Shadow Mist, who will represent South Australia in the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park on October 9, reeled off sizzling sectional times in an impressive debut trial at Wenty on Saturday night.
Fresh from winning the South Australian Sprint Championship at Angle Park on August 13, Shadow Mist trialled solo and recorded splits of 5.42s, 13.77s and 17.90s before fading slightly to run home in 11.95s, covering the 520m in a slick 29.86s.
Shadow Mist, a former Victorian, has had 11 starts in South Australia for nine wins and two placings, clocking a blistering 29.33 at Angle Park on August 6 before winning the South Australia title in 29.39 a week later.
Also trialling well at Wentworth Park on Saturday was Cumbria Ninno, runner-up to Lilly Banner on the Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal at headquarters on July 11.
The Steve Fitch owned, bred and trained bitch led throughout to win a 520m trial in a handy 30.09, defeating the Garry Edwards-trained Go Baby Go and Cumbria Lass, another from Fitch's Nowra kennels.
Trainer Noelene Holloway reaped an unplanned $2500 "bonus'' when High Expectation broke through for his first win in seven Wentworth Park appearances on Saturday night.
Holloway had intended nominating High Expectation for last Wednesday's meeting but was committed to bringing another greyhound from her Hamlyn Terrace kennels to hand over to another trainer at Wentworth Park.
"On Saturday I had been committed to transporting a dog to Clint Hazlett, whose father Stuart is a trainer, so rather than make two trips to Sydney in a week I decided to enter High Expectation for that night's meeting,'' Holloway said.
"Wednesday's race might have been easier but was worth $2500 to the winner while I collected $5000 when High Expectation led all the way on Saturday.
"Although High Expectation had been placed just once in his six previous Wenty races, he has mostly drawn inside boxes which don't always suit him.
"When High Expectation gets crowded going into the first turn he pulls back and wants to run off.
"I thought he was well positioned in box five on Saturday because there was not a lot of pace in the race and he tends to run in the middle of the track.''
High Expectation, whose dam Queen Esther won 17 Wentworth Park races for Holloway, posted fast splits of 5.42s and 13.93s before covering the 520m in a smart 30.07s on Saturday night.
Simply Smudge, whose scratching made Saturday night's second race a "walk in the park'' for his arch rival Wow, will be back in action in three weeks.
"He tore a toenail, a minor injury but one that needs a little time,'' trainer Peter Rodgers said.
Rodgers, who led out his first winner at Grafton when he was just nine years old, has a big opinion of Simply Smudge, a winner of five of his nine starts.
"Although Simply Smudge has won his past two Wentworth Park races he has done it in an ugly fashion, and I think he is a better dog than he has shown at Wenty,'' Rodgers added.
"So maybe the toenail trouble might be a blessing in disguise as a couple of weeks away from the track may see Smudge show his real ability.''
