Feral Franky had to pull out all stops to notch his 16th win in 29 starts at Wentworth Park on Saturday night when he had to run down noted powerful finisher Zipping Clive to win by a neck.
Zipping Truvy, another powerhouse at the end of 520m, rattled home to be a half length away third, with the winner stopping the clock at a best time of the night 29.63sec.
After the 520m Free-For-All, even Feral Franky's trainer Jack Smith was in some sort of awe about his dog, commenting: "When I saw Zipping Clive in front I didn't think we would get to him.
"Feral Franky handled himself well in the run to the first turn though because he had box five, and the dog in box four, Pure Project, began fast and wanted to get a bit wide.
"Feral Franky ducked in behind Pure Project to be sitting in second spot behind the pacemaker Zipping Clive on the back straight.''
The winner ran home in an impressive 11.66sec but the other eye-catching run was by Zipping Truvy, who was fifth, at least six lengths off the lead, on the back straight.
Her personal run home figures of a sensational 11.40 indicate she could be a staying star of the future.
After the race Zipping Truvy's trainer Rob Tyler said: "She is a good beginner but does not have much early pace so middle or long distance racing will be almost certainly be her 'go' later on.
"But the series I have in mind for Zipping Truvy is the 595m Speed Star at Sandown in mid-September.
"Those match races, with $25,000 to the winner, should suit her perfectly.''
Blabba Mouth, the oldest dog in the field in Saturday's Ladbrokes Masters, again defied the calendar by finishing fast along the rails to score by a half length from Bad Ronnie and Springcreek Bill in a handy 30.19.
It was Blabba Mouth's 12th Wentworth Park win with Michael Murray, whose wife Cheryl owns and trains the June, 2014 veteran, saying: "From his past 36 starts Blabba Mouth has missed a place just four times.
"He is no champion but if we always had a dog like him in our kennels he would be able to pay for the feed bill of the rest of the team.''
Tiny Ragadeen's early pace enabled the Darryl Thomas-trained bitch to "steal'' Saturday's opening event, with the 25kg midget beginning brilliantly and hanging on to score by just over a length.
After the race Thomas' mother Darrallene, who handled Ragadeen, said: "Darryl kept her nice and fresh this week in a bid to ensure she showed good pace and led around the first turn.
"Because of that he was a bit concerned she may get tired so that's probably why the second dog, Sir Duke, took ground off her in the straight.
"She was well drawn in box two tonight because when she finished seventh at her previous Wentworth Park start, Ragadeen had box eight and a huge dog drawn inside her knocked our little bitch out of the race at the first turn.''
Consistent Black Maxie, not long back in work after "springing'' two toes, scored her first Wentworth Park win for trainer John Callaughan on Saturday night.
Black Maxie had been placed in two of three previous Wentworth Park outings but after being third early and disputing the lead on the home bend, drew away to win by one-and-a-half lengths in 30.14.
