-2004.JPG)
Sandave Sapphire will target the Group 1 Association Cup after notching her third - and most impressive - long distance win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The greyhound led throughout and covered the 720m in 42.34 - 0.05 faster than her previous personal best.
And she would have gone faster had she not collided with San Joy going through the catching pen.
San Joy, who has good mid-race speed, attempted to rail underneath Sandave Sapphire with just under a lap to go and collided with the winner, who was momentarily turned sideways in the incident.
"The Association Cup heats on March 19 are Sandave Sapphire's immediate goal,'' trainer Dave Richardson said later.
Replacing Diana joined the ranks of the sport's numerous bargain buys when the Terry Callen owned and trained greyhound led from the middle stages to win a 520m fifth grade by three lengths on Saturday night.
Replacing Diana, who had won for Callen at The Gardens on February 5, zipped over the 520m in the handy time of 30.33.
After the race Callen disclosed that he had purchased Replacing Diana eight weeks ago for just $1700.
"She has been a terrific buy because she picked up $4133 tonight and I had a big win on her when I backed her in her success at The Gardens,'' Callen said. "All up she has earned me close to $8000 so has been a wonderful acquisition.''
Trainer Jason MACKAY has no ambitious plans for Zipping Bruiser despite the 22-month-old youngster's powerful win in a 520m Easter Egg Prelude at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Zipping Bruiser took his record to four wins from five starts when he came from fifth at the first turn and third on the back straight to snatch victory on the line by a half head.
After the race MACKAY said he was leaving his options open regarding races like the Easter Egg and New Sensation during the up coming Golden Easter Egg carnival.
"Zipping Bruiser is not a flash beginner and is still very green but he chases keenly and that is a bonus,'' MACKAY said.
"At this stage I think his future might be over a middle distance, beyond the 520m he won over tonight.''
Fastest time of the race meeting was posted by the John Chapman-trained She Oaks who recorded sizzling splits of 5.35 and 13.71 before landing a grade five final in 29.91.
She Oaks had led throughout in her heat, clocking 30.43, but showed the benefit of that 520m hit-out with a much quicker performance on Saturday night.
She Oaks is raced by the 10 member Yabius Syndicate, managed by Travis Cameron.
"Travis had an interest in Zipping Onyx, a smart dog I trained a couple of years back, and after subsequently buying a pacer he was keen to get back into the greyhounds,'' Chapman said.
"A client of mine, Mick Inzitari, reared She Oaks for me on a one-for-one basis so I agreed to sell her to Travis and his mate and they left her with me to train.''
See you next week!
