Leading TAB Million Dollar Chase candidates Feral Franky and Shima Shine did their prospects in the big race no harm at Wentworth Park on Saturday night with each recording outstanding wins.
Feral Franky had to post fastest 520m time of the night of 29.74s to run down Paws Of Thunder winner Buck's Future by a neck in the Free-For-All.
Victoria's Shima Shine, from the all conquering Angela Dailly kennel, overcame a mediocre getaway to win his 520m fifth grade in a slick 29.93s.
Shima Shine had lowered the colours of local star Pindari Express in the Bulli regional final of the Million Dollar Chase and had trialled 29.81s in a solo gallop at his first look at Wentworth Park on September 21.
He had to work hard to reach the lead on the back straight on Saturday night but gripped on gallantly to win clearly from noted strong finisher Electric Silk.
Trainer Syd Swain has always considered Buck's Future close to unbeatable from box one at Wentworth Park and when his dog began brilliantly and made the pace in Saturday's top grade it was no surprise to see Feral Franky having to pull out all stops to overhaul him by a neck.
After the race Feral Franky's trainer Jack Smith said: "My dog trialled as quick as he has ever gone at Wentworth Park last Tuesday night.
"When Syd's dog led clearly I knew it was going to be tough and Franky appeared to be leaning in on Buck's Future when he was trying to get around him in the home straight.
"They came together and bumped not far from the finish.''
Mrs Emgrand earned a crack at the Group 1 Sydney Cup heats on October 11 by ending boom long-distance bitch Just Terms' unbeaten staying streak in Saturday night's 720m fourth and fifth grade at Wentworth Park.
Mrs Emgrand began brilliantly from box six and led throughout to win comfortably from Just Terms, who had won each of five previous long-distance assignments.
The winner, who has clocked 42.15s for the Wentworth Park 720m trip, recorded 42.45s and trainer Luke Azzopardi believes she can improve.
"I knew she was ready to run a big race because Mrs Emgrand trialled 30.50s over the 535m trip at Richmond last week,'' Azzopardi said.
"But tonight's race was her first 720m hit-out in a long while so there should be some improvement in her.''
Trainer Michelle Sultana plans to nominate Zipping Boston for the October 9 heats of the Young Star Classic following her dog's powerful finishing win to edge out hot favourite Fire On Ice in Saturday's NSW Bred Maiden Final.
Zipping Boston had been never out of trouble before flashing home to win his heat from box four in 30.92 but with a clear run stopped the clock at 29.99s on Saturday.
"Just before Zipping Boston's heat there was a torrential downpour of rain so that contributed a lot to his slow time,'' Sultana said.
"I was not sure how he would handle box seven tonight because he is a good railer but when he was running third on the back straight I knew he would be hard to beat because he is very strong.''
Baba Yaga surprised part-owner Tony Digiorgio with his all the way win in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday, posting a personal best Wentworth Park time of 29.98s.
"I am still scratching my head,'' Digiorgio said after the Ron Hoogenboom-trained greyhound produced slick initial splits of 5.48 and 13.89.
"Ron has done a terrific job with this dog, which is the first he has trained for me and my brother Frank.
"We got to know Ron through him buying a pup from us some time ago.
"My brother and I bred Baba Yaga from our bitch Misty Day, who won only four races but did break 30sec winning at WP before her career was cut short by injury.''
Meanwhile Zipping Potter continued to cement his claims for next month's rich Master Meteor series with a 30.02s come from behind victory over pacemaker Cosmic Bonus in Saturday's Masters 520m event.
