Poco Dorado's unblemished Wentworth Park long distance record was finally tarnished on Saturday night but it took an out of character slow start and her siblings Veloce Nero and Blue Moon Rising to relegate her to third place.
The John Finn-trained Poco Dorado (pictured) went into Saturday's 720m Free-For-All with 11 wins from 11 long-distance appearances at Wentworth Park, boasting a personal best 41.68s after jumping in front and leading throughout in most of those victories.
But on Saturday she bungled the start from box three and was forced to give her kennelmates, sister Veloce Nero and brother Blue Moon Rising, big starts with a lap to go.
Veloce Nero held on strongly to win in a fast 41.99sec, just under two lengths ahead of Blue Moon Rising, with Poco Dorado far from disgraced, winding up less than three lengths away.
Veloce Nero's win took her earnings to $105,049, while the placings of Blue Moon Rising and Poco Dorado, along with the prizemoney of their brother and fellow kennelmate Two Times Twice, who finished sixth, lifted the tally won by this amazing quartet to nearly $615,000.
All are raced by the D & P Syndicate, which owned their dam, Chica Destacada.
Time honours for 520m on Saturday night were with Eye Rock, who shrugged off a rise in class to lead throughout in the Free-For-All in a sizzling 29.83sec.
Eye Rock had clocked 30.16s and 30.12s winning two of his previous three Wentworth Park starts but before Saturday's race his trainer Warren Slade declared: "If he ever jumps cleanly I have no doubt he will break 30 seconds.''
Eye Rock did just that on Saturday, beginning smartly from box one and leading throughout to win easily from Blabba Mouth and Rostered On.
Saturday's meeting also featured four heats of the Ladbrokes Cash-In Stakes, where the Mark Gatt-trained He's All Shine was easily the fastest qualifier.
After beginning fairly in heat one, He's All Shine secured a 'dream' rails run at the first turn to lead clearly before careering away to win by 15 lengths in 29.89sec.
Family Spirit (30.11), Double What (30.29) and Caishen (30.52) won the other heats.
The John Callaughan-trained Family Spirit led throughout from box three, winning by four lengths.
"She is railing better than she did earlier in her career,'' Callaughan said later.
"Family Spirit is no world-beater but is a good little trier and while she uses a bit of the track I prefer her drawn inside.
"I don't think she has enough early speed to get across from a wide alley at Wenty.''
Caishen's trainer Charlie Riccio believes his dog can improve on his slow heat time.
"I changed the brand of kibble I use last week and all my dogs suddenly put on weight,'' Riccio said.
"Caishen was among them and while he had weighed 28.9kg at his previous Wentworth Park win, he tipped the scales at 29.7 tonight.
"So I think with a bit of weight taken off him next week he can go better in the final.''
