There was no older greyhound racing at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but Rita's Boy, one of the sport's best "greybeards'' defied his age with a near personal best 29.88s win in the opening 520m event.
While the Duke's Previews Stakes was a fifth grade, not a Masters' event, Rita's Boy (pictured) bounded to the lead as the boxes opened and won by nearly three lengths from two other veterans, Umatilla and Smoking Road.
Rita's Boy and Smoking Road, whelped in June, 2015, were the oldest greyhounds racing on Saturday at Wentworth Park while Umatilla, just two months their junior was also well into the seniors' class.
Rita's Boy's previous best Wentworth Park time was 29.82s, posted almost 18 months ago, and his win on Saturday, his 17th at headquarters, was the first leg of a winning double for trainer Mark Gatt.
Gatt's Tennessee Tiger, a litter brother to Shanjo Prince, a recent quick Wenty winner for the Thirlmere trainer, recorded fastest time on Saturday night in taking out a fifth grade in 29.77.
"I would love to have just one dog like Rita's Boy in my kennel all the time, he is an old marvel,'' Gatt said.
"But I must admit I didn't think he would do what he did tonight, jumping in front and clocking a 5.46s first split.
"Tennessee Tiger didn't surprise me because he has always been a fraction quicker than his brother Shanjo Prince, and when he drew box eight I was fairly confident.
"He loves it out there and because he can be a slow beginner, when Tennessee Tiger settled in second position he was always going to be hard to beat.''
Trainer Peter Lagogiane was left in a quandary after Shez Got Soul gave tearaway leader Cop A Chevy a massive start and a clear beating to win a 520m fifth grade in 29.87s.
"Shez Got Soul is crying out to be stepped up in distance but I am tempted to bring her back to Wenty and try and win another 520m race with her,'' Lagogiane said.
"I'll go home and sleep on it and decide during the week where to take her next.''
Cop A Chevy's kennelmate Zipper Shoes, possibly the smallest male greyhound racing on the city circuit, notched his fourth Wentworth Park win when he led throughout in a 520m fourth grade.
Zipper Shoes' early speed, which gave him dazzling splits of 5.39, 13.80 and 17.94, enabled him to easily overcome box six and win by two lengths in 29.97s.
After the race Robert Howard, whose wife Natina trains Zipper Shoes, said: "Because he is only 27kg everyone assumes he is a bitch.
"I noticed that the dog drawn outside him in box seven was 10kg heavier so maybe Zipper Shoes took one look at him and figured he had better get out of his way as quickly as possible.''
Darren Sultana, whose Maitland Gold Cup winner Black Forge has qualified for Friday's Group 2 Black Top final, landed a 520m fourth grade on Saturday with Flying Ella.
The greyhound, who had bungled the start when fourth at Wentworth Park a week earlier, led throughout on Saturday in 29.91.
"Jumping cleanly made all the difference,'' Darren Sultana said.
"I can't figure out why Flying Ella got away so poorly last week because she has always been capable getting away like she did tonight.''
Canya Star, who won a fifth grade for trainer Peter Sims at Wentworth Park last Wednesday, "beat the grader'' to lead all the way in an identical class race on Saturday, winning by four lengths in a slick 29.81s.
