Mystic Riot not only became the first NSW-trained greyhound to win a Wentworth Park heat of the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase but also set the time standard in Saturday night's qualifying races for Friday's semi-finals.
The JODIE Lagogiane-trained Mystic Riot headed Drink Schooners at the catching pen and held on strongly to easily defeat the fast finishing Watch The Wasp in a sizzling 29.59sec.
Mystic Riot had no trouble coping with a sharp rise in class after having scored a tenacious win, despite being "dragged down'' at the first turn, in a fifth grade at Wentworth Park a week earlier.
Prior to Saturday night Victorian-trained greyhounds had won all 10 Wentworth Park heats of the Chase, with Melbourne duo Slingshot Whippa and Oakvale Warrior adding to the tally on Saturday in 29.73 and 29.91 espectively.
Slingshot Whippa is trained by Robert Britton while Oakvale Warrior, at just two years old among the youngest Million Dollar Chase aspirants, is prepared by his brother Jeff Britton.
Off The Leash became the second NSW-trained dog to win a Wentworth Park Chase heat when he won on Saturday by two lengths in 30.06sec.
While the Amanda Brunton-trained Off The Leash clocked the slowest time of Saturday night's four heats, his performance heralded a remarkable return to racing.
"He fractured a hock in February and was sidelined for seven months as a result,'' Brunton said.
"So to see him come back and win an important race like that for his four owners is terrific.''
With the Group 3 Sydney Cup heats getting under way on Friday night at Wentworth Park, last Saturday's 720m Free For All attracted a Group 1 standard line-up of eight outstanding local stayers.
Poco Dorado stamped herself as the one to beat in the Cup final on October 20 with another dazzling front-running display, leading throughout from box five to win by just under two lengths from kennelmate and litter sister Veloce Nero.
Poco Dorado stopped the clock at 41.77, just .06sec outside her personal best, in a performance which took her Wentworth Park 720m tally to five starts for five wins.
After the race trainer John Finn said: "Poco Dorado has always been a little bit quicker than her sister Veloce Nero.
"But I knew Veloce Nero would run a big race because while she won well over 720m at Wentworth Park last Wednesday night, I knew she would have no trouble 'backing up' so quickly.
"Veloce Nero is a tough customer and every morning after a hard run she is bouncing around as if she is ready to race again.''
Poco Dorado again produced sectional times good enough to win most 280m and 520m top grade sprints, so with her stamina well established her rivals were never going to run her down.
The Vic Sultana-trained Sky Wave took her record to a phenomenal 22 wins from 37 starts when she led throughout in Saturday's 520m Free F0r All at WP.
Sultana, a successful trainer for over four decades, said later: "She is among the fastest greyhounds I have trained and with earnings now of just on $115,000 she is certainly the best money spinner.''
