month or so back his form slumped slightly and he seemed to lack confidence. Confidence is a big thing for a greyhound and La Grand Logie was able to get on the lure and adopt his favourite role of pacemaker when he won at Wentworth Park on October 31.
"Since then he has been racing with confidence again but he is a leader and is always going to have to hold off the really strong finishers."
Eaton's sister-in-law, trainer Noelene Holloway, notched her 17th Wentworth Park win with Queen Esther in a heat of the fifth grade Evans & Son Jewellers Bitches Series, 520m.
Queen Esther, who once had to lead to win, came from fourth at the catching pen and third on the back straight to win by a length in 30.50.
Her win completed an exciting 48 hours for Holloway, who won at Maitland on Thursday with Queen Esther's sister Fascinate Mary.
It was Fascinate Mary's 22nd win while Queen Esther has now saluted the judge on 25 occasions.
While the duo turned four in August they are racing as well as ever.
Until La Grand Logie took out Saturday's top grade race, fastest time of the night had been posted by the lightly raced Good Odds Regina, who led throughout in an Evans & Son Jewellers heat.
Good Odds Regina was having only her second start in five months.
Mrs Huang and Skate Thin Ice gave trainer Luke Azzopardi a winning double, winning fifth grades in 30.52 and a smart 30.05 respectively.
But while Mrs Huang's time was slow, Azzopardi warned that she can go much faster.
"She is better suited to a one turn track like Bulli than she is at Wentworth Park," Azzopardi said.
"And while Mrs Huang led all the way tonight, she doesn't have to lead to win. I actually think she is a better greyhound when she can sit on the pace in the early stages."
Wentworth Park fans were treated to thrilling finishes in the two opening events, with the judge unable to separate pacemaker Kevin In Bangkok and Kava Blu in the second race.
Kava Blu's performance was undoubtedly the run of the night, as the dog was skittled and almost fell when taken out at the first turn by a wide runner.
When Kevin In Bangkok had grabbed the lead going through the catching pen, Kava Blu had been relegated to a distant fifth and still had only three rivals behind him on the back straight.
His performance to dead-heat for first was a sensational effort.
The other unlucky runner on Saturday night was Star Torana, who was beaten just over two lengths into third place behind Queen Esther and Lois The Weapon.
Star Torana missed the start, was checked at the first turn, then collided when fourth, and going fast out wide, on the back straight.
"She has been flying in trials but is racing with no luck," trainer Shaun Evans said later.
See you next week!
