Super SENOR took his record to four wins and a second from five starts at Bulli on Friday and after the race trainer Julie Fletcher rated the performance her greyhound's best.
The greyhound, who usually an instant pacemaker in his races, dwelt at the start but after trailing Good Judge approaching the first bend, hit the front with 250m to go and won comfortably in a slick 26.39.
He defeated track record holder Sandave Prince and Wentworth Park star Ritza Lenny and is now set to take that pair on again in this week's 472m final.
"It was the hottest field SENOR">Super SENOR has met and the way he won made it his best effort,'' Fletcher said.
"I hand-slipped him post-to-post at Dapto four days earlier and SENOR">Super SENOR had not been slipped like that before. When I released him he hesitated - he did not seem to know what to do because he is accustomed to coming out of the starting boxes.
"I figure that is why he dwelt slightly at box rise at Bulli on Friday, so hopefully he will begin a bit quicker this week.''
Fletcher, who has had a string of fast greyhounds over the past 30 years, paid SENOR">Super SENOR a high accolade, rating him the "fastest dog I have trained since Ultimate Wish.''
That is praise indeed as Ultimate Wish won 11 of 14 starts between January and June 1996, with his career coming to a premature end through injury in a heat of the Tweed Heads Galaxy on June 8.
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Most greyhounds begin their racing career after a single, mandatory performance trial but the Judy Fisher-trained Et Cetera won his third "pt'' at Bulli on Friday and seems on the verge of an outstanding career.
Et Cetera had previously won 400m trials at Bulli in 22.46 and 22.74 before stepping up to 472m on Friday.
It proved a success, with Et Cetera coming from fourth at the start and second at the first turn to win in a fast 26.38.
"Et Cetera is not a flash beginner at this stage and has had a few little issues along the way," Fisher's husband Ron said. "The main reason his race debut has been delayed is that Judy has been saving him up for the heats of the Graham Gibbons Memorial Maiden at Bulli on February 6.
"John Callaughan is training a very smart maiden named Elantris and Et Cetera, who is that greyhound's brother, is every bit as quick.''
The Graham Gibbons Memorial promises to unearth some outstanding prospects as the February 19 final is worth $12,000 to the winner.
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Among Friday's most impressive Bulli winners was the Ron Marsden-trained youngster Hardaway Highway, who took the lead at the first turn before defeating a smart lineup in 22.53.
Marsden has no illusions about Hardaway Highway becoming his next Wentworth Park performer, though.
"He won't get 520 metres at Wenty,'' the candid Marsden said. "While he has good early pace Hardaway Highway is a poor beginner.
"When he won at Bulli on Friday he wasn't first away but he did come out just behind the leaders and that was the best I have seen him begin.
"I'll try and pinch another fifth grade with him at Bulli and then consider my options with the dog.''
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Apologies to Northern River owner Brad Northfield who gently corrected me after I wrote recently that Daily Tide, in 1965, was the last dog to win the Vic Peters Classic and Paws Of Thunder double.
Of course Brad's dog Leon Mal, who was trained in Sydney by Don McMillan, took out those two finals in 1993.
