El Magnifico set the time standard in Saturday night's heats of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic with a personal best 29.59 performance but connections are not getting carried away just yet.
Bruce Fletcher, whose wife Julie trains El Magnifico, said later: "He did not come out brilliantly tonight but he began as well as we can ever expect.
"Having box one was a big asset because he was able to rail underneath the leader to hit the front at the first turn.
"If El Magnifico could draw box one in his semi and in the final we would be confident but from a middle box the dog is going to need a bit of luck.
"I wasn't surprised he ran home in 11.61sec because he is so strong and after the race I could not even coax him into having a drink.
"El Magnifico will run 600 metres for sure.''
Fletcher was in awe of the performance of the Brett Bravo-trained Ando's Mac, whose all-the-way win in 29.65sec was clearly second fastest of the 10 Peter Mosman heats.
"Ando's Mac is a nice pup and while he still he a way to go he is doing every thing right,'' Bravo said after his dog's win. "He usually begins smartly and just gets out and goes, and on top of that, he is as strong as a bull at the finish.''
Bargo trainer Harry Markou, who won the 2006 Peter Mosman final with Faithful Love, landed his fourth successive Wentworth Park win with He's Some Love in Saturday night's second Classic heat.
He's Some Love led all the way from box eight, and despite veering to the left in the early stages, was able to win in 30.11 and run home in 11.89.
"After his last win at Wenty on May 21 I freshened He's Some Love up with the Classic heats in mind,'' Markou said. "All he has had since May 21 were two short slips up the straight and then, when last week's meeting was washed out, I trialled him over 400m at Bulli on Monday.
"I was a bit disappointed with his time tonight of 30.11sec but he should be improved and I believe He's Some Love can get down to 29.80 here.''
Caretaker NSW trainer Mark Bell was over the moon at Rippin Hayne's effort in leading throughout to easily defeat Brett Bravo's prolific winner Unlawful Entry in heat seven of the Classic.
Bell had given Rippin Hayne two trials at Wentworth Park in preparation for Saturday night's race but was concerned when the dog missed the jump each time and recorded slow first splits of 5.68 and then 5.59.
Before Saturday night's race Bell predicted Rippin Hayne would improve and said: "If he can get down to 5.50 to the first mark I think he can hold the lead at the first turn, because this dog rails like you would not believe.''
Rippin Hayne jumped smartly from box one and after stopping the clock at 5.50 with a lap to go, he staged a thrilling head-and-head duel with Unlawful Entry in the middle stages.
"I thought we were 'gone' when Unlawful Entry joined Rippin Hayne on the back straight so it was a big effort by our dog to draw away and win.
"When Robbie Britton, his Victorian trainer, first got him, he told owner Shayne Williams he could not expect Rippin Hayne to be much more than a handy fifth grade dog.
"But he has since told Shayne that Rippin Hayne has virtually got better with every run and he showed that tonight.''
See you next week!
