Anthony Azzopardi's white hot form continued in the best possible way on Saturday night with the Londonderry trainer landing the Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder with Asa Flying Spur and the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate with No Donuts.
The group race winners were part of a four victory haul for Azzopardi, who also scored with Il Bacaro and Asa Killa Queen, both candidates for next Saturday night's Group 1 National Derby heats.
Asa Flying Spur, who is surely the most improved greyhound in training, led throughout to score the Paws Of Thunder win in 29.83 over 2015 Ladies Bracelet winner Elfen Bale and the Jason Mackay-trained Smart Missile.
Two races later No Donuts (pictured, winning a Vic Peters heat last year), who has been in Azzopardi's care for only three weeks, produced a sensational 41.97 performance to lead throughout and topple Whittaker and Porrentruy in the Summer Distance Plate (720m).
Asa Flying Spur had failed to break the 30 second barrier in winning a modest fourth and fifth grade at Wentworth Park on December 19 but now looms as a leading contender for the National Derby series.
His kennelmate, the 2015 Vic Peters Classic winner Zambora Brockie, had no luck in the Paws Of Thunder, after being second early from box six but colliding with Tap Out Rose when attempting to cross to the rails at the first turn.
Biggest run among the beaten division in the Paws Of Thunder was by Nangar Flame, who began so poorly he was eight lengths behind the second last dog approaching the first turn.
Nangar Flame rattled home to finish fourth, and would definitely have been placed had he not been skittled at the top of the straight.
Nangar Flame and his litter brother and kennelmate Nangar Flash, who came from fourth on the back straight to win The Collerson, a listed event for Paws Of Thunder heat placegetters, will tackle the National Derby heats next Saturday night.
No Donuts, who won the 650m Sale Cup on Boxing Night, appeared to struggle at the end of 720m when he won his Summer Distance Plate heat in 42.42, but he handled the trip easily in Saturday's final, joining the rare band of greyhounds to have got under the 42 second mark for the Wentworth Park 720m trip.
