Hardaway Harada took his imposing record to five wins and a second from six starts at Bulli last Saturday but a post-race collision with another dog is likely to put trainer Ron Marsden's promising speedster on the sidelines for up to a month.
Hardaway Harada led throughout over 400m at Bulli in a fast 22.57sec, his quickest time in three wins over that trip on the South Coast circuit.
"He did not run home as strongly as he has in a couple of his previous runs but that's because his first split on Saturday was 6.35, close to the fastest ever recorded,'' Marsden said.
"Unfortunately Hardaway Harada collided with another greyhound in the catching pen and seemed a bit groggy on Sunday morning.
"I'll get him checked out thoroughly but he is only 21 months old and I don't want to push him too much so will probably give him a few weeks off.
"In a performance trial at Richmond Hardaway Harada produced a first split 8.08, which is flying, so he is blessed with terrific box speed.
"Only upside of Hardaway Harada being out is I will be able concentrate on getting his brother, Hardaway Titan, onto the track for his first race.
"He is not as quick as his litter brother but Hardaway Titan goes okay, his problem being that he is a giant 39kg dog.''
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RUGBY League star Ivan Cleary's uncle Josh Stuart, himself a former top class footballer, was celebrating on Saturday night after Off The Leash (pictured), a greyhound he part-owns, zoomed into Friday's GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase semi-finals.
Stuart, who played 133 matches for North Sydney Bears and the Northern Eagles from 1993 to 2001, is part of a syndicate of four which races the Amanda Brunton-trained Off The Leash.
When he won his Million Dollar Chase heat on Saturday Off The Leash was having only his third start since suffering a fractured hock in February.
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Zipper Shoes will be all the rage for Friday's final of the Duncan Dart Memorial following his impressive fastest time heat win at LADBROKES GARDENS on Saturday.
The Natina Howard-trained Zipper Shoes was hampered crossing to the rails from box five but quickly grabbed the lead and raced away to win easily in 22.86sec.
Zipper Shoes has now had three wins and a second from his past four starts and at just 22 months of age the son of Fabregas and Wee Chevy has a bright future.
The late Duncan Dart, after whom the race is named, was a Hunter Valley greyhound racing legend who trained top notchers like Revant, a Wentworth Park Country Championship winner, classy stayer Samantha Star, Glen Beaver and Go Lad.
His nephew John Dart, who is among the most successful trainers in the NSW Northern Rivers region and on Queensland tracks, said: "My father Noel and his brother Duncan taught me all I know about greyhounds.
"Duncan lived originally at Glenreagh, near Grafton, but after moving to the Hunter Valley he became the go-to person for any trainer needing assistance with their dogs.
"He had every old-fashioned remedy your could think of and people would take their dogs to him to be treated for illness or injury and pay Duncan in oranges and apples!''
Neal Gray, whose greyhounds Nova Surf and Ferly Gain won 37 from 68 starts, once said: "I never went to a veterinary surgeon, Duncan Dart could fix anything.''
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Zipping Falcon, an unlucky second in this year's Group 1 Ladbrokes Peter Mosman Classic, broke through for his first Wentworth Park win with a vengeance on Saturday night.
The Jason Magri-trained dog finally "nailed'' the start and led throughout to win a 520m fifth grade by a dozen lengths in 29.60sec, running home in 11.69sec.
Zipping Falcon's time was bettered on Saturday only by Mystic Riot, whose 29.59 was fastest of the four Million Dollar heats.
Marty Hallinan, who bred and owns Zipping Falcon said: "He broke in very quick and has always had the ability.
"Now that he has finally got the start right we can only hope it becomes a habit with him because he has the talent to win a really good race.''
