Grafton-trained Two Jay burst into calculations for next month's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg with a fastest Time of the night win in a 520m Egg Prelude at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Two Jay, who had box five, duelled for the lead with the consistent Jock Colley from box rise until entering the back straight where the Darryl Chapman-trained Northern Rivers visitor took control.
Two Jay came away to win by just over two lengths from Jock Colley, covering the 520m in a smart 29.84, a tick outside her personal best Wentworth Park figures of 29.83.
The win took Two Jay's record to an imposing 24 wins from 47 starts with Saturday night's performance her fifth successive victory.
After the race trainer Chapman said: "Two Jay has been flying lately and box five did not worry me, in fact I considered it a plus.
"Two Jay likes to run in the centre of the track and she has a great record from middle boxes.''
A study of Two Jay's form indicates just that as she has won four from five starts from box four, five from eight from box five, and posted five wins out of seven races wearing the green box six rug.
"Two Jay has come good at the right Time as her kennelmate and litter sister Marilena Franco, who was a good performer for me, has just broken down and been retired,'' Chapman said.
"She will be mated with Fernando Bale.''
Simon Keeping earned a tilt at next Saturday night's 725m heats of the Group 1 Super Stayers Series at Melbourne's The Meadows with his dashing win in last Saturday's sole 720m event at Wentworth Park.
Punters who snapped up the $2 about Simon Keeping were entitled to be worried when second elect Gunnadoo Cove, a noted strong finisher, speared out of box four and set up a huge early lead.
Simon Keeping compounded their fears when he ran into the back of Gunnadoo Cove at the end of the back straight but the Marty Hallinan-trained greyhound recovered to be a close second at the top of the straight.
Simon Keeping then roared home to win by more than two lengths in the blistering Time of 42.19.
"This dog has improved out of sight since he returned from a spell and deserves a chance against the top stayers at The Meadows next week,'' Hallinan said.
"I realise Simon Keeping will be going up about fifth graders but he put the Time on the board tonight and did it in fine style.''
Zipping Beau, bred by Hallinan but owned and trained by Lithgow coal miner Mark Swift, led throughout to win an Easter Egg Prelude in 30.04.
Ironically Zipping Beau was not meant to even be in the race!
"I wanted him in a fifth grade because he had not won at Wenty but I forgot to tick the appropriate box on the nomination and Zipping Beau was graded into an Easter Egg Prelude,'' Swift said later.
"Zipping Beau is going better than ever, it all seems to have finally clicked for him, but he still gives me some heartaches.
"He plays up in the kennels on race night, always tips his water bottle over, and then when the lure begins its run-up, I can hear him barking his head off in the boxes.''
Ted Ciszewski lamented: "Why couldn't she have jumped like that in the National Futurity final after his greyhound Dreaming Time led throughout to win a 520m fifth grade in a slick 29.95.
Dreaming Time began brilliantly from box eight and gave nothing else a chance, comfortably holding off a strong finish from Off The Leash to win smartly.
Dreaming Time, who was a fast beginner early in her career, had bungled the start before finishing fifth in Blue Sky Riot's Futurity final at Wentworth Park on February 3.
See you next week!
