Woodburn Warrior, who scored his third successive win inside a fortnight at Nowra on Monday, will soon be headed to his Wentworth Park debut.
Woodburn Warrior had won over 365m at Nowra in slick times of 20.75 and 20.74 before his impressive first-up 520m win on Monday at the South Coast track.
While the $1.40 favourite was expected to lead throughout from box one, he dwelt at the start and had to work hard along the rails to be a distant second on the back straight.
After being a close second turning for home, Woodburn Warrior proved the 520m trip was no problem by powering away down the outside to win easily in a smart 30.17.
Marie Burton, who took out last year's Nowra trainers' premiership, said she had no doubt the step up to 520m would suit him.
“I could not take him directly to Wenty because with only 365m racing under his belt he was ineligible for a race in town,” Burton said.
“Now he has won over 520m at Nowra Woodburn Warrior will target Wentworth Park. He is a high quality greyhound and one of the best in my kennel.”
Since moving from Kemps Creek to Nowra, Burton has enjoyed a great run of success and after winning last year's local premiership is setting a scorching pace in 2017, having trained seven winners in the past four weeks at Nowra.
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Cowra’s Paul and Pamela Braddon, the owner, trainers and breeders of superstar greyhound Falcon’s Fury's, have unearthed another potential superstar in Ancient Secret, who led throughout to win a 450m maiden at Bathurst on Monday in near record time.
Ancient Secret sped over the trip in 25.65, just 0.20 outside the track record set by Kevin Pearce's Bass Louder in March, 2015, and equalled seven months later by Mark Wicks' Talking Point.
Ancient Secret, who was making his debut at Bathurst, is a son of Spring Gun and the Braddons' WILLOW Blaze.
WILLOW Blaze's previous offspring include Marbo's Magic, winner of 18 races, Hope's A Chance (16 wins) and the outstanding greyhound All A Blaze, who has saluted the judge on 10 occasions.
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There wasn’t a more impressive winner at Canberra on Sunday than the Stuart Hazlett-trained Champness Boy, who came from a clear last at box rise to win a 600m event by seven lengths.
But while the win augured well for Champness Boy's future as a stayer, Hazlett won't be rushing him into races over further, such as the 720m at Wentworth Park.
“I think he will make a stayer but I plan to give him another three middle distance tests before I tackle longer journeys with him,” Hazlett said.
“Certainly I like the way he is looking because he came from four lengths behind his rivals to win on Sunday but it wasn't a strong field and 720m is a big step up.
“I train Champness Boy for his breeder Daniel Zahra, and this dog and his litter brother Dale's Jet are the first I have trained for this owner.
“Dale's Jet has won five races and whereas Champness Boy comes from behind, Dale's Jet has good early pace. I think he is capable of winning at Wentworth Park when he draws well.”
Hazlett won a double at Canberra, also scoring with Ikon Parker, who has just returned from a spell.
“Ikon Parker ran a second and two thirds over 520m at Wentworth Park last preparation and the spell seems to have done him good,” Hazlett said.
“He had to work hard to win on Sunday and posted his personal best Canberra time.”
