Fast times were the order of the night at Richmond on Saturday but none was more impressive than Chrissie Banner who went within .40sec of an eight-year-old track record in winning a 535m fifth grade.
After trailing Fence Lady to the middle stages Chrissie Banner pounced on the lead leaving the back straight to win by more than eight lengths in 30.30.
Those figures compared well with the time standard posted by Punch One Out, who won in 29.90 in April, 2013.
Trainer Barry Gibbons said: "Chrissie Banner's best time at Richmond before tonight had been 30.57 but I did think she was capable of getting down to 30.40.
"Clocking 30.30 was a bit of a surprise but I was even more impressed by her run home time of 14.75 which shows what a little powerhouse she is.''
Chrissie Banner's run home figures surpassed the finishing off times posted by Friday's other sizzling 535m winners Zipping Kyrgios and Good Odds Cash.
Zipping Kyrgios, usually a mediocre beginner, led throughout to win the meeting's top grade race in 30.31, running home in 14.99, while Good Odds Cash, described by trainer Tracey Hurst's husband Frank as a "hit or miss beginner'' finally nailed the start and led all the way in 30.34.
Good Odds Cash, like Zipping Kyrgios, is noted for her strength at the finish, but despite scoring by nine lengths her run home time of 15.30 was well short of Chrissie Banner's figures.
Zipping Kyrgios gave trainer John Finn a winning double with Zipping Panama overcoming a severe check to win an earlier race over 535m in 31.03.
"Zipping Panama is a bad kennel dog so is better off at Richmond than anywhere else because this track is much closer to our home kennels,'' Finn's wife Minnie said.
"It was a good effort to win considering how far back he was early and like the rest of this litter we are training, Zipping Panama should get more ground later on.
"The roomy Richmond course also suits him better than Wentworth Park because he tends to get back in the field in his races.''
Zipping Lawrence was the first of a string of winners for owner-breeders Marty and Fiona Hallinan when he easily won a 535m fifth grade in 30.94.
Although he turns three in January, Zipping Lawrence was having only his 12th race on Saturday night, with trainer Jason Magri explaining the dog has had a succession of injuries.
"Unfortunately Zipping Lawrence is injury prone but this win could be beneficial because it is likely to boost his confidence,'' Magri said.
Minter Blaze, a relatively new addition to the kennels of Michelle Sultana, took his record for the Londonderry trainer to three wins and a second from four starts when he easily won a 535m fifth grade in 30.92.
Minter Blaze dwelt at the start but swept around his rivals to hit the front approaching the home bend.
"That was a tough win because Minter Blaze and Hudson Road collided soon after the start and when that happened it took Minter Blaze's momentum away,'' Sultana said.
Saturday's distance race was taken out by the Frank Hurst-trained Sound Of Silence, who led throughout to win over 717m in a fast 41.90.
Sound Of Silence gave the kennel a winning double with Hurst's wife Tracey winning earlier Good Odds Cash.
Sound Of Silence has now won 16 of 37 races but has made his name as a stayer, remarkable considering his dam Good Odds Angel was a brilliant front running sprinter for the Hurst family.
