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If Wentworth Park fans were amazed by Zipping Bailey's last-to-first performance to win last month's group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg they would have been absolutely gob-smacked by the Jason Mackay-trained greyhound's effort to win Saturday night's Group 3 Evans & Son Ladies Bracelet at headquarters.
While Zipping Bailey clocked 29.92s running down Federal Lilly in the Easter Egg, she not only trimmed those figures to 29.71s on Saturday but had a less trouble-free passage to victory.
Zipping Bailey was last early in the Easter Egg, but secured a clear rails’ run all the way, but on Saturday night she was held up on a couple of occasions and gave tearaway leader Zombie a dozen lengths' start approaching the end of the back straight.
After rocketing along the rails to be third behind Zombie and Good Odds Meghan turning for home, Zipping Bailey powered home to win running away by just over a length.
The Allan Manwaring-trained Zombie, who made the pace before finishing second to Zipping Bailey in last week's Bracelet heat, was a clear second, ahead of Good Odds Meghan, a length-and-a-half away third.
After the race trainer Jason Mackay said: "That performance by Zipping Bailey was better than her Easter Egg win.
"I have won a lot of races and had some greyhounds do remarkable things to win, but I have not had a greyhound to do what Zipping Bailey just did.''
Zipping Bailey is a daughter of Zipping Willow, another Mackay-trained bitch, who set the Bracelet race record of 29.44s when she won the 2014 final.
Good Odds Meghan's trainer Frank Hurst took out Saturday night's other feature race at Wentworth Park, the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint final, with the Bracelet placegetter's litter brother Good Odds Harada.
After trailing the Jason Mackay-trained Aston Duke around the first bend, Good Odds Harada hit the front leaving the back straight and held off a late challenge from Jamella Jet to win by just under two lengths.
Coming to the home turn, Jamella Jet, noted for his strength at the finish, looked a winning prospect, but Good Odds Harada's run home time of 11.61s and sizzling best of the night 29.58s for the 520m gave the Million Dollar Chase runner-up no chance of overtaking him.
Good Odds Harada's overall figures were the fastest ever recorded in the Bob Payne, taking .01s off the previous race record, set by Victorian sprinter Gold Town in 20.13.
Tracey Hurst, owner of Good Odds Harada, said: "When I saw Jamella Jet taking off after our dog I just shut my eyes.
"If we have a dog in a big race I try and come with low expectations because then whatever happens is a bonus.''
Good Odds Harada was the best backed winner of the night, firming on TAB Fixed Odds from $8.50 early Saturday to $4 at post time for the Bob Payne.
Sweet Nangar, who broke through for her first Wentworth Park win in 29.89s in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night, almost did not start.
Sweet Nangar led early but after being headed on the back straight by Bad Ronnie, finished powerfully out wide to win by a half length.
Trainer Lakis Michael said later: "Sweet Nangar had a sore wrist earlier in the week and on Thursday I almost scratched her.
"I worked on the soreness day and night and it was not until Saturday morning that I felt she was okay to take her place in the field.''
Blabba Mouth, who turns five next month, was the clearly oldest starter in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Monthly Medal Masters but that did not stop him running down the 14 months younger Umatilla to take out the $12,000 first prizemoney.
Owner-trainer Cheryl Murray quipped later: "Blabba Mouth will get an extra pillow on the lounge tonight.''
Murray revealed Blabba Mouth often sleeps on the family lounge, with husband Michael pointing out the dog was originally going to be entered for a race at Richmond 24 hours earlier.
"There wasn't a race for him at Richmond so Cheryl nominated him for Wenty, not knowing there was a big $12,000 first stakemoney attached to the event,'' Michael Murray said.
