Unbeaten greyhound Lagoon Rhett is a surprise nomination for Saturday night's heats of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic after recording a sensational time in a solo trial at Wentworth Park last Wednesday.
Trialling after the final race and having his first test at 520m, Lagoon Rhett clocked 29.69, which was well inside the 29.86 posted by Comatose in the quickest of the preceding 10-race card.
Trained by Ray Webster, Lagoon Rhett went into the trial with two blistering 472m Bulli wins under his belt.
"I had intended to slip him post-to-post and then trial him out of the boxes on Tuesday but after hearing there would be no trials then I decided to send Lagoon Rhett from the 520m boxes after Wednesday's last race," Webster said.
"Obviously I'm tickled pink with how he went at his first Wentworth Park run and his first split of 5.48 was encouraging too.
"It's a big step up tackling more experienced top grade dogs in the Peter Mosman but you only get one crack at a race like this."
Lagoon Rhett is a younger half brother to Webster's Lagoon Jazzy, who was beaten narrowly in last month's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg final.
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Beside The Truth, who took his record to six wins from six starts at Maitland on Thursday, is likely to have his first test beyond 500m at Gosford tomorrow week (June 6).
Beside The Truth tackled 450m for the first time at Maitland and led throughout to defeat Goodwin Reddy in time not far outside the best of the day.
In each of his six wins Beside The Truth has recorded fastest or close to the quickest time of the meeting.
Trainer Peter Sims has gradually increased the distances of the greyhound's races and is confident the 515m trip at Gosford won't be a problem.
"When I first got him all the experts reckoned Beside The Truth had good speed but would not run 520 metres," Sims said.
"But while he will never possess a powerhouse finish at the end of his future Wentworth Park races he will be in front most of the time and will hold his own when he gets to the line."
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Pab's impressive win at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night was some consolation for trainer Jason Magri who has seen his crack sprinter Wicked Warrior sidelined for up to 12 weeks.
"Wicked Warrior has injured a leg muscle but will return to racing, although it is going to take a fair bit of time," Magri said.
"And Wicked Warrior turned three last month so is not getting any younger."
The loss of Wicked Warrior from his kennels is a bitter blow to Magri, as the greyhound boasts a phenomenal strike rate of 18 wins from 35 starts.
The Magri-trained Pabs, who led from the first turn to win by three lengths in a nippy 30.05 at only his second Wentworth Park appearance, is raced by a syndicate comprising 16 first time owners.
Pabs is named after the nickname of a friend of the syndicate, who passed away two years ago.
