Two years after Pindari Express equalled the Bulli 400m record at his first start the unraced Kristy Sultana-trained youngster Flying Ricciardo set a new time standard for the recently added 340m start at the south coast circuit with an all-the-way win last Saturday night.
Flying Ricciardo went as quick as his namesake, Australia's formula one motor racing hero Daniel Ricciardo, covering the 340m in heat one of the Ladbrokes Maiden Series in 18.91s.
Sultana, a former TAB Young Trainer of the Year award winner, is the daughter of Sam Sultana and sister of Michelle Sultana, both also well established successful trainers.
Flying Ricciardo is a litter brother to Eagle Rock, who had won first up over 472m at Bulli a week earlier for Lynne Aldous, who bred both greyhounds from her former good race bitch Megalodon.
Equally as impressive in Saturday's maiden heats as Flying Ricciardo was another newcomer, the David Smith-trained Five Second Rule, who won in 19.19s.
Although his time was slower, Five Second Rule was caught between rivals in the early stages and had to work hard out wide before gaining control near the winning post.
After the race Smith said: "Five Second Rule had a few trials at Bulli before tonight but I had been working him up towards a 400m maiden event.
"Then this series, with a $3000 to the winner final came up, so I put Five Second Rule in this shorter race.
"He steps to the right when the boxes open so I was concerned when he drew box three but when the dog in box four was scratched it gave me some confidence because it meant Five Second Rule would have a bit more room to move.''
Lagoon Lockdown, who won Saturday night's other maiden heat for trainer Ray Webster, took a moderate 19.64 to score but also had to work hard after disputing the lead most of the way before finishing fast out wide.
"Lagoon Lockdown is going to be a 500m dog but this race, with a $3000 to the winner final, was too tempting to pass up,'' Ray Webster said.
"His grand-dam Lagoon Lowanna won the group 3 Ladies Bracelet in 2013 at Wentworth Park for my wife Sharron and myself and Lagoon Lockdown is from the first litter whelped by the Bracelet winner's daughter Lagoon Prissy.
"Only two from the litter have raced and both have won first-up, with Dam Reckless winning over 400m at Richmond in 22.68 for Hank Vanderburg on May 13.''
Fastest 400m figures on Saturday were posted by Hardaway Titan, who jumped cleanly and led throughout in the Free-For-All, stopping the clock in a personal best 22.31 with his 22nd win in 38 starts.
Hardaway Titan had been sidelined for a month after being bitten by another dog in the catching pen following a race at Bulli on May 2.
Although Straight Shift was favourite for Saturday's race, Hardaway Titan's trainer Ron Marsden correctly predicted before the race: "If my dog begins as well as he can, I think he can hold Straight Shift out in the run to the first turn.''
Black Twister lifted his winning rate to 50 per cent with a tenacious 400m win in a fast 22.36 on Saturday night.
After being second early, Black Twisted finished determinedly, taking his record to nine wins from 18 starts.
Trainer Mark Gatt said later: "In the past he has been reluctant to go around another dog because he stays nailed to the rail, but he went around the leader tonight which was encouraging.
"Black Twister will race again at Bulli next week in the final of this fifth grade race, but after that I want to get him back to Wentworth Park.
"He finished sixth at his only run there early in his career but is a far better dog now.''
When she won a double at Bulli on May 23 with Gordito and Acapulco Heat, trainer Christine Oldfield said: "I have won more races here than on any other track and it is my favourite because it tends to give every dog a chance.''
Oldfield was successful again on her pet circuit on Saturday night with Must Do winning over 400m in a slick 22.34s.
Saturday's top grade 472m event was taken out by the Jason Magri-trained Good Odds Buddy, the litter brother to Feral Franky and Million Dollar Chase winner Good Odds Harada, who scored his 18th win in a personal best 26.09s, just .31sec wide of the track record.
