Knight Sprite justified trainer Gayle Masterson's confidence in nominating him for the National Sprint Championship series by trouncing a star-studded line-up in Saturday night's Free For All at Wentworth Park.
Having his first race since finishing fifth to Outside Pass in a heat of the Winter Cup at Albion Park on June 30, Knight Sprite (pictured) exploded out of box two and gave his seven classy rivals no chance, posting an electrifying first split of 5.39.
His second section of 13.79 was equally brilliant and by then Knight Sprite had the race in his keeping, winning by over five lengths and covering the 520m in a smart 29.97.
"Before tonight I had already sent in his entry for the Nationals and believe Knight Sprite was the first nomination received," Masterson said.
"He made the pace at Albion Park but lost ground sharply from the home turn onwards.
"A veterinary examination later showed he had torn chest muscles so it probably happened on the corner.
"Before tonight I had only been able to give him one trial so he should be improved by the run and be on song for the August 6 National heats at Wentworth Park.
"I was worried how he would jump tonight because when I went to put him in the starting boxes he tried to back out on me.
"He does that sometimes but it worked out okay because he timed the start perfectly.''
Benteke will also be entered for the National Sprint Championship series after posting a fastest time of the night 29.89 in his all the way victory in the AAA Radiator Specialists Final, 520m.
Benteke resume racing after being sidelined with tonsilitis when he finished second to Mack Tux in his AAA Radiator heat on July 2.
"After Benteke won at Bulli on May 13 his muzzle was full of saliva,'' trainer Ruth King said on Saturday night.
"Our veterinary surgeon diagnosed tonsilitis and after treating him the dog returned to work and began trialling as well as ever.
"He could have been a run short when he finished second in his heat of tonight's race and when he trialled 29.40 at Dapto last Monday I knew he was back to his best.
"Benteke's owners are keen to see him have a crack at the Nationals but as tonight's race was only a fifth grade he might not get a start.''
Berzerk's box manners often let him down but the former Victorian was on his best behaviour at Wenty on Saturday night, 'nailing' the jump ideally to lead throughout in a 520m fourth grade.
Now trained in NSW by Jason MACKAY, Berzerk began fast from box one and, despite racing wide, was never going to be defeated, scoring by four lengths from kennelmate Fever Pitch in a slick 30.01.
"If Berzerk jumped like that all the time he would be more than a handy greyhound,'' MACKAY said.
"But he goes up and down in the boxes and most of the time, when the lids open, he is up in the air, either on his way up or down.
"Tonight though he had just landed when the boxes opened and he was off and gone.
"Berzerk is a wide runner but he probably could not have won from box eight because I believe the rails draw helped him jump so well.''
See you next week!
