Blue Moon Rising notched his 11th long distance win at Wentworth Park on Saturday, matching his 11 victories in 520m races at headquarters.
Described by trainer John Finn simply as a "good old dog'' Blue Moon Rising headed his younger half-sister and kennelmate Really Unreal with just under a lap to go and scored by four lengths in a slick 42.29.
Blue Moon Rising comfortably held off hot favourite Good Juan, whose run from an up-coming Association Cup viewpoint was promising because he made his customary slow start and got onto the heels of Durama Lady going through the pen.
But all honours were with the winner, who exited box seven for the 24th time in his career and lifted his earnings to $480,000.
"He has won two group ones from box seven so he is pretty used to that draw now,'' said part-owner Peter McDermott after the race.
Fastest 520m time of the night was posted by the Jason Magri-trained Zipping Zeek, who won the opening event in a scorching 29.63s, .08s inside his previous personal best.
Zipping Zeek began well enough from box one but was outpaced in the run to the first corner, before railing to the lead on the back straight.
"He has lost what little early speed he had and might eventually become a stayer,'' trainer Magri said later.
"But what I love about Zipping Zeek is that when he is behind dogs at the first turn, he doesn't panic, he will just try and push them out of the way.''
Trainer Ruth Matic reckoned Ides Of Jebrynah was Saturday's topical tip and her greyhound led throughout to win over 520m, taking his Wentworth Park tally to three wins from as many starts.
"The Ides Of March occurs tomorrow, March 15,'' Matic said, "so he was an omen tip wasn't he?''
Trainer-breeder Ashley Dwyer reckons Alliteration's win on Saturday, the dog's first after seven placings from 14 previous Wentworth Park outings, could not have been more timely.
"Alliteration is a half brother to Mainline Osti, who finished second for me in the listed The Collerson at WP, and who has nine puppies sired by Fernando Bale turning three weeks old right now.''
Hello Mavis tends to be a wide runner but she made full use of box one to upset hotpot Bit Flash in 30.05 over 520m on Saturday night.
Hello Mavis led throughout and held off the favourite to score by just under a length.
Trainer Lorraine Atchison's son-in-law Troy McDonald, who handled Hello Mavis, said: "I wasn't sure how she would go off box one because she wants to get wide.
"But she did not get as wide tonight as she usually does, probably because she jumped away so well and was able to clear her rivals at the first turn.''
