Good Odds BUDDY shattered each sectional record on his way to becoming the first greyhound to get under the 30 second mark when he won Friday night's Ladbrokes Graeme Hull Memorial Cup at Wagga and is now on target for July's Group 1 Vic Peters Classic.
Good Odds BUDDY's litter sister and kennelmate Good Odds Meghan jumped in front but her brother quickly headed her off and bolted away in 29.93s, with Good Odds Meghan dropping out to finish fifth at the end of the 525m journey.
While he is raced by trainer Frank Hurst's wife Tracey, Good Odds BUDDY is unofficially owned by their little livewire grandson MASON.
Heats of the Vic Peters, for dogs whelped on or after March 1, 2017, will be run at Wentworth Park on July 6 in conjunction with the group 1 Peter Mosman Opal, which has the same age conditions but is now a race for bitches.
Hurst knows what it takes to win a Vic Peters, having taken out the time-honoured event with Dancing Surf in 2009.
He holds a strong hand in both the Vic Peters and Peter Mosman, with Good Odds Harada, winner of the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint at Wentworth Park also eligible for the former event.
Good Odds Harada, another litter sibling of BUDDY and Meghan, trounced a top class field at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in the fastest time of the meeting.
Good Odds Meghan will be the Hurst kennel's representative in the Peter Mosman and she is at her best at Wentworth Park.
"I was not disappointed by Good Odds Meghan's effort at Wagga because when Good Odds BUDDY grabbed the lead from her, he cut her off and she then dropped out,'' Hurst said.
"There was no disgrace in that and I'm still hopeful about Good Odds Meghan's prospects in the Peter Mosman, because she is such a good beginner.''
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LADBROKES Golden Easter Egg winner Zipping Bailey had a lucky escape from serious injury when she took a tumble at the first turn in Friday night's Sapphire Crown final at Sandown Park.
"She cut her calf muscle but only the skin was torn so she will be okay,'' trainer Jason Mackay said.
"Zipping Bailey will miss the State Of Origin due to the mishap but other wise all will be good.''
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Soaring Hawke gave former successful NEW ZEALAND enthusiast Greg Hore, now the curator of Goulburn track, a timely result when she notched her seventh Australian win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Soaring Hawke made the early pace in a 520m masters event and after being headed by Friend Of Man in the middle stages, came again to win comfortably in a handy 30.26 for the 520m.
"I am in the process of buying a house near the Goulburn track and the $4800 from tonight's win will come in handy,'' Hore said.
"Soaring Hawke had been 'sacked' by her trainer when she was in NEW ZEALAND but I believed she still had wins in her so brought her to Australia when I returned at the beginning of the year.
"She has now earned over $20,000 since coming here so I'm glad I brought her with me.
"Soaring Hawke is no world beater but is reliable and at Wenty she always runs a first split of 5.55s or 5.56s, has an ordinary middle section, but then runs home strongly at the end of 520m.
"She is the only greyhound I have racing at present as my other dog, Just Nimble It, broke down at Bulli on May 18 and will be out for six to eight weeks.
"Just Nimble It is capable of picking up a race at Wenty as he defeated Soaring Hawke in a trial there soon after he arrived here from Victoria, where he won eight races.
