Pre-post favourites Mister Twister and Fast Times lived up to their lofty reputations when they recorded fastest times in Friday night's heats of the Globe Memorial Richmond Riches.
The Jason Mackay-trained Mister Twister (pictured, black rug) began brilliantly and led throughout in 30.50 while Fast Times, trained by Queenslander Tony Brett who won last year's final with Thirty Talks, led from the first bend to score in 30.56.
Brett has a great second stringer in Opal Nera, who bungled the start and was checked at the first turn before finishing a game second to Bold Opal in 30.85.
Bold Opal, who gave trainer Bev Sloan her first group finalist in over four decades of training when she contested last week's Group 3 Ladies Bracelet final at Wentworth Park, led throughout.
Bold Opal blew the jump in the Ladies Bracelet and was well back all the way, but she began brilliantly in her Richmond Riches heat win.
Other impressive heat winners were Kong, who won in 30.81, and Victor Charlie, who came from behind to win in 30.89.
Each exited from box eight and were hampered crossing to the rails so can be expected to improve if they draw rails boxes in next Friday's Richmond Riches semi-finals.
