Boom former western districts youngster Harrison Keeping staged an exciting last-to-first performance to win at Bulli on Saturday night when making his debut for owner James Cortis and his new trainer Sarah Easey.
Harrison Keeping, who won at his first start over 400m at Dubbo by a dozen lengths on July 24, was having his first race for two months when he won the Bulli 400m event.
Harrison Keeping's time was a moderate 22.90 but owner James Cortis was delighted with his new acquisition's performance.
"The dog was very relaxed behind the boxes before the start and that, combined with the quiet lure at Bulli, might have caused him to miss the jump,'' Cortis said.
"Harrison Keeping was going 'two to their one' in the charge to the first turn but then got caught up in traffic and didn't seem to be able to stretch out fully.
"He got to the line tenaciously and as Sarah and her partner Mitch Pryce have done plenty of work with this dog I am confident he can get down to around 22.40 or even better at Bulli.''
Forty five minutes after Harrison Keeping's victory, Phase, trained by Michael Eberand and part-owned by Cortis, gave the owner his first winning double when he reeled off a personal best 26.27 in leading throughout over 472m.
It was a well earned success for the consistent Phase, who has now had 20 starts for 10 wins and five placings.
Trainer David Smith took out the trifecta in Saturday night's 590m GRNSW Middle Distance Series event, winning with hot favourite Super Estrella who was chased home by her kennelmates Prim And Proper and Ice Cream Story.
Super Estrella began brilliantly and was never in danger of defeat, winning easily in a fast 33.05, just .06sec outside Segovia's track record.
Highlight of Saturday night's racing was the remarkable performance of the Andrew Bell-trained Ritza Tommy who rung up his sixth win this month when he led throughout in the top grade 472m event.
Ritza Tommy trounced an outstanding field to win easily in 25.99, fastest 472m of the night and his personal best Bulli effort over that trip.
Since September 1 Ritza Tommy has won four races over 400m at Bulli and another over 520m at Dapto before Saturday's sizzling display.
ZIPPING Rowan continued the success of trainer Tess Simmons' "accidental" litter when he led throughout to win a 472m maiden at Bulli on Saturday night in a handy 26.61.
Simmons trains ZIPPING Rowan for the dog's breeders Fiona and Marty Hallinan, and had won with the greyhound's litter sister ZIPPING Piccolo at Richmond 72 hours earlier.
While the sire and dam are impeccably bred, they were no world beaters on the racetrack and were never meant to be mated.
"ZIPPING Merlow was in season on our property and ZIPPING Dean escaped from his yard and mated with her,'' Marty Hallinan explained.
Tess Simmons said: "Marty and Fiona reared my Richmond Derby winner Incapacitated for me and because my full time employment was reduced due to covid, I had extra time to devote to training so agreed to take the 11 pups from the ZIPPING Dean-ZIPPING Merlow litter.
"They are not real strong at the finish but hopefully will acquire stamina with age.
"ZIPPING Rowan finished second over 400m at Bulli on Wednesday so he did well to win over the extra 72m tonight considering he was backing up so close.''
Enzo Herrera, a younger half-brother to dual Wentworth Park winner Uno Herrera, made an impressive debut in leading throughout in Saturday night's opening Bulli event, a 340m maiden.
Ricky Brewer, who trains both greyhounds, said after Saturday's race: "Enzo Herrera clocked 19.30 when I gave him a 340m trial at Bulli and he trimmed that down to 19.22 when he led all the way tonight.
"He is a nice pup, he is still learning what it's all about but he has a future as he doesn't turn two until February.''
