Sound Of Silence can lay claim to being Sydney's most versatile greyhound after posting a scorching 29.69 fastest 520m time of the night at Wentworth Park on Saturday.
Trainer Frank Hurst had intended starting Sound Of Silence in a 618m race at Richmond on Friday but when no race materialised he did not hesitate in entering the dog for a WP 520m event and Sound Of Silence won easily.
It was Sound Of Silence's third WP 520m success but what underlines the dog's remarkable versatility is that he won over 720m at WP in June in a handy 42.36, over 729m at Dapto a month later and in a fast 41.90 over 717m at Richmond in August.
Sound Of Silence clocked his personal best WP 520m figures of 29.65 when he won on October 9 but Saturday's win was probably more meritorious because the track was waterlogged.
Sound Of Silence was one of just three greyhounds to break 30sec on Saturday, with Mickey Doo winning in 29.74 and Tap Out Classy succeeding in 29.99.
After his race Mickey Doo's trainer Mark Davidson said: "He has been beginning poorly but I thought if he came out cleanly tonight he was capable of running 29.80 at Wenty.
"He got away well and although he again wanted to go left when the boxes opened, he was able to clear all his rivals except the pacemaker Springview Magic and when he settled in second spot I knew he would be hard to beat.''
Mickey Doo was a finalist in the group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic on October 16 but lost all chance at the start when he missed the jump.
Rod Metselaar, trainer of all the way winner Tap Out Classy, said later: "I wasn't too worried about her drawing box five tonight because I actually like her positioned in the middle of the track.
"She isn't a mad railer and doesn't like having another dog pressuring her on her outside so there is less chance of that happening when she draws away from the rails.''
Saturday's 720m event providing a thrilling duel with Super Estrella leading all the way and safely holding off the strong finishing Mark Gatt-trained Stanley Road in a slick 42.06.
Super Estrella began brilliantly from box five while Stanley Road was, as expected, at the back of the field at the first turn.
Stanley Road made up good ground but had every chance as Super Estrella still had just over a length to spare at the finish.
Super Estrella gave trainer David Smith a winning double as he had taken out the previous race with Outlaw Ethics, who led throughout from box eight in 30.21.
"Before he commenced racing I was getting Outlaw Ethics ready for the Magic Maiden at WP but he got hurt,'' Smith said later.
"But he did have several trials at WP in the process and while tonight's race was only his third at Wenty, he had plenty of experience there.
"I'm not convinced he is an out-and-out 520m dog because he was perfectly drawn in box eight tonight and went straight to the lead when he won.
"I am considering sending him to Melbourne as I feel there might be more opportunity for him there.''
Ritza Donna's tendency to bungle the start proved a blessing on Saturday night according to Daniel Gatt, who handled the greyhound for trainer Mark Gatt, his brother.
Ritza Donna is a notoriously slow beginner but after being last away on Saturday she secured a dream rails run at the first turn to be a close fourth on the back straight.
After the race Daniel Gatt said: "She had an awkward draw tonight, being in box six with Teddy The Bear, a wide runner, in box five.
"But when Ritza Donna missed the kick again she did herself a favour because she got a lovely rails run before pulling to the outside and sweeping around the leaders to hit the front coming to the home bend.
"She is a good little chaser and deserved to win in town after being placed at her three previous WP runs.
"Ritza Donna really digs in, she really has a go, and you can't ask for more than that.''
