Let It Develop, one of owner-breeder Peter Spiteri's "three musketeers" scored his 26th win when he took out Saturday night's Free-For-All at Wentworth Park, just lasting to beat the luckless El Magnifico by a head.
Spiteri's Let It Develop and litter brothers Jack Kade and Pierro Kade have now won 67 races between them, and although rising four years old the trio is showing no signs of slowing down.
On Saturday night Let It Develop dwelt at the start from box seven but showing his customary early zip, swept around early leader Funky Punk to snatch the lead going through the catching pen.
After setting up a big lead in the middle stages, Let It Develop faded in the straight but managed to hold off El Magnifico, who was hampered at box rise and had to come from last at the first turn.
Meanwhile, Lovelace will be set for the Group 3 Chairman's Cup heats on September 3 following her courageous win in Saturday night's opening 720m fifth grade heat event.
The odds-on favourite missed the jump slightly but railed through to be third at the first turn where she collided with Lorna Belle.
But Lovelace knuckled down and after being second on the back straight hit the front approaching the home bend to win by two lengths.
A minor placegetter in My Boy Brodie's Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup win on June 9, Lovelace will go around again in the fifth grade final at Wentworth Park next Saturday night before being prepared for the Chairman's Cup series.
"I wasn't too worried when Lovelace did not make the pace because she actually tends to go better when she comes from behind," Lovelace's trainer John Smart said.
"She gets a bit lazy when she leads immediately."
Veteran owner-trainer Paul Bigeni showed a keen eye for talent when he bought Gate Blaster, who won first-up at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, after noticing the greyhound contesting a minor race at Dubbo in April.
"I was impressed with him and bought him from his owner, Danielle Pringle, not long after," Bigeni said.
"He has been a great buy because Gate Blaster has now had six runs for me and won four times. And Gate Blaster had never seen Wentworth Park until Saturday night, not even in a trial."
Gunnedah Cup winner Suzi Cargo rewarded her 68-year-old owner-trainer-breeder Ron Steel after a six hour drive from WELLINGTON by taking out Saturday night's Ladbrokes Odds Boost Stakes.
Suzi Cargo has now won a remarkable 26 of 54 starts, with many being photo finish victories, similar to Saturday's last stride half head win over Cabello Mucho.
"She often leads in her races and then darts off on the home turn and relinquishes the lead," Steel said on Saturday.
"But she nearly always comes again to get up and win. Suzi Cargo is a real heart-stopper but she has now won her past six starts in succession so while I won't get home until daybreak, because I always have two or three stops along the way, it is worth it."
See you next week!
