LADBROKES Golden Easter Egg heats invariably produce some of the year's best racing but even by those traditionally lofty standards Saturday night's Wentworth Park card was exceptional.
Flying Ricciardo, Wow, Tommy Shelby, Fernando Bluey and Shima Shine went into Saturday's card as the "big five'' and four of the widely ranked top quintet in Australia provided absolute champagne racing.
Shima Shine failed to qualify for next Saturday night's semi-finals when he missed a place in Winlock On Top's heat, but each of the other four superstars were spectacular, with the up-and-coming local duo Zipping Kyrgios and Zulu Warlord adding spice to next week's round.
Flying Ricciardo set the time standard by leading throughout in heat eight, covering the 520m in 29.22, believed to be the second fastest time ever recorded at WP.
Shakey Jakey set the course record of 29.07 in a maiden race seven years ago and no greyhound has come close to his phenomenal time.
But Kristy Sultana's Flying Ricciardo gave it a shake on Saturday, not only posting the Egg heats' fastest 520m time but clocking the quickest second and third splits of 13.55 and 17.56.
Flying Ricciardo took his tally to 22 wins from 26 starts, carving out a first section of 5.37 and running home in 11.66.
That run home time matched the finishing figures of Wow, who came from fifth early and second at the first turn before hitting the front on the back straight and winning heat three in 29.38.
After the race Wow's trainer Karina Britton said: "I managed to get a 274m trial for him at Appin on Tuesday and that topped him off nicely after a post-to-post slip he had at Wenty a week earlier.
"In that post-to-post hand-slip Wow flew.''
WA superstar Tommy Shelby's 29.40 romp in heat five was third fastest time of the night, with Steve Withers' dog exploding from box seven to record splits of 5.34, 13.61 and 17.62, with a finishing time of 11.78.
Fernando Bluey, who was caught in the last stride by Tommy Shelby in the 525m Australian Cup at The Meadows late last month, made a stunning WP debut in heat six.
The Kayla Cottrell trained Fernando Bluey has earned a reputation of being the fastest top grade beginner in Victoria, and he brought his flawless box manners to Sydney on Saturday night.
Fernando Bluey roared out of box six and after clocking splits of 5.33, 13.65 and 17.72, won easily in 29.47, running home in 11.75
It is rare for WP to host a big race without veteran trainer John Finn having a representative and Zipping Kyrgios did him proud in taking out the 10th heat in 29.47, matching Fernando Bluey's fourth fastest time.
Zipping Kyrgios trailed Victoria's Lakeview Walter to the home bend but came away in the straight to win comfortably, with his run home figures of 11.66 equalling those of Wow and Flying Ricciardo.
Before Saturday's race John Finn's wife Melinda declared that if Zipping Kyrgios jumped on terms with his rivals, he could be competitive with any dog racing.
Zipping Kyrgios justified Melinda's lavish praise as he stepped away cleanly on Saturday and sat just behind Lakeview Walter for the first 450m.
In heat two Zulu Warlord was having his first race for seven weeks but set up a win by launching out of box one and clocking a first split of 5.31.
That eclipsed the initial sections of his big name rivals and after recording slick second and third splits of 13.60 and 17.71, Zulu Warlord faded at the finish but held on to win by a neck in 29.57.
After the race a jubilant trainer Mick Hardman said: "Zulu Warlord had not seen trial or race track for four weeks before tonight.
"I had only been working him at home, giving the dog regular sprints up the 270m straight track on my property.
"Because I was worried he could be short of a run I actually sent him up the straight twice in one day earlier this week.''
Meanwhile Stanley Road confirmed his favouritism for next week's heats of the group 1 Association Cup over 720m with an outstanding win in Saturday's long-distance event.
The Mark Gatt-trained dog, awkwardly drawn in box six, came from midfield early to be second on the home turn and despite checking off pacemaker Empress Tears' heels at the top of the straight, scored by a half length.
