Pindari Express took the first step towards his bid to win the Million Dollar Chase with a dazzling comeback performance over 472m at Bulli on Monday night.
The Tracey Scruse owned and trained star notched his 13th win in 22 appearances, overcoming his customary tardy getaway to lead at the first turn.
He then careered away from a top class field to win by 10 lengths in 26.00s, just .22sec outside Aston Dee Bee's course record.
Pindari Express was having his first start for three months but Scruse said the dog had been "ready to go'' for several weeks.
"I wanted to bring him back at Bulli or Maitland but because I believe 400m is too short for him these days, I had not been able to get a start with him over a longer trip until Monday,'' Scruse said.
"In his last race three months back Pindari Express tore the ligaments in a wrist.
"I realise a lot of people have been saying I could have made a lot of money by sending Pindari Express to a Melbourne trainer to contest all the country cup races down there.
"But he was never going anywhere because for me, training Pindari Express has never been about the money.
"I was considering taking him to Melbourne for next month's Speed Star Series at Sandown but it clashes with the Million Dollar Chase heats.
"Bulli and Richmond were my preferred options to launch Pindari Express' Million Dollar Chase campaign but after Monday's win I am aiming him for the 472m Bulli heats on September 9.''
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Cee Jay's Boy earned a trip to Victoria for an appearance at Healesville straight track on Sunday by winning his 19th race in 30 appearances at Bulli on Monday night.
The Ron Marsden-trained speedster notched his seventh successive win, stopping the clock over 400m in a slick 22.58sec.
Marsden will also take his giant sprinter Hardaway Titan, a winner of 19 from 24 races, to Healesville for a 350m race on Sunday.
"The heats of the Healesville Cup are on September 1 so I am taking my pair down there this week to give them a look at the track,'' Marsden said.
"Fellow Sydney trainer Mark Bell raced there recently and advised me that even though Healesville is a straight course, dogs need a run there before producing their best form.
"Maybe I'm wasting my time though because Peter Galo, who won the Victorian Straight Track Championship there a couple of weeks back seems to be almost unbeatable at Healesville.
"Since his Championship win, Peter Galo has gone back to Healesville and smashed the 350m track record last week.
"He drew box five but came out running and was two lengths in front after they'd gone a few strides.''
Trained at Devon Meadow by Garry Selkrig, Peter Galo does indeed have an imposing record at Healesville, where he has won eight of his past nine outings.
Hardaway Harada, Ron Marsden's other star sprinter, who has been sidelined for three weeks, has been entered for a 330m race at Richmond on Friday.
"After winning his last start at Richmond late last month, Hardaway Harada got his back leg over the running rail as he went into the catching pen and bruised it badly,'' Marsden said.
Hardaway Harada, who is likely to return to Wentworth Park shortly, is also no slouch, having won 24 from 41 starts.
